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 The presumptive Democratic presidential candidate's environmental
record has come under renewed scrutiny after the Wall Street Journal
reported that the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation and
the Clinton Global Initiative have accepted large donations from
major energy companies Exxon Mobil and Chevron.
The groups also got money from foreign governments, including Saudi
Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, and from an office of the
Canadian government in charge of promoting the proposed Keystone XL
oil pipeline, which would help transport crude oil from Canada to
the Gulf of Mexico but is opposed by environmentalists.
"It's hard to believe that they don't think they are getting
something for their contributions," said Ben Schreiber, head of
climate and energy at Friends of the Earth, one of the largest
environmental groups in the United States.
Clinton's spokesman referred requests for comment to the Clinton
Foundation, which did not respond. The foundation has said it will
reexamine its policy on accepting donations from foreign interests,
if she runs.
The foundation's connections to the oil industry potentially
complicate Clinton’s relationship with environmental groups, whose
supporters form an important part of the Democratic base. Climate
change is expected to be a big issue in the 2016 elections.
Any sign of ambivalence on climate change policies could hurt
Clinton's support among progressive voters, said Jamie Henn, a
spokesman for 350 Action, which claims a large network of
environmental activists.
"This isn't an election where we can get some fancy rhetoric but no
real commitments, said Henn, warning that 350 Action could target
Clinton with rallies similar to the anti-Keystone protests it aimed
at President Barack Obama if she fails to take a strong stand on
climate.
Uncharacteristically, many green groups normally quick to attack
politicians linked to oil and gas companies shied away from
commenting on the Clinton Foundation’s relationship with these
donors.
The Environmental Defense Action Fund had no comment because it does
not have anyone with knowledge of the subject, a spokesman said.
Another business friendly green group, the Natural Resources Defense
Council Action Fund also declined, saying it would discuss the
issues "when we have declared candidates." The World Wildlife Fund
had no comment.
The reluctance to criticize Clinton reflects her mixed record on
climate change. She has made two recent appearances at green-related
events, addressing a League of Conservation Voters dinner in
December, where she talked about the need to produce natural gas in
a way that minimizes pollution. She also spoke at a green energy
conference in September.
Her environmental record as secretary of state from 2009 to 2013
includes launching a global initiative to reduce emissions of soot
and some greenhouse gases, though not targeting carbon dioxide, the
main culprit in global warming.
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But she was also an aggressive advocate, while secretary, for
expanding the use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to extract
shale oil and gas in Eastern Europe, China and India under a program
called the Global Shale Gas Initiative.
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Many activists remain leery of her apparent support for building
Keystone. In 2010, Clinton said she was "inclined" to approve the
pipeline, which is still awaiting approval or rejection from the
Obama administration.
Exxon has given about $2 million to the Clinton Global Initiative
starting in 2009, while Chevron donated $250,000 in 2013 to the
Clinton Foundation, the Wall Street Journal article said. The
companies said their donations supported an array of global social
programs, and the foundation said the funds support programs that
help millions of people around the world.
Clinton's defenders in the environmental movement say U.S. strategic
interests drove her support for the expansion of fracking into other
countries.
"Introducing fracking to produce natural gas in Eastern Europe was
an element of national security, the less dependence those nations
have on Russian gas, the better off they are," said Daniel Weiss,
the League of Conservation Voters' senior vice president for
campaigns.
NextGen Climate, an advocacy group run by hedge fund manager-turned
environmentalist Tom Steyer who has poured millions of dollars into
Democratic party campaigns, said in a statement that Clinton had
"made clear the primary importance of addressing this critical
issue" of climate change.
Yet a recent NextGen blog accused oil companies of using their
financial power to influence climate and energy policies in
California, declaring: "We can't allow the fossil fuel industry to
override what's best for our families, for our communities and for
our economy."
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; editing by Bruce Wallace and Ross
Colvin)
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