Study: Exxon Scientists Predicted Global Warming since 1970s
2023-01-18
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1A new study says scientists at the oil company Exxon Mobile made accurate predictions about global warming starting in the 1970s.
2The study, in the journal Science, examined research by Exxon scientists.
3The oil company used more than 12 computer models that predicted increasing temperatures as well as, or better than, government and university scientists.
4The study said that Exxon's predictions that the atmosphere would warm about 0.2 degrees Celsius every 10 years were correct.
5Naomi Oreskes is a history of science professor at Harvard University in Massachusetts.
6Oreskes was a co-writer of the study.
7She said Exxon paid for research that was "actually astonishing" in its precision and accuracy.
8Geoffrey Supran is the lead writer of the study and an environmental science professor at the University of Miami.
9He said this study is different from what earlier studies have found in documents from the oil industry.
10He said the data gives strong evidence that Exxon predicted that world temperatures would rise.
11But, he said, the company publicly attacked other scientific efforts that made similar predictions.
12The study quoted then-Exxon chief Lee Raymond.
13In 1999, Raymond said climate research was "based on completely unproven climate models," or mostly guessing about the future.
14However, Exxon spokesperson Todd Spitler said some people are not correctly showing Exxon's position on climate science.
15He said there was a debate within the company about climate science instead of a plan to give false information to the public.
16Exxon 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.
17Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey compared Exxon's public statements to those of the tobacco industry.
18For years, the tobacco industry denied the dangerous effects of tobacco use even when it knew about the dangers.
19Healy brought a legal case for the state of Massachusetts against Exxon in 2019 claiming that the company misled the public.
20Oreskes and Supran, the writers of the study, said they had previously worked for or received money from organizations that support legal actions against Exxon.
21Donald Wuebbles is a retired professor of atmospheric science at the University of Illinois.
22He told The Associated Press that in the 1980s he worked with scientists who received money to support their research from Exxon.
23He said he was not surprised by the company's findings.
24Wuebbles said: "It was clear that Exxon Mobile knew what was going on."
25He added: "The problem is at the same time they were paying people to put out misinformation. That's the big issue."
26InfluenceMap is a non-profit group jointly based in the U.S. and Britain, which studies how companies are affecting the world's climate.
27InfluenceMap said Exxon's overall communication efforts oppose the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.
28It also said Exxon is currently having a negative effect on efforts to fight climate change.
29Faye Holder is the program manager for InfluenceMap.
30She said all her company's research suggests that Exxon aims to continue its business and to "thwart" policies called for by supporters of climate change.
31"The messages of denial and delay may look different, but the intention is the same," she said.
32I'm Andrew Smith.
1A new study says scientists at the oil company Exxon Mobile made accurate predictions about global warming starting in the 1970s. 2The 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. 3The study said that Exxon's predictions that the atmosphere would warm about 0.2 degrees Celsius every 10 years were correct. 4Naomi 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. 5Geoffrey 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. 6He 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. 7The 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. 8However, 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. 9Exxon 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. 10Massachusetts 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. 11Oreskes and Supran, the writers of the study, said they had previously worked for or received money from organizations that support legal actions against Exxon. 12Donald Wuebbles is a retired professor of atmospheric 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. 13Wuebbles 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." 14InfluenceMap is a non-profit group jointly 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. 15Faye Holder is the program manager for InfluenceMap. She said all her company's research suggests that Exxon aims to continue its business and to "thwart" policies called for by supporters of climate change. 16"The messages of denial and delay may look different, but the intention is the same," she said. 17I'm Andrew Smith. 18Seth Borenstein wrote this story for the Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English. 19___________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21accurate -adj. free from mistakes or errors 22journal -n. a magazine that reports on things of interest to a particular group such as professors or doctors 23astonishing -adj. very surprising, shocking 24precision -n. the quality of being very exact and correct 25misleading -adj. causing someone to believe something that is not true 26thwart -v. to prevent someone from doing something 27intention -n. what someone aims to do 28___________________________________________________________________ 29We want to hear from you. 30We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 31Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.