HN

Comments (143)

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  thelastgallon
  https://insideclimatenews.org/project/exxon-the-road-not-tak...This nine-part history of Exxon’s engagement with the emerging science of climate change is the result of an eight months-long investigation conducted in 2015. The stories span four decades, and are based on primary sources, including internal company documents dating back to the late 1970s; interviews with former company employees; and other evidence published for the first time by ICN.We found that decades ago, Exxon conducted cutting-edge climate research and then worked at the forefront of climate denial, manufacturing doubt about the scientific consensus that its own scientists had confirmed.This series was named a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, and earned national recognition from many other quarters.
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  btown
  The memo, as linked in the OP, is here, and is worth reading, as it’s incredibly far from the sensationalized headline:https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28574283-searchresul...I’ve happened to meet a number of researchers employed by large oil companies over the years, including many involved in the result of memos like this: making research into carbon capture and other mitigations a top corporate priority. Are there optical/PR reasons for investing in this research? Absolutely. Have they also been engaging in the science in good faith, and genuine intent that… in a world where climate action is desired, and net emissions are something to optimize for, they can anticipate this by genuinely funding research, and having their own research projects already underway that can address anticipated challenges? Also absolutely true.Now, I can’t speak for, say, lobbying efforts. But the scientists on the ground getting accused of the “deception” are some of the smartest, most caring, and highest-integrity people I’ve met. Entire labs of people working for decades to think: can we make our processes cleaner, at the same time we rise to the challenges of global demand.We should be celebrating, not condemning, this work.
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  jacquesm
  So, who will go to jail?That's rhetorical, obviously. The answer is absolutely nobody because money is the best insulator there is.
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  sampo
  > Most of the lawsuits assert that oil companies should help pay the escalating costs being imposed on the public by climate-fueled extreme weather because they knew the risks their products posed but worked to publicly question climate science and stymie efforts to curb emissions."They knew the risks"Everybody knew the risks. Climate science has been researched at universities and published openly.If politicians have failed to regulate, and consumers have enjoyed the benefits of (relatively) cheap fuel and energy, why would the fossil energy companies be singled out as the culprits? People wanted the high material standard of living that comes from (relatively) abundant available energy, cheaper and plentiful food that comes from abundant nitrogen fertilizers (made from natural gas). We were all part of this.
• twoodfin
  Sprow also recommended monitoring alternative energy technologies, including nuclear, solar and biofuels, to understand their viability as alternatives to fossil fuels or, eventually, for possible business development. Finally, he added, Exxon could look for “a research breakthrough” in one of these areas that would align with the company’s business.Truly damning stuff.
• throw0101a
  An article from 2023, "Exxon Made 'Breathtakingly' Accurate Climate Predictions in 1970s and ’80s":* https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2023/01/revealed-exx...* https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/exxon-mobil-predicted-global...From 2015, "Exxon knew of climate change in 1981, email says – but it funded deniers for 27 more years"* https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/08/exxon-cl...Turns out Exxon's climate science is pretty good:* https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abk0063
• elmer2
  Norway's econony and wealth is primarily from fossil fuels. Shouldn't the government be sued as well?
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  gumby
  If I drive a car and run someone over, I am arrested, not the car.A limited liability company is just a machine, as is a car. Yet somehow when you drive one you shift your responsibility to the vehicle.This needs to be fixed.
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  while_true_
  I'd like to know if there was an oil industry financed or sponsored astroturf campaign to turn the American public against electric vehicles.
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  smackay
  You'd think the one place in the world where checks and balances would be understood would be the United States of America. What did anyone expect ExxonMobil to do? Release a public statement that terrible things were going to happen, shut down all operations, lay off everybody and switch off the lights. Why was the issue politicised so the two main parties could make sure it served their interests. How come institutions like the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine had to weather severe political pressure to silence them, instead of being taken seriously and something done sooner? It's not much of a system if it's so easy to derail.
• softwaredoug
  All I’ll say is… see Digger before it leaves theaters
• abound
  Since it doesn't look like anyone has mentioned it yet: the book "Merchants of Doubt" covers this topic quite well.It's frequently the same literal scientists arguing against the existence or severity or cause of things like cigarette-caused illnesses, acid rain, the hole in the ozone layer, and yes, anthropogenic climate change. And there's a well-established playbook for how they do it too (exploit Fairness Doctrine, abuse inherent shape of scientific method, etc). Really a fascinating read if you care about this stuff.
• SoftTalker
  > Frank Sprow of Exxon’s corporate research department warned his colleagues in an internal memo, “If a worldwide consensus emerges that action is needed to mitigate against Greenhouse gas effects, substantial negative impacts on Exxon could occur.”This is a "fork found in kitchen" sort of discovery.
• dozerly
  Shocking. The people who aim to benefit the most have done something to benefit? I would be surprised if any of the big fossil fuel industries have not been doing this for decades.
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  bix6
  Corporations have more rights than people. Money wins again.
• javier2
  Conspiracy people are like "nono, the government is lying to you", but really it was the corporations that make money all along.
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  tomrod
  Why is it when these types of releases happen, it seems like the perpetrators seem to get away with it?This release, Epstein files, Panama papers, etc.It's like our generation has no desire to hold people accountable.
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  sirmike_
  [flagged]
• spottedmarley
  I would call it anti-climate-deception-deception.