Australian billionaire environmentalist Andrew Forrest is quietly funding lawsuits in the US against ExxonMobil, whose businesses compete directly with his. washington free beacon. [emphasis, links added]
Foreign agent registration documents show that the Intergenerational Environmental Justice Fund – founded by Forrest and associated with Forrest's Australia-based social and environmental nonprofit Minderoo Foundation – is filing a petition with the California-based The law firm Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy pays to be eco-friendly.
The company filed a lawsuit against ExxonMobil in California court in September. Accused the company of hiding the dangers of its petrochemical and plastics businesses.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of four U.S. nonprofits — the Surfrider Foundation, Sierra Club, Heal the Bay and San Francisco Baykeeper — and the California Attorney General’s Office, which within hours simultaneously filed a lawsuit against Egypt. Texas Mobil filed a nearly identical lawsuit.
Although the complaint cites the Minderoo Foundation's Plastic Waste Producer Index, It did not disclose that Forrest's nonprofit was supporting the lawsuit.
Then, four weeks after filing their complaint, Cochet, Pitt and McCarthy registered as foreign agents with the Justice Department.
The Intergenerational Environmental Justice Fund paid $250,000 for its litigation-related services over six months last year, the company disclosed in the filing.
If successful, the legal action could deal a major blow to ExxonMobil, which could was forced to halt much of its vast petrochemical business and pay huge compensation.
Such a result may be The devastating downstream effects on the U.S. economy and energy security.
At the same time, news of Forrest's involvement in the effort provides a window into how foreign interests continue to influence the U.S. legal system and energy industry. For example, former Chinese Communist Party officials are pouring millions of dollars into U.S. initiatives to replace fossil fuels with green energy, free beacon reported last month.
It also raises questions about the intent behind the lawsuit. Forrest is worth an estimated $22.1 billion, having accumulated much of his wealth through his company Fortescue Energy. Global mining giants have recently turned to green energy investments such as hydrogen, and ExxonMobil has also invested in hydrogen energy.
The Minderoo Foundation and ExxonMobil did not respond to requests for comment.
“I just wanted to introduce you to ExxonMobil,” Forrest said during a speech at Fortescue's 2023 annual shareholder meeting.
“This company has faced multiple court actions for lying and misleading, first by its own government over decades, then by the global public over decades, and [is] are now being held accountable by the justice system for their role in global warming.
Forrest later blasted ExxonMobil for expanding into hydrogen energy, saying The company uses fossil fuels rather than other green energy sources to produce hydrogen.
ExxonMobil's blue hydrogen technology relies on natural gas and is far more cost-effective than Fortescue's green hydrogen technology.
The blue hydrogen expansion of companies such as Exxon Mobil poses an existential threat to Fortescue and Forrest, who remain Fortescue's largest shareholders and whose wealth is largely locked up in the company.
While Fortescue rose to prominence through its dominant position in the global mining industry, The company plans to reach zero emissions by 2030, which is why it is looking to invest in green hydrogen.
ExxonMobil is fighting back against Forrest's lawsuit. last week, The company filed a defamation lawsuit against environmental groups named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
ExxonMobil also named Forrest's Intergenerational Environmental Justice Fund as a defendant and pointed to foreign agent registration documents filed by Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy with the Justice Department.
“Few plaintiffs' law firms have been forced by the Department of Justice to register as agents of foreign entities,” ExxonMobil wrote in the complaint.
The company accuses the law firm of hiring environmental groups listed in the complaint to serve as “agents” and “placeholders” for Forrest's nonprofit.
ExxonMobil also highlighted Fortescue as a major competitor.
Top image via Sky News/YouTube screencap
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