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 continue […]
Exxon Scientists Henry Shaw provides draft comments on the National Committee of Air Quality CO2 Workshop regarding rising levels of carbon dioxide and harmful impacts to society and the environment. These comments, dated December 5, 1980, also make policy recommendations for national and international action to reduce carbon emissions “attributed primarily to the combustion of […]
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. 1980 Atlantic Offshore Activities, Imperial Oil Ltd. (PDF) […]
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 the […]
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.” […]
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 doubt […]
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.
This 1980 document from Imperial Oil Ltd, the Canadian subsidiary of Exxon, is a newsletter produced by Exxon Research and Engineering titled “Environmental Health and Conservation News.” This document is part of the ClimateFiles Imperial Oil document set, gleaned by DeSmog researchers from the Glenbow Imperial Oil Archive Collection. The newsletter addresses concerns such as […]
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 […]
February 29, 1980 the American Petroleum Institute hosts a meeting with its CO2 and Climate Task Force comprised of fossil fuel industry representatives from Exxon, Texaco, and Standard Oil. The meeting was called to discuss research needs regarding the rise in atmospheric CO2, to establish API’s position on “climate matters,” and to edit API’s technical […]