Exxon and the climate crisis

On November 12, 1982, Exxon Research and Engineering Company, had an internal report with Exxon’s leadership team on the climate crisis. They knew then the dangers of Co2 “Greenhouses” had a negative effect on the environment. In that report, you can read:

“The most wildly accepted calculations carried on thus far on the potential impact on climate of doubling the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere general circulation models (GCM). These models indicate that an increase in the global average temperature of 3 degrees + or – 1.5 degrees Celsius is most likely.” — Exxon Research and Engineering Company Internal Report, Page 13

It goes on and on about the effects of deforestation and how sinks for carbon must be found, the polar caps would see temperature increases, uneven global distribution of rainfall which would lead to a water crisis, impact on soil and the agriculture industries, sea levels rising. They predicted everything we are seeing the effects of now 50 years later.

It’s important to note that it is estimated that 70% of carbon emissions come from 100 corporations. And yet, it is left to be your responsibility to change things around here. This is not to say, that people particularly those in the US don’t have any responsibility. Much like the relationship between eating and exercise, if you do one you are likely to do the other. If we are carbon conscience, then we are likely to take responsibility to make systematic changes which is ultimately what is needed to fight climate change.