Exxon faces heat after lobbyists' comments on climate change cause furor

Exxon Mobil is on the defensive after a lobbyist's description of the energy giant's activities, captured on covertly recorded video, created a public uproar and drew condemnation from lawmakers.

Video clips released by Greenpeace U.K. last week show a gaping chasm between the oil giant's stated support for reducing the use of fossil fuels and its lobbyist's private statements about the company's efforts to water down climate-change legislation. The clips, which prompted a rare apology from the company's CEO, offer a preview of the rocky road ahead for Exxon. The company, once the world's most valuable enterprise in the world, has lost billions on its oil and gas investments, and faces scrutiny from lawmakers and pressure from climate hawks on its board.