More than 100 geoscientists have signed an open letter asking the American Geophysical Union to sever its ties with ExxonMobil because of the company's efforts to spread "climate science disinformation."

"As Earth scientists, we are deeply troubled by the well-documented complicity of ExxonMobil in climate denial and misinformation. … By allowing Exxon to appropriate AGU's institutional social license to help legitimize the company's climate misinformation, AGU is undermining its stated values as well as the work of many of its own members," the letter states.

Signatories include former NASA researcher James Hansen and Penn State University professor Michael Mann, both of whom are well-known climate scientists and critics of the fossil fuel industry. The letter notes that Exxon is currently under investigation by the New York State and California attorneys general for allegedly lying to the public and shareholders about climate change risks.

The scientists point to AGU's organizational support policy, adopted last year, which states the organization "will not accept funding from organizational partners that promote and/or disseminate misinformation of science, or that fund organizations that publicly promote misinformation of science."

They said despite the policy, AGU allowed Exxon to co-sponsor its 2015 fall meeting. http://bit.ly/1LD5Ay1

AGU responded in a blog post that its board of directors would take up the letter at its April meeting. The organization noted it has received complaints about Exxon's sponsorship in the past, and "it cannot be said that Exxon's past positions and actions regarding climate change were in keeping with our policy or with the company's current public positions."

However, AGU also pointed out that companies can change their positions over time, and "this is something that should be encouraged."

"But, if a company is excluded from the community based on its past actions, in spite of corrections or improvements that have been made over time, what are the implications?" AGU said. "Does the rejection— or the inclusion—of such a company in our scientific community best serve the continuation of the progress we seek? We believe that inclusion is the best option." http://bit.ly/1PTuvRU

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