Exxon Internal Climate Research Program Confirms Human-Caused Global Warming

Timeline Eventconfirmed
regulatory-captureclimate-denialfossil-fuelsscientific-researchcorporate-knowledgeenvironmental-capture
Regulatory CaptureExecutive Power ExpansionCorporate Capture
Actors:James Black, Roger Cohen, ExxonMobil, Exxon Corporation, Harvard Climate Research Team
1977-07-01 · 1 min read

Senior Exxon scientist James Black delivered a sobering message to company executives about carbon dioxide warming the planet, marking the beginning of documented internal knowledge at Exxon about climate change risks. Internal research from 1977-1982 created remarkably accurate climate models predicting global temperature increases from fossil fuel emissions. A Harvard study found that 63-83% of ExxonMobil's internal climate projections were scientifically accurate, with precise predictions of global temperature increases caused by CO2 emissions. A 1982 internal report to Exxon management stated that consequences could be "catastrophic" and that significant fossil fuel consumption reductions would be necessary.

Sources

  1. Exxon Knew about Climate Change Almost 40 Years AgoScientific American
  2. Exxon scientists predicted global warming with 'shocking skill and accuracy'Harvard Gazette
  3. Assessing ExxonMobil's global warming projectionsScience Journal