Big Oil Companies Back Agreement to Prevent Climate Change

  • CEOs meeting in Paris don't reach agreement on carbon pricing
  • Chinese may join group, which doesn't include U.S. producers

Pump jacks at an oil field over the Monterey Shale formation near Lost Hills, California.

Photographer: David McNew/Getty Images
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Ten major energy companies declared their support for a global deal to prevent climate change, but stopped short of offering unanimous backing for carbon pricing.

Producers including BP Plc, Saudi Arabian Oil Co. and Petroleos Mexicanos -- who together account for almost 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas output -- said in a statement they will back policies consistent with the goal of keeping the increase in average global temperatures to within 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).