Study: Exxon Scientists Predicted Global Warming since 1970s

Study: Exxon Scientists Predicted Global Warming since 1970s

A new study says scientists at the oil company Exxon Mobile made accurate predictions about global warming starting in the 1970s.

The study, in the journal Science, examined research by Exxon scientists. The oil company used more than 12 computer models that predicted increasing temperatures as well as, or better than, government and university scientists.

The study said that Exxon's predictions that the atmosphere would warm about 0.2 degrees Celsius¹ every 10 years were correct.

Naomi Oreskes is a history of science professor at Harvard University in Massachusetts. Oreskes was a co-writer of the study. She said Exxon paid for research that was "actually astonishing" in its precision and accuracy.

Geoffrey Supran is the lead writer of the study and an environmental science professor at the University of Miami. He said this study is different from what earlier studies have found in documents from the oil industry.

He said the data gives strong evidence that Exxon predicted that world temperatures would rise. But, he said, the company publicly attacked other scientific efforts that made similar predictions.

The study quoted then-Exxon chief Lee Raymond. In 1999, Raymond said climate research was "based on completely unproven climate models," or mostly guessing about the future.

However, Exxon spokesperson Todd Spitler said some people are not correctly showing Exxon's position on climate science. He said there was a debate within the company about climate science instead of a plan to give false information to the public.

Exxon has faced several legal cases claiming that the company knew about the damage oil and gas would cause but still gave misleading information to the public.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey compared Exxon's public statements to those of the tobacco industry. For years, the tobacco industry denied the dangerous effects of tobacco use even when it knew about the dangers. Healy brought a legal case for the state of Massachusetts against Exxon in 2019 claiming that the company misled the public.

Oreskes and Supran, the writers of the study, said they had previously² worked for or received money from organizations that support legal actions against Exxon.

Donald Wuebbles is a retired³ professor of atmospheric⁴ science at the University of Illinois. He told The Associated Press that in the 1980s he worked with scientists who received money to support their research from Exxon. He said he was not surprised by the company's findings.

Wuebbles said: "It was clear that Exxon Mobile knew what was going on." He added: "The problem is at the same time they were paying people to put out misinformation. That's the big issue."

InfluenceMap is a non-profit group jointly⁵ based in the U.S. and Britain, which studies how companies are affecting the world's climate. InfluenceMap said Exxon's overall communication efforts oppose the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. It also said Exxon is currently having a negative effect on efforts to fight climate change.

Faye Holder⁶ is the program manager for InfluenceMap. She said all her company's research suggests that Exxon aims to continue its business and to "thwart⁷" policies called for by supporters of climate change.

"The messages of denial and delay may look different, but the intention is the same," she said.

Words in This Story

accurate –adj. free from mistakes or errors

journal –n. a magazine that reports on things of interest to a particular group such as professors or doctors

astonishing –adj. very surprising, shocking

precision –n. the quality of being very exact and correct

misleading –adj. causing someone to believe something that is not true

thwart –v. to prevent someone from doing something

intention –n. what someone aims to do

1 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

2 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 atmospheric   

adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的

参考例句：

• Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。
• Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。

5 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

6 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

7 thwart   

v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的)

参考例句：

• We must thwart his malevolent schemes.我们决不能让他的恶毒阴谋得逞。
• I don't think that will thwart our purposes.我认为那不会使我们的目的受到挫折。