Tag Archives: climate modeling

1982 API “Climate Models and CO2 Warming: A Selective Review and Summary”

“Climate Models and CO2 Warming: A Selective Review and Summary” prepared for the American Petroleum Institute by the Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory March 16, 1982. The report includes a discussion on the types of models used to predict anthropocentric climate change. The report also highlights the fact that carbon dioxide concentration has increased since the beginning […]

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” […]

Climate Policy

1980 National Commission on Air Quality Carbon Dioxide Workshop

As first brought to light by Nathaniel Rich’s NYT magazine article “Losing Earth,” this document is a transcript of a 1980 meeting held by the National Commission on Air Quality (NCAQ). The meeting, requested by Congress, was held to discuss the societal implications of climate change in order to address problems “from increased carbon dioxide emissions.” […]

1980 Internal Exxon Memorandum: Greenhouse Program

June 9, 1980 internal memorandum from Exxon Research and Engineering’s H.N. Weinberg to H. Shaw and N.R. Werthamer about Exxon’s CO2 research initiative, the “Greenhouse Program.” Shaw was a manager of the Environmental Area in Exxon Research & Engineering and an early advocate for the company’s research of atmospheric CO2. Werthamer was Shaw’s boss. This […]

1980 Imperial Oil Arctic, Deep Sea, and Solar Technology Report

This 1980 document from Imperial Oil Ltd., the Canadian subsidiary of Exxon, is a report on “Arctic & Deep Sea Technology,” and also contains the company’s research and projections about the potential for renewable energy systems such as solar in Canada. This document is part of the ClimateFiles Imperial Oil document set, gleaned by DeSmog […]

1979 Exxon Memo on Potential Impact of Fossil Fuel Combustion

October 16, 1979 memo from Exxon’s W.L. Ferral to Exxon’s R.L. Hirsch about a study conducted by an Exxon summer employee named Steve Knisely. The study was on the potential impact of fossil fuel combustion on CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. Some of the conclusions in the study are: “present trends of fossil fuel combustion […]

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 […]