Oil and gas executives will have to substantially increase their clean energy investments to overcome a “trust deficit” with the public about their commitments to addressing climate change, US energy secretary Jennifer Granholm said today.

The industry has made some progress in cutting emissions and committing to future cuts, Granholm said today to oil executives serving on the National Petroleum Council. But the sector should expect escalating difficulty related to public opinion until operators successfully cut emissions and invest in clean energy at the scale required to address climate change, she said.

“I think that there’s a trust deficit, no doubt,” Granholm said to the council, a committee created to share oil and gas industry input. “A number of us have been protested off the stage as a result of the impatience that’s out there” for moving quickly enough to address climate change.

[I don’t really think that’s where the “trust deficit” lies, Madam Secretary… Self awareness, what is it? ~ Beege]