Subsidies
Pollution-profiteering organizations spend lots of money on lobbying and on campaign contributions.
Is it worth it?
"Fossil fuel subsidies are a form of corruption that enrich fossil fuel shareholders.”
In "the oil, gas and coal industry, it’s ... business as usual …
For every $1 [spent] on campaign contributions and lobbying ... it gets back $119 in subsidies.”
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In 2022, worldwide, government subsidies were estimated to be $7,000,000,000,000.
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When asked about Exxon's seemingly unethical political activities, one of their lobbyists replied,
"But there's nothing illegal about that ... We were looking out for our shareholders.”
The U.S.A. is a leader of giving money to dirty industries. Billions go oil & gas interests.
"Estimates put U.S. direct subsidies to the fossil fuel industry at roughly $20 billion per year;
with 20 percent ... allocated to coal and 80 percent to natural gas and crude oil.”
Many legislators assist polluting companies - using our tax dollars.
- Oil tax breaks go back to the "Revenue Act of 1916”
- “The Deepwater Horizon oil spill ... settlement [was] tax-deductible,
meaning that BP could write off $15.3 billion of the penalty.”
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In addition there are:
- Leasing rights for drilling & mining on federal lands (oil and gas)
- $14.5 billion in subsidies to "bring down gas prices”
- and Defense Dept. purchases of beef, gas, kerosene, oil, gasoline and dairy
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- plus Government spending of millions on fossil fuel research and development
- Funds doled out via Pandemic Assistance programs
- finally: “Dairy producers receive financial protection through the ... Dairy Margin Coverage program.”
There are state & local government funds for pollution, plus more at the international level.
You can get in on these deals yourself:
if you fly or rent a car you can deduct the expense.