Internal documents from ExxonMobil reveal that as early as 1988, the company was aware of the risks posed by climate change and the potential negative impact on its business if global action was taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to insideclimatenews.org. These files were released as part of a lawsuit filed by Massachusetts in 2019 and include memos and scientific statements from Exxon’s own researchers.
One memo from Frank Sprow, a member of Exxon’s corporate research department, warned colleagues that if a worldwide consensus emerged on mitigating greenhouse gas effects, Exxon could face substantial negative consequences. The documents also contain more recent internal statements from Exxon scientists that question the company’s public claims about its efforts in biofuels and carbon capture and storage, providing new insight into Exxon’s internal deliberations on climate solutions, insideclimatenews.org reported.
The release of these documents adds to a growing body of evidence that ExxonMobil was aware of climate change risks decades ago but publicly cast doubt on the science. This aligns with prior reporting and lawsuits that have scrutinized Exxon’s role in shaping public discourse on climate change. The revelations contribute to ongoing debates about corporate responsibility and regulatory oversight in the fossil fuel industry, according to insideclimatenews.org.
The newly disclosed files were made public earlier this year as part of the Massachusetts lawsuit against ExxonMobil, which was filed in 2019. The case continues to examine Exxon’s internal knowledge and public statements on climate change, with the documents providing critical evidence for legal and policy discussions.