Tag Archives: fossil fuels

1992 Shell Speech “Three Cornered Challenge – energy, environment and population”

On September 14, 1992, Lodewijk van Wachem, chairman of the Supervisory Board of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company (“Shell”), gave a speech titled, “The three-cornered challenge – energy, environment, and population.” Unearthed by Jelmer Mommers from journalism platform De Correspondent in a trove of internal Shell documents, this speech was given by van Wachem as he […]

1989 Public Affairs Orientation speech by Mobil’s J. V. D’Ambrisi

This document is a speech given by Mobil’s former President of Research and Development, Joseph V. D’Ambrisi, on June 8, 1989 in New York.  This speech was given at the international public affairs meeting and it focuses on the importance of using Mobil technology to develop and foster environmental policies. The speech also outlines Mobil’s new environmental […]

1989 Presentation to Exxon Board of Directors on Greenhouse Gas Effects

This presentation entitled “Potential Enhanced Greenhouse Gas Effects: Status and Outlook” was made by Duane Levine, Exxon’s manager of science and strategy development, to Exxon’s Board of Directors on February 22, 1989. The presentation evidences Exxon’s shift from a leader in climate change research to an advocate against the dissemination of climate change information in the early […]

1988 Climate Institute North American Conference on Preparing for Climate Change

December 6-8, 1988 an international group of dignitaries, politicians, scientists, economists, and industry representatives attended the Climate Institute’s second North American conference on “Preparing for Climate Change.” The following 731 page document contains the conference’s agenda, transcriptions of the various panelists’ remarks, and peer-reviewed articles related to climate change. In its totality, the book thoroughly […]

1988 Exxon Memo on the Greenhouse Effect

This document, revealed through a Los Angeles Times investigation, features statements by Joseph M. Carlson, an Exxon spokesperson. In the document, Carlson states that the “greenhouse effect” may be one of the most significant environmental issues of the 1990’s and that the main greenhouse gases are by-products of fossil fuels. Carlson admits that the increase of […]

1985 Exxon Presentation on Greenhouse Effect Research and Budget

This is a presentation given by Exxon Research and Engineering Company’s Brian P. Flannery, who became one of Exxon’s primary climate researchers after joining the company in 1980. His initial research for Exxon on the relationship between CO2 and climate change confirmed the results that other scientists were finding at the time, predicting that doubling […]

1982 Memo to Exxon Management about CO2 Greenhouse Effect

November 12, 1982 Exxon’s M.B. Glaser, manager of the Environmental Affairs Program, sends a memo to Exxon management on the CO2 greenhouse effect intended for the management staff to familiarize themselves with the subject. Glaser includes the April 1, 1982 “CO2 Greenhouse Effect: Technical Review” report. In Glaser’s summary to management, he writes that the […]

1981 Exxon Memo on Possible Emission Consequences of Fossil Fuel Consumption

August 18, 1981 memo from Exxon’s Roger Cohen to Exxon’s Werner Glass with comments about Glass’ draft report on possible consequences of fossil fuel consumption out to 2030. Cohen writes that it is very likely “we will unambiguously recognize the threat by the year 2000 because of advances in climate modeling and the beginning of real […]

1981 Internal Exxon “CO2 Position Statement”

On May 15, 1981, Henry Shaw, a manager with Exxon Research & Engineering’s Technology Feasibility center, sent a “Preliminary Statement of Exxon’s Position on the Growth of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide” to Edward. E David Jr., president of the Exxon Research and Engineering Company. The inter-office correspondence outlined Exxon’s “current position on the CO2 Greenhouse effect” […]

1980 Exxon Draft Statement and Comments on National Committee of Air Quality on Climate Change Risks and Policy Recommendations

Exxon Scientists Henry Shaw provides draft comments on the National Committee of Air Quality CO2 Workshop regarding rising levels of carbon dioxide and harmful impacts to society and the environment. These comments, dated December 5, 1980, also make policy recommendations for national and international action to reduce carbon emissions “attributed primarily to the combustion of […]