Shell Knew About Climate Change (Too)

Research on climate change is not old. Although some physicists had linked burning fossil fuel to global warming in the 19th century, we didn't start paying any real attention to it until the second half of the 20th century. Scientists became worried around the 80s, and the general public starting hearing about it in the 90s.

And what about the fossil fuel industry? Well, they were worried too! Last year, media exposed Exxon's in-house research from almost 40 years ago. The company used the knowledge to adapt its rigs and vessels, and took the path of deliberately promoting doubt and denial about climate science. And you know the story: CEO Rex Tillerson is now US Secretary of State.

Now, Dutch platform The Correspondent has dug up a video that shows that Shell had accurate climate models from at least 1991. In this article, The Guardian takes on the video (an excerpt of which is made available), and goes over how chillingly accurate Shell's predictions were. From rising seas that make islands disappear, to water pollution and climate refugees, the company was spot on.

But the tape - and this is the extraordinary part - was not for internal use. It was made as an educational resource for schools. Shell was, indeed, trying to help with climate change. Nowadays, however, the company is heavily invested in tar sands, and has kept exploring and tapping reserves all over the world, including the Arctic. Why didn't Shell heed its own warning? The answer is in the article.

Congratulations to The Correspondent for an extremely relevant exposé. And congratulations to The Guardian for living up to the expectations that arose when former editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger, retired in 2015:

To describe what is happening and what – if we do nothing – is almost certain to occur, a future that one distinguished scientist has termed as “incompatible with any reasonable characterisation of an organised, equitable and civilised global community”.