Dive Brief:
- The Senate yesterday confirmed former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of Senate in a vote of 56-43, a contentious decision The New York Times reported drew the most 'No' votes in United States history.
- Environmental groups had opposed his nomination, based in part on his ties with the oil and gas sector and his ambiguous stance on the U.S.' role in the Paris climate agreement.
- His confirmation followed votes to advance the nominations of Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry as the heads of the Department of Interior and Energy respectively, sending both to the full Senate chamber for a vote.
Dive Insight:
Tillerson, who has drawn concern for his previous dealings with Russia, has wavered on whether the United States should remain committed to the global climate accord. He told the Senate at his confirmation hearing in January that he agreed with maintaining "a seat at the table" for the Paris climate accord, which aims to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius this century.
But that concession was not enough to draw support of clean energy advocates, if the 43 votes against his confirmation are any indication.
Ahead of the vote, Earthjustice Vice President of Litigation Abigail Dillen issued a critical statement, saying "I am considering the week’s developments through the eyes of future generations."
"I expect that Tillerson and the other men currently slated to lead our administration will be judged harshly for their lies about the dangers of climate change, their obstruction of climate progress and their failure to speed our transition from oil, coal, and gas to clean, renewable energy," Dillen said.
A major promise of President Trump's campaign was the support for American energy production and reduction of costly regulation—rules environmental groups say are needed to protect the environment. While the United States has made major progress reducing emissions, its participation in the Paris agreement is viewed as an indication of the tack the new administration will take.
In other White House cabinet news, Democrats boycotted a committee hearing to vote on Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt's nomination to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. At his Senate confirmation hearing, Pruitt—a vocal critic of the agency he would lead—told lawmakers his personal opinion of climate change is "immaterial" because the EPA "has an obligation" regulate carbon under the Clean Air Act.