TED Talks Daily How we took on an oil giant — and won | Melinda Janki
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Sep 22, 2025 Melinda Janki, a climate justice litigator from Guyana, shares her inspiring journey of challenging ExxonMobil and winning significant legal battles. She discusses the power of existing laws in holding oil companies accountable, highlighting her landmark victories, including the requirement for scope-three emissions assessments. Janki emphasizes that oil giants are more vulnerable than perceived and illustrates how grassroots legal efforts can lead to monumental change in environmental protection.
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From Oil Lawyer To Environmental Defender
- Melinda Janki left a corporate legal role inside a major oil company to return to Guyana and defend people and nature.
- She drafted laws and empowered an indigenous community to protect 2,300 square miles of tropical forest.
Guyana Find's Global Climate Impact
- ExxonMobil found over 11 billion barrels offshore Guyana, a discovery with vast climate consequences.
- Burning that oil could produce roughly 5 billion tons of greenhouse gases, making the field globally significant.
Use Law, Not Moralizing, To Challenge Power
- Use existing law as a tool rather than pleading morality when challenging powerful industries.
- Read regulations closely and enforce provisions that already limit corporate power.