big oil
Abundant petroleum reserves
Big oil refers collectively to the world's largest and most powerful petroleum companies, particularly the multinational corporations that dominate oil exploration, production, refining, and distribution.
The term carries a slightly pejorative connotation, often used by critics who view these companies as wielding excessive political influence, prioritizing profits over environmental concerns, or suppressing alternative energy development.
Big oil has lobbied against climate legislation for decades.
In political discourse, big oil functions as shorthand for corporate fossil fuel interests generally.
Multinational petroleum conglomerate
- ChevronSan Ramon giant
- BPCardiovascular force measurement
- conglomerateCorporation spanning many industries
- multinationalOperating across multiple countries
shareholder · profit · revenue · merger · acquisition · CEO · executive · boardroom
Natural underground hydrocarbon liquid
- crudeUnpolished, raw state
- drillingHole-making by rotation
- refineryIndustrial purification facility
- offshoreAway from land
upstream · downstream · midstream · hydrocarbons · natural gas · derrick · rig · barrel
Planetary atmospheric transformation
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- greenhouse gasesEmissions that trap heat
- carbon footprintTotal greenhouse gases produced
- divestmentDisposal of assets
ecocide · deforestation · indigenous lands · biodiversity loss · Deepwater Horizon · Exxon Valdez · flaring · methane leaks
Advocating to decision-makers
- subsidiesFinancial aid from government
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- super PACsUnlimited-donation political groups
influence · petrodollars · sanctions · embargo · geopolitics · energy independence · deregulation · tax breaks
ExxonMobil
Multinational petroleum conglomerate
- ChevronSan Ramon giant
- BPCardiovascular force measurement
- conglomerateCorporation spanning many industries
multinational · shareholder · profit · revenue · merger · acquisition · CEO · executive · boardroom · dividend
petroleum
Natural underground hydrocarbon liquid
offshore · upstream · downstream · midstream · hydrocarbons · natural gas · derrick · rig · barrel · OPEC
climate change
Planetary atmospheric transformation
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- greenhouse gasesEmissions that trap heat
- carbon footprintTotal greenhouse gases produced
divestment · ecocide · deforestation · indigenous lands · biodiversity loss · Deepwater Horizon · Exxon Valdez · flaring · methane leaks · contamination
lobbying
Advocating to decision-makers
- subsidiesFinancial aid from government
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
super PACs · influence · petrodollars · sanctions · embargo · geopolitics · energy independence · deregulation · tax breaks · campaign donations
- metonymsWall Street, Hollywood, the Kremlin, Capitol Hill, Downing Street
big oilrenewable energy
Self-replenishing natural power
clean energy · green energy · sustainable energy · solar power · wind power
big oilenvironmental movement
Advocacy for nature protection
climate activism · green movement · Greenpeace · Sierra Club · decarbonization
big, bigger, biggest, oil, oils, oily, oiled, oiling, oiliness