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 […]
January 29, 1980 memo from Exxon’s Walt Eckelmann to Morey O’Loughlin on Exxon Science and Technology Department’s view and position on greenhouse effect. The memo is in response to O’Loughlin’s inquiry. Eckelmann writes that the Exxon Science and Technology Department views the build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a “potentially serious problem requiring the results […]
Exxon’s R.J. Campion memo to J.T. Burgess regarding comments on the American Petroleum Institute’s background paper on CO2 effects. Exxon supports the “API conclusion that no industry research on CO2 (“Greenhouse”) Effects be initiated at this time.” Exxon also wants API’s paper to reflect that the earth is “now in a cooling phase, due to normal cyclic […]
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 […]
A 1979 memo from Exxon’s R.J. Campion to W.W. Madden referencing Bill Slick’s need for information on atmospheric CO2 buildup as a potential emerging issue for the American Petroleum Institute to consider. Exxon recommended that this is not a high priority and referenced the Exxon Research and Engineering pilot “Greenhouse Project” study that measured CO2 […]
December 7, 1978 W.M. Cooper sends a memo to Edward David Jr. detailing the Exxon programs developed to measure CO2 uptake by the various levels of the ocean through equipment on tankers and drilling infrastructure. Cooper notes that the rationale for the studying of CO2 is to understand the possible impact of the greenhouse effect […]
March 7, 1978 memo from Exxon’s H.N. Weinberg to E.J. Gornowski proposing the company undertake the task of answering the “CO2 problem.” Weinberg proposes that this effort can benefit mankind and it is appropriate for the “world’s leading energy company and leading oil company” to find out if the CO2 problem exists. Share this post […]
October 31, 1977 Exxon memo from Henry Shaw to John W. Harrison about a meeting Shaw recently attended (October 15, 1977) in Atlanta. The meeting was part of the Department of Energy’s Environmental Advisory Committee addressing carbon dioxide questions. Dr. Alvin Weinberg of the Institute of Energy Analysis chaired the committee. The October 15 meeting […]
Details found in a 1970 report, “Pollution Is Everybody’s Business,” authored by H.R. Holland, a Chemical Engineer responsible for environmental protection in Imperial Oil’s engineering division, suggests Exxon was aware as early as the late 1960s that global emissions of CO2 from combustion was a chief pollution concern affecting global ecology. Holland wrote: “Since pollution means disaster to the […]