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Internal ExxonMobil Documents Detail Decades of Climate Change Deliberations
Key points
- Documents released in a Massachusetts lawsuit against ExxonMobil.
- Internal memo from 1988 warned of negative impacts from climate action.
- New details on Exxon's internal climate deliberations from 1980s-2010s.
- Documents include challenges to company's climate-solution claims.
Undisclosed Documents Emerge in Lawsuit
A batch of previously undisclosed internal ExxonMobil documents has been released as part of an ongoing lawsuit filed by Massachusetts against the company in 2019. These documents offer new insights into Exxon's internal discussions and awareness of climate change over several decades.
Early Awareness of Climate Impact
One document, an internal memo from Frank Sprow of Exxon’s corporate research department in 1988, warned colleagues that a worldwide consensus on climate action could have "substantial negative impacts on Exxon." This memo was previously quoted by The Wall Street Journal but is now reported on in full, alongside other newly disclosed materials.
Challenges to Climate-Solution Claims
The released documents also include more recent statements from Exxon scientists who challenged the company’s public climate-solution claims concerning its work on biofuels and carbon capture and storage. These internal challenges provide a different perspective on the company's stated efforts in these areas.
Context of Ongoing Litigation
The release of these documents coincides with a pivotal time for the oil industry, as the US Supreme Court recently heard arguments from Exxon and Suncor Energy regarding a lawsuit filed by Boulder, Colorado. The outcome of this decision could influence numerous other climate-related claims against oil companies.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Previously undisclosed internal ExxonMobil documents, released as part of a lawsuit, reveal decades of internal deliberations regarding climate change and its potential impact on the company. These documents provide new details on the company's awareness of climate science and its challenges to climate-solution claims.