Fit for the lower carbon future What is ExxonMobil doing to prepare for a lower-carbon future while meeting energy needs of a growing population? ExxonMobil plays a critical role in providing the energy that supports economic growth and improves the quality of life for people around the world. Major forecasts project energy demand to increase as the global population rises to well over 9bn by 2040, from 7.5bn today, and owing to growing prosperity and an expanding middle class, according to thinktank the Brookings Institution. Even under 2°C and net-zero scenarios, meeting this increase in energy demand will require significant investment in new supplies of oil and natural gas, generally consistent with ExxonMobil’s investment levels. This is mainly due to the significant natural decline rates associated with oil and natural gas production. At the same time, there is a need to pursue further emissions-reduction efforts and technologies in support of the goals of the Paris Agreement.