Tag Archives: pollution

1999 Shell Report “Listening and Responding – The Profits and Principles Advertising Campaign”

Following a far-reaching bribery scandal in Nigeria, the Brent Spar debacle, and the death of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, Shell launched an advertising campaign called “Profits & Principles.” One of many internal and hard-to-find documents unearthed by Jelmer Mommers of De Correspondent, this aspirational campaign marked a public goal that “the inwardly focused Shell must become a thing of the past.” The […]

1996 American Petroleum Institute book “Reinventing Energy”

Responding to the public’s awareness of anthropogenic climate change, American Petroleum Institute’s (API) 1996 “Reinventing Energy: Making the Right Choices,” supported climate denial and argued for inaction. On behalf of its corporate membership comprised of oil majors, API’s interdepartmental team of economists, government affairs staffers, and “strategic communications” experts discussed public health and environmental safety […]

1991 Imperial Oil Discussion Paper on Air Quality

This 1991 document from Imperial Oil Ltd, the Canadian subsidiary of Exxon, is a “Discussion Paper on Air Quality.” This document is part of the ClimateFiles Imperial Oil document set, gleaned by DeSmog researchers from the Glenbow Imperial Oil Archive Collection. The paper deals primarily “with the air quality issues of ground-level ozone, acid rain […]

1990 Imperial Oil Issue Essay Sleeves

This 1990 document from Imperial Oil Ltd, the Canadian subsidiary of Exxon, is a collection of issue essay sleeves displaying the titles of many papers written by Imperial about environmental challenges. This document is part of the ClimateFiles Imperial Oil document set, gleaned by DeSmog researchers from the Glenbow Imperial Oil Archive Collection. The sleeves […]

1984 Speech on Mobil’s “Environmental Perspective”

This document is a speech regarding Mobil’s environmental commitment, given by employee J.P. McCullough on April 24, 1984. The speech begins by noting that Mobil is in its “4th” generation of commitment to the environment, and goes on to describe the causes that influenced that commitment. McCullough says Mobil began its commitment to the environment as early […]

1982 “Evolution of Mobil Public Affairs Programs” Report

This “Evolution of Mobil’s Public Affairs Programs 1970-1981” report outlines oil major Mobil Corporation’s public affairs (PA) strategy to influence opinion leaders and the public through their advertorial program, media blitzes, and think tank collaboration. First released on Amy Westervelt’s podcast Drilled, and featured in her Washington Post editorial, this document further elucidates how the fossil fuel industry convinced media […]

1979 Climate Research Board: “Carbon Dioxide and Climate: A Scientific Assessment”

At the request of President Carter’s Executive Office, the National Academy of Sciences convened the Climate Research Board to assess the scientific basis for “future climatic changes resulting from man-made releases of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.” The study concludes that at the present rate of carbon emissions the global surface will warm 2 to […]

1977 Imperial Oil Review of Environmental Protection Activities

This 1977 document from Imperial Oil Ltd, the Canadian subsidiary of Exxon, is a “Review of Environmental Protection Activities” undertaken by Imperial Oil Limited from 1976-1977. This document is part of the ClimateFiles Imperial Oil document set, gleaned by DeSmog researchers from the Glenbow Imperial Oil Archive Collection. This report makes note of new environmental […]

1975 Imperial Oil Pamphlets: Oil and the Environment

These documents are two versions of a pamphlet on “Oil and the Environment” published in the mid-1970’s by Imperial Oil Ltd., the Canadian subsidiary of Exxon, presumably prepared for public distribution. The documents demonstrate Imperial’s concern with their public image, particularly public perception of their environmental impact. Their concern with environmental PR is laid out […]

1975 Imperial Oil Review of Environmental Protection Activities

This 1975 document from Imperial Oil Ltd, the Canadian subsidiary of Exxon, is a “Review of Environmental Protection Activities” undertaken by Imperial Oil Limited. This document is part of the ClimateFiles Imperial Oil document set, gleaned by DeSmog researchers from the Glenbow Imperial Oil Archive Collection. The report demonstrates Imperial’s internal concern with the growing […]