"Tillerson Hedges on Climate Science but Supports Paris Agreement"

"In his Senate confirmation hearing for secretary of state, Exxon's former chief differs with Donald Trump on keeping the country in the international accord."

"Rex Tillerson told the Senate panel considering his nomination for secretary of state that he supported the United States remaining in the Paris climate agreement and that he has made his views known to Donald Trump.

The position, repeated several times during a day-long hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, puts him at odds with the president-elect's campaign vow to "cancel" the landmark global accord.

But Tillerson acknowledged that this advice would have to be squared with Trump's own promises to put "America first" in the new administration's energy policy, which heavily favors the unrestricted use of fossil fuels."

Neela Banerjee, John H. Cushman Jr., and Marianne Lavelle report for InsideClimate News January 12, 2017.