Shareholder activists prodding Exxon Mobil Corp on climate-change proposals are backing calls for an independent board chairman as the oil major steps up efforts to keep climate proposals off its ballot. Exxon’s broad rejection of climate proposals, challenging sponsors and rebuffing ballot measures as either micromanaging or unneeded, has accelerated under Chairman and Chief Executive Darren Woods. This year, it blocked six climate resolution from appearing on the proxy ballot at its May 27 shareholder meeting. U.S. oil majors face less government pressure to curb greenhouse gas emissions and have lagged European rivals in striking deals with activists. Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Repsol SA and BP Plc have each moved to slash carbon emissions and meet global accords. New York state’s pension fund, Church Commissioners for England, and Legal & General Investment Management, which all battled Exxon over global warming and lobbying disclosures have this year […]