Longtime Exxon CEO Lee Raymond’s legacy of climate denial and misinformation lives on – a psychologist offers ways to counter it

June 22, 2026 - 21:19

For decades, Lee Raymond, the longtime chief executive of ExxonMobil, championed a corporate strategy that sowed confusion about climate change. Under his leadership from 1993 to 2005, the company publicly questioned the science of global warming even as its own internal research confirmed the risks. That contradiction did not fade when Raymond retired. Its fingerprints remain on public discourse today, fueling skepticism and delaying action.

A psychologist studying misinformation argues that the most effective way to counter this lingering doubt is not through more data, but through sharper critical thinking. People are often swayed by emotional appeals and corporate messaging that frames climate action as a threat to jobs or the economy. The key, the psychologist says, is to recognize when you are being manipulated for profit.

This means asking who benefits from the confusion. When a message downplays climate risks or calls for more study, look at the source. Is it a scientist or a company with a financial stake in fossil fuels? Teaching people to spot these patterns of doubt - such as false balance or cherry-picked data - can break the spell.

The fight against misinformation is not just about facts. It is about building resilience against spin. By questioning motives and seeking out independent expertise, individuals can shield themselves from the legacy of denial that Raymond helped cement. The goal is not to win an argument, but to see through the fog.