ExxonMobil and the climate science denial machinery that it has helped to build over the years are now under more scrutiny than ever before.

At its most recent AGM, the oil and gas giant faced a barrage of questions and resolutions over its position on climate change. Then there is the not insignificant matter of investigations by a group of attorneys general that allege the company lied about its knowledge of the risks of burning fossil fuels. ExxonMobil is retaliating.

The company has pleaded innocence, with CEO Rex Tillerson telling the company’s shareholders that his views on climate science were perfectly in line with the United Nations.

But the latest disclosures on donations by ExxonMobil, reported publicly here for the first time, show it continues to support organisations that claim greenhouse gases are not causing climate change, or that cuts to emissions are a waste of time and money.

Organisations including the American Enterprise Institute, the American Legislative Exchange Council and the National Black Chamber of Commerce — all organisations with a record of misinformation on climate science — all received grants in 2015 from ExxonMobil. The 2015 tally brings the total amount of known Exxon funding to denial groups north of $33 million since 1998.

Since 1997, ExxonMobil has been releasing reports annually listing donations to public policy groups — several of which were engaged in a public misinformation campaign on climate change science.

In 2007, after years of criticism, ExxonMobil claimed to have turned a corner on the science.

In a corporate responsibility report, the company said: “In 2008, we will discontinue contributions to several public policy groups whose position on climate change could divert attention from the important discussion on how the world will secure energy required for economic growth in an environmentally responsible manner.”

read more: http://www.desmogblog.com/2016/07/08/exxonmobil-new-disclosures-show-oil-giant-still-funding-climate-science-denial-groups

Last month may have been the hottest June in modern history, but one scorching July day had Britons pining for their early summer nights.

Tuesday was the hottest day of the year across the UK, where temperatures soared past 30 degrees Celsius in several cities, with the maximum of 33.5 recorded in Oxfordshire, north-west of London.

Brits couldn't handle the heat, and many took to Twitter to moan about sweating and share snaps of others stripping off.

The temperatures even prompted calls from some quarters that staff should be sent home if workplaces reached more than 30C.

There is no minimum or maximum "working temperature" in the UK, but the official Government Twitter account took the opportunity to remind employers to ensure their workers were kept comfortable during yesterday's scorcher.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-20/hottestdayoftheyear-brits-take-to-twitter-to-complain-about-heat/7643718

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Here in Sydney, Australia, wintery weather lasted 4 weeks from mid June to mid July and on average was at least one degree above. But now, though we are still in mid-winter, it's between 3 to 6 degrees above for the season.