Two news reports in recent days claim that at least two oil industry associations are rethinking their approach to climate change policy as a result of pressure from members.

The American Petroleum Institute is forming an internal task force to review climate change policy and messaging, Politico Pro reported Wednesday. At the same time, the Wall Street Journal reported that Exxon Mobil is urging API and American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers to support a carbon tax, a policy many business groups have traditionally fought against.

The API task force is in part a response to a political shift that has taken place since last year's Paris Agreement, in which the U.S. and 176 countries pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. An unnamed source told Politico Pro that given the agreement, "it makes sense for API to be reviewing its approach to climate."

The publication also noted the task force is API's attempt to head off potential divisions among members over climate policy, including whether to support a carbon tax.

Some of the pressure for backing a carbon tax is coming from Exxon, which has long supported the policy but never made much noise about it until recently, the Wall Street Journal reported. The corporation supports a federal carbon tax as long as other taxes are lowered to offset its cost.

Exxon is the first U.S. oil company to actively support a carbon tax, although several of its foreign counterparts—such as BP—have supported the policy for years. However, other U.S. companies have been critical of the idea, particularly Chevron. http://on.wsj.com/292PgcB

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