Category Archives: American Petroleum Institute

DeSmog Investigation – Archival Documents Reveal Oil Companies Funded Climate Science in 1954 – Were Told 70 Years Ago That CO2 Emissions Could Impact “Civilization”

These documents were uncovered by Rebecca John as part of her investigation into the oil and gas industry’s early knowledge of climate science and its response to this knowledge. Reported with links to documents via DeSmog on January 30, 2024 and November 12, 2024 New Evidence Reveals Fossil Fuel Industry Sponsored Climate Science in 1954 […]

Weather Denial Documents

Below is an annotated collection of documents gathered through the years amassing evidence of corporate efforts to deny the connection between climate change and extreme weather events.   There are two major blocks of evidence: They knew climate change would cause extreme weather: Corporate entities “knew” extreme weather would be an impact of anthropogenic climate change. […]

1998 American Petroleum Institute Global Climate Science Communications Team Action Plan

April 1998, American Petroleum Institute’s secret plan was leaked – the Global Climate Science Communications Plan. The plan was created just months after the Kyoto Protocol was signed in December 1997. It was developed by representatives from Exxon (specifically Randy Randol), Chevron, Southern Company and representatives from conservative and libertarian organizations. The plan includes a multimillion dollar, […]

1996 Exxon’s Lee Raymond Speech at API Annual Meeting

In 1996 Exxon Corporation’s Chairman Lee Raymond addressed the members and guests of American Petroleum Institute’s (“API”) Annual Meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington D.C. The speech championed the economic benefits of fossil fuels, industry-wide coalition building, and technological advancements. Raymond’s theme throughout the speech was “a factual, common sense approach” to contemporary […]

1996 API to White House on Greenhouse Emissions

On March 20th, 1996, American Petroleum Institute’s (API) Vice President William O’Keefe followed up with the President’s Assistant for Economic Policy after an earlier meeting. Originally uncovered by The Center for Climate Integrity, O’Keefe’s “Actions to Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions” reflects the precarious position API was in at the time: stuck between acknowledging climate change […]

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 […]

1989 Presentation by Mobil Executive to the American Petroleum Institute’s Public Policy Committee

This 1989 document is a presentation given by Mobil’s former President of Research and Development, J. V. D’Ambrisi on July 19, 1989.  D’Ambrisi presented to the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) Public Policy Committee regarding API’s HEGC Strategic Planning Process. HEGC is “responsible for the expenditure of API’s funds relating to health and environmental issues affecting the […]

1983 Mobil Memo on the Atmospheric Greenhouse Effect

June 1, 1983 Mobil Oil Corporation status report published in the company’s environmental affairs and toxicology department discusses the atmospheric greenhouse effect, and asks the question, “is burning fossil fuels affecting world climate?” The Mobil status report notes that there are some scientists calling for actions to be made soon because of the “extremely long […]