Summary This 1981 document contains a scoping study conducted by Exxon to determine whether the company should develop a more comprehensive research plan to address climate change and atmospheric C02 levels. In sum, the study concludes that Exxon should not expand its climate change research and development because its current programs “are adequate to serve […]
Summary February 3, 1981 letter from Gilbert Gervasi, scientist at Esso Eastern to G.A. Northington, Exxon Research and Engineering regarding CO2 calculations for the Natuna Gas Project finding “the total release of CO2 from producing Natuna gas and burning of LNG manufactured from the gas would be almost twice that emitted by burning the equivalent […]
Summary This 1981 document contains Exxon’s financial contributions for the year. The report shows that Exxon contributed to a variety of interesting organizations, including the Environmental Law Institute and the Center for Education and Research and Free Enterprise. The report reveals Exxon contributed over $4 million to public information and policy research, and almost $700,000 to environmental organizations. […]
Summary December 18, 1980 Henry Shaw sent a memo to T.K. Kett attaching a report he and P.P. McCall authored on the current status of the CO2 greenhouse effect. The Shaw/McCall report notes that because forests are a sink for carbon dioxide and deforestation is part of the reason why levels carbon dioxide in the atmosphere […]
Summary Exxon scientist Henry Shaw provides draft comments on the National Commission on Air Quality’s CO2 Workshop regarding rising levels of carbon dioxide and harmful impacts to society and the environment. These comments, dated December 5, 1980, include major edits to the report and also make policy recommendations for national and international action to reduce […]
Summary This 1980 document from Imperial Oil Ltd, the Canadian subsidiary of Exxon, is an assessment of the prospects and associated risks of Atlantic offshore development. This document is part of the ClimateFiles Imperial Oil document set, gleaned by DeSmog researchers from the Glenbow Imperial Oil Archive Collection. Source Document
Summary This ca. 1980 document from Imperial Oil Ltd., the Canadian subsidiary of Exxon, is a course on Environmental Pollution from Imperial’s Environmental Protection Department which was “originally prepared for, and presented to Imperial Oil personnel across Canada” in an effort to “add to their understanding of the environment and the effects of pollution on […]
Summary This pair of documents is a transcript of a 1980 meeting held by the National Commission on Air Quality (NCAQ), as first reported by Nathaniel Rich’s New York Times Magazine article “Losing Earth.” The meeting, requested by Congress, was held to discuss the societal implications of climate change in order to address problems “from increased […]
Summary A 1980 report, “Review of Environmental Protection Activities for 1978-1979,” produced by Imperial Oil, Exxon’s Canadian subsidiary, again suggests that Exxon knew that CO2 was a harmful pollutant in the atmosphere in the 1970s. Lines in the document include: “It is assumed that the major contributors of CO2 are the burning of fossil fuels… There is no […]
Summary July 8, 1980 memorandum with notes from N.R. Werthamer of Exxon Research and Engineering to Harold N. Weinberg detailing a draft communications plan to publicize Exxon’s scientific initiative as well as findings regarding the CO2 problem. Source Document