"Exxon's Auditor Could Hold Key Piece of Climate Fraud Investigation"

"Battle between New York attorney general and PricewaterhouseCoopers over access to Exxon documents could help uncover what Exxon knew about climate risks."

"A high-stakes legal battle between ExxonMobil and the New York attorney general's office is roiling around documents held by the company's auditors. Those documents, usually dry disclosures that hold little public interest, could afford a candid—and perhaps damaging—glimpse into Exxon's private calculations of the business risks posed by climate change.

As part of a financial fraud investigation, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman subpoenaed Exxon auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers last August for climate risk assessments by Exxon.

Investors and the public rely on those disclosures to assess the impact climate change could have on the company's profitability. If they are incomplete or misleading, the public could be misled about investment decisions."

David Hasemyer reports for InsideClimate News March 7, 2017.

Source: InsideClimate News, 03/07/2017