Exxon’s Climate Change Cover-Up: How the Oil Giant Knew the Risks but Chose to Ignore Them

In the 1970s and 80s, ExxonMobil, one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, made “breathtakingly” accurate predictions about the impact of burning fossil fuels on Global warming, according to internal company documents recently revealed in a court case.

Source: DW News/Youtube

The documents, part of a lawsuit brought against the company by the New York attorney general, showed that Exxon’s scientists warned company executives as early as 1977 about the potential dangers of carbon dioxide emissions. One Exxon scientist even projected that CO2 levels could double by 2060, leading to a 4-degree Celsius increase in global temperatures and devastating consequences such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events.

Despite these warnings, Exxon continued to fund and publicize research that downplayed the risks of Climate change and promoted the use of fossil fuels. This is not only a stark contrast to what the company’s scientists were saying but also goes against the overwhelming scientific consensus on the issue.

This revelation is eye-opening and quite ironic. ExxonMobil, a company that has made billions from the industry that is a leading contributor to Climate change, had the knowledge and means to mitigate the impacts of Global warming decades ago yet chose not to act on it. It is a reminder that the fight against Climate change is not just about reducing emissions but also about holding those who have contributed to the problem accountable. It also highlights the importance of transparency and honesty when discussing the issue.

This is not the first time that ExxonMobil has been accused of downplaying the risks of Climate change. In 2015, the company was investigated by the U.S. Virgin Islands attorney general for possible violations of consumer protection laws and for misleading investors about the risks of Climate change.ExxonMobil is not alone in this. Many other oil and gas companies have been criticized for similar practices. For example, in 2018, a Union of Concerned Scientists report revealed that Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and BP have spent over $1 billion on lobbying efforts to block or delay Climate change policies since 2000.

The oil and gas industry has a long way to go in terms of being transparent and taking responsibility for its role in Climate change. This new revelation about ExxonMobil’s past behavior is a sobering reminder of these companies’ power and influence and how important it is to hold them accountable for their actions.

As consumers and citizens, we are also responsible for demanding transparency and honesty from these companies and supporting policies and projects that promote renewable energy and sustainable practices. The future of our planet depends on it.

The time has finally come, and big oil is going down. A new PBS Docuseries Reveals How Big Oil Has Been Lying to The Public About Climate Change For Years. It’s finally time to take down the oil and gas industry; the jig is up. Our addiction to fossil fuels has created the climate crisis, and now it’s threatening our forests too. These companies have been exposed for lying, buying ads on Google, 

While we need to cut off our dependence on fossil fuels as quickly as possible, we also must remember another major industry that is causing harm to the environment; the meat and dairy industry. A study even found that meat and dairy companies are responsible for more harm to the environment than fossil fuels. It’s clear that the public has had enough. Protestors in the UK are blocking oil terminals despite hundreds of arrests, and celebrities like Jane Fonda have launched committees to fight political candidates funded by the fossil fuel industry. Sign this petition to demand the United States and European Union heavily invest in wind and solar to reduce reliance on fossil fuels!

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• Petition: Urge U.S. Leaders to Reduce Reliance on Fossil Fuels 
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