By SkySite Property staff

ExxonMobil , world’s largest independent oil company, has been working toward environmentally-friendly goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preventing spills and protecting biodiversity. The oil giant has spent more than $2 billion in the past five years on initiatives to reduce emissions and improve efficiency—and it plans to spend another $1 billion by 2010. Through actions taken in 2006-07, the company reduced emissions by 5 metric tons last year.

“Energy security, economic growth and environmental impacts are increasingly on the minds of people today,” ExxonMobil chief executive Rex Tillerson said. “We’re focused on safely and reliably meeting the growing energy demand while working to reduce our impact on the environment. We have the same concerns as people everywhere—and that is how to provide the world with the energy it needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Over a heated debate at the company’s annual shareholders meeting recently, opponents—including some shareholders—say Exxon isn’t doing enough to help save the environment. At that meeting, Exxon blocked the resolution to research renewable energy sources and study the global warming effects in Third World countries.

“ExxonMobil is acting like a dinosaur now, not adapting to a changing environment,” shareholder Stephen Viederman said.

Tillerman denies claims that the company is ignoring environmental issues. “We’re focused on safely and reliably meeting the growing energy demand while working to reduce our impact on the environment,” he said.

Opponents are concerned that blockage of such measures threaten the global environment and financial health. They argue that focusing solely on oil and gas as energy sources also poses a great threat to the company’s financial health.