Happy International Men’s Day!

As a man, I know the cool stuff we’ve done – from Isaac Newton’s laws around motion and gravity to the discovery of penicillin by Scotsman Alexander Fleming. But let’s not forget people like Thomas Midgley Jr, the brain behind leaded gasoline and CFCs, which weren’t exactly great for the ozone layer or human health.

For every fantastic discovery or invention, there are more than an equal number of men who have used humanity’s progress and knowledge to create vast wealth for themselves and others at the expense of our increasingly fragile environment.

Unfortunately, the relentless quest for financial growth and vast profits has captivated most of the nation’s industries, from manufacturing paper to industrial-scale farming to the fashion industry and financial services.

It’s probably no surprise to anyone that men dominate most of the arenas in which harmful environmental decisions are made and in places where the solutions to those problems are decided upon. These patriarchal systems have often been overlooked, leading to policies and practices that inadvertently deepen gender inequalities and often bring unequal environmental harm to women. It has also sidelined women’s voices, deepening gender gaps and ecological woes.

Even groups like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and Green Climate Fund are mostly male-driven.

Edward Wageni of the UN’s HeForShe Initiative points out in a recent essay that 90%+ of government and corporate leaders are men, which is bad for gender equality within leadership and how climate change is experienced among genders.

These men are often in a high-stakes race for profits, sometimes at the environment’s expense. And while governments make green promises, they often juggle economic interests that don’t always align with those promises.

So, what are these polluting companies, and who are the men leading them?

Jeff Bezos, founder and executive chairman of Amazon

Net worth: $162 billion

Amazon profit in 2022: $225 billion

Amazon’s environmental impact is significant due to its vast global operations. Its extensive logistics network and data centers contribute substantial greenhouse gas emissions, amounting to about 7.1 million tons in 2022, the equivalent of driving one standard car 17.5 billion miles. Amazon’s rapid delivery model, capable of same-day deliveries, often prioritizes speed over sustainable transportation, increasing carbon emissions. Despite these environmental concerns, Amazon has seen immense profits, fueling founder Jeff Bezos’s net worth, making him one of the world’s wealthiest people to have ever lived.

James Quincey, CEO of Coca-Cola

Net worth: Around $100 million

Coca-Cola profit in 2022: $9.5 billion

Coca-Cola faces environmental criticism because it’s one of the world’s largest producers of plastic waste, with millions of plastic bottles discarded daily – harming marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Coca-Cola’s vast distribution network also contributes to carbon emissions from manufacturing and transportation, amounting to 5.17 million tons in 2021, an increase of 8% year-on-year.  While the company has made efforts towards sustainability, such as pledging to recycle a bottle for every one sold by 2030, the sheer scale of its plastic production and the ongoing reliance on single-use packaging continue to pose substantial environmental challenges.

Darren Woods, CEO of Exxon

Net worth: $124 million

Exxon profit in 2022: $56 billion

ExxonMobil contributed around 110 million tons of carbon emissions in 2022, the equivalent of flying from New York to San Francisco 3.58 million times. The oil and gas company has also faced criticism for its historical role in knowingly downplaying climate change for at least 40 years while influencing public opinion and policy in its favor.

Earning over $20 million annually, Woods, a long-time company member since 1992, backed the 2015 Paris Agreement aimed at major global pollution reduction. However, leaked documents revealed a strategy under his leadership to boost the company’s emissions by 17% by 2025.

Mike Wirth, CEO of Chevron

Net worth: $143 million

Chevron profit in 2022: $35.4 billion

Chevron isn’t so different from Exxon in that it continues to extract vast amounts of oil and gas from the earth. It produced a whopping 672 million tons of CO2 in 2021, up around 5% from the year before. All while it tries to meet its goal of reducing its CO2 emissions by 35% by 2028.

Chevron has been accused of greenwashing to minimize its environmental damage. In 2021, environmental activists complained to the Federal Trade Commission, arguing that Chevron misleadingly focuses only on emissions from refining and transportation, ignoring the broader emissions from its end products. Additionally, Wirth’s role on the American Petroleum Institute’s board, a group known for its history of climate change skepticism and efforts to stall carbon-reducing legislation, further highlights the company’s contentious environmental stance.

Larry Fink, CEO of Blackrock

Net worth: $1 billion

Blackrock profit in 2022: $5.38 billion

BlackRock is the world’s largest fossil fuel asset manager. In 2020, the company reported generating 330 million tons of greenhouse gases. Despite its significant influence on corporate policies, BlackRock has been slow to prioritize sustainability and climate risks in its investment strategies.

Despite Fink’s bold climate commitments and an op-ed advocating for a “net-zero” world, his company is the top global profiteer from deforestation, significantly contributing to increasing emissions. At the same time, Fink has steered BlackRock to oppose shareholder resolutions favoring climate action, simultaneously seeking federal funds that could be better allocated to climate initiatives.

Charles Koch, CEO of Koch Industries

Net worth: $52 billion

Koch revenue in 2022: $115 billion

The company, once described as the “Kingpin of climate denial,” has oil refining, chemicals, and mining operations. Each contributes significantly to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Koch has also been criticized for lobbying against environmental regulations and climate change legislation, potentially impeding progress on environmental issues. Furthermore, Koch’s historical stance on climate change, often questioning the consensus on human-driven global warming, has added to its controversial environmental reputation.

Between 1997 and 2018, Koch Industries invested almost $150 million in groups denying climate change. Charles has tried to distance himself from their history of fostering intense political division following his brother’s passing. However, OpenSecrets reports that Koch Industries remains the leading lobbyist in the oil and gas sector this year, spending $5.6 million.

Sen. Joe Manchin (WV-R)

The retiring Senator from West Virginia may not be worth the multi-millions and billions of the men above, but he has had an enormous say on America’s green energy future over many years.

Representing a state with a strong coal-mining heritage, Sen. Manchin has often opposed or been cautious about legislation aimed at aggressively tackling climate change, citing concerns over the economic impact on his constituents. He has also made millions from coal.

He has been critical of measures that would rapidly phase out fossil fuels. His stance and influence, particularly in a closely divided Senate, have significantly impacted the direction and pace of U.S. environmental and energy policy, often slowing down or modifying initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources.