‘A puitzer Pze-winang non-op nen pantzan neue orgenaton desieated to covering climate change energy andineenvronment. fw OO Exxon: THE ROAD NOT TAKEN Exxon's Own Research Confirmed Fossil Fuels’ Role in Global Warming i r Decades Ago fn PS 8 ‘Top executives were wamed of pesibe catastrophe from Cast of Characters greenhouse effect, then led efforts to block solutions. eee ern RAD ‘At a meeting in Exxon Corporation's headquarters, a senior company scientist named James F. Black addressed an audience of powerful cllmen. Speaking without a text as he flipped through detailed slides, Black delivered a sobering message: carbon dioxide from the world's use of fossil fuels would warm the planet and could eventually endanger humanity. “In the first place, there is general scientific agreement that the most likely ‘manner in which mankind is influencing the global climate is through ‘carbon dioxide release from the burning of fossil fuels,” Black told Exxon's Management Committee, according to a written version he recorded later. twas July 1977 when Exxon's leaders received this blunt assessment, well before most of the world had heard of the laoming climate crisis.PRR, ice rescans roneror:nonpanaan eu arenntin cscs ecomnscmerectane reyraernoanens Fw OE fel peeNksy j j j FSPANIES ows Investigations Topics Today's Climate Clean Economy Videos Infogrophics EBooks a ee Canoes For Oil Industry, Clean Air Tight Was Dress Rehearsal for Climate Denial Through the Smoke and Fumes Committe, industry blun the sclence surrounding ar pollution and worked tof unwanted regulation 6 ® 8 \When the smog plaguing Los Angeles reached distressing levels in the early 1950s, the city hired Arie Haagen-Smit to study the cause. Not only was Haagen-Smit a scientist specializing in airborne microscopic chemicals, he was also angry about the state ofthe citys ar. His work swiftly determined that the culprit was ol Following a hunch, Haagen-Smit built an unorthodox laboratory that accurately demonstrated how nitrogen oxide and uncombusted hydrocarbons from tailpipes and refineries react in sunlight to produce ‘smog. His findings unnerved oll companies, which feared onerous regulation would follow. So when another scientist, Harold Johnston, challenged Haagen-Smit's findings, the industry's main consulting group hires him. “They said terrible things about Haagen Smit... was given the job of overthrowing his theory entirely." Jonnston recalled in an oral history years later. "I rapidly concluded that Haagen-Smit was a genius!"FRETS {2uizereeesaing nme norportsan news aronaoton deicedrcovermgcimare charge. rere anaineernronmen, ww © foi Tpakeincy PTs ESP News investigations Topics Today's climate Clean Economy Videos Infographies EBooks ee ee = iNeed ecorM sare CRer te ike hi ENT TereasCoH Tet NG Taken Serrer oe Reeling fram oll rzes ofthe 1970s, the American auto industry grappled with tough new mileage standards they feared could make their gas guzlers obsolete. In 1978, Exxon presented manufacturers with a novel solution from ts own labs a device to help power the slectric mators of hybrid vehicles. "The future ofthe fullsized car was questionable—untl now" according to Exxon said its technology's notin developmental stages its ready now. The prototype has been engineered, tested, driven, proven.” x1on by then was a least four years into pioneering research to find alternatives to _asoline powered cars driven by worries that petroleum would soon run out. The company had already unveile the first rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which it thought could bea precursor of batteries for electric vehicles. Now, Exton hoped is new electric rive technology could make mass production of hybrids Feasible,A ultzer Przewinang non-proft, non-partisan neusorgonotion deciate ocoverng cimare change. energy ondineenvronment. fw (©) @ inside climate News Investigations Topics TodaysClimate Clean Economy videos Infographics EBooks Industrial Sirol How the U.S. Government Hid Fracking's Risks to Durante Most mornings, when his 7-year-old son Ryan gets up for school at 6:55, Bryan Latkanich is still awake from the night before, looking online for another home in some part of, Pennsylvania with good schools and good water. Six years ago, Latkanich signed on to let an energy company tap natural gas beneath his property by pumping water, sand and chemicals into rock formations, @ process called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, Soon after, Latkanich's well water got a metalic taste, he developed stomach problems, and his son one day emerged from a bath covered in bleeding sores. More recertly, Ryan became incontinent. ‘Testing by state regulators and a researcher at nearby Duquesne University showed the well water had dateriorated since gas extraction started but na proof ofthe cause. The state recently began another raund of testingFRETS {2uizereeesaing nme norportsan news aronaoton deicedrcovermgcimare charge. rere anaineernronmen, ww © foi Tpakeincy PTs ESP News investigations Topics Today's climate Clean Economy Videos Infographies EBooks Peace ee ee ce ‘ a sug iver Bureau: Big Oil’s Unnoticed All SOCIATION lnems elon cor-ele WMO iar en ney ‘When Republican Rep. Steve Scalise stepped tothe das inthe US. House of Representatives inJulyand implored his colleagues to denounce a carbon tax, he dint reach for cite predictions made by the oss fuel ttans that pushed forthe reselution. Instead, he talked about Americas farmers "wry don't we listen to what the American Farm Bureau Federation said abouta carbon 120 the Lousiana congressman sai, holaing ‘rom the group the nation's largest farm lobby. "Agriculture an energy-intensive sector, anda carbon tax levied on farmers and ranchers would be devastating he read. Advocacy groups with dose teste the oi blionaires Charles and David Koch had to get the anthtax resolution approved.