The oil industry was warned about the dire effects of fossil fuels as early as the 1950s

Last year, newly uncovered documents indicated that major oil companies were warned about the climate-warming effects of fossil fuels as early as 1954 - decades before the issue became public knowledge. The Air Pollution Foundation (an industry-created group) received the warning from its president, outlining the threat of fossil fuel pollution, more specifically, causing a carbon dioxide build up in the atmosphere, leading to significant consequences to the climate. 

To protect corporate interests for the companies involved (predecessors to companies including Chevron and Shell) and avoid public backlash, the foundation dismissed these concerns and instead of addressing the issue, the industry chose to focus on minimizing regulatory threats, contributing to decades of climate denial and delay. At the time (in the mid 1950s) scientists were beginning to share their findings with the public, documenting how emissions contribute to global warming. However, this recently revealed memo stands as the earliest known warning directed to the oil industry about the impacts of greenhouse gases. 

These findings highlight the industry’s long standing awareness about the environmental dangers of fossil fuels, and further underscores arguments for now holding these companies accountable for their role in the climate crisis. Ultimately, it raises important questions about the ethical responsibilities of these companies and their role in both delaying climate action by misleading information, while also contributing to global warming by choosing to ignore it. 

Written by Sabrina Careri, for Ann Dale

Photo Credit: Documerica from Unsplash