Since the 1980s, both Shell and Exxon Mobil had strong evidence for the existence of human-caused climate change. Scientists from both companies published peer-reviewed studies on the subject, which concluded that climate change was happening as a result of human industrial activity. Exxon Mobil alone funded 54 studies, all of which were in consensus on the existence of human-caused climate change ⁹. Internally, both companies also circulated memos and information pertaining to climate change and it’s economic, social, and political consequences on our species, as well as it’s impact on their business interests in particular ^{3, 4, 10, 13}.

As early as 1982, Exxon Mobil circulated an internal memo³ warning of global average temperature changes of up to 4.5 degrees (3 degrees +/- 1.5 degrees), and of increased desertification of areas that are now prime agricultural land. The memo states that climate impacts could include “significant changes in sea level, ocean currents, precipitation patterns, regional temperature and weather” but laid the onus of change on government and the individual, even though they profited heavily from selling products that caused the problem. An internal report within Shell in 1988 also shows acknowledgement of Shell’s contribution to global CO2 emissions.

The various internal reports within both companies discuss the ramifications that climate-related regulation could have on their profit margins. To that end, millions were spent in the years following to spread misinformation on first the existence, and then cause, of climate change. To its credit, Shell released a 30-minute film in 1991 titled ‘Climate of Concern’¹² wherein the threat of climate change was outlined and the need for alternative forms of energy explored. Further action, however, was contrary to this message, such as that in their 1994 report ‘The Enhanced Greenhouse effect’, the majority of which was dedicated to generating doubt regarding methodology, models, and “scientific views” of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Both companies, and others within its industry, still spend hundreds of millions of dollars on corporate lobbying and swaying public opinion,^14,16 in order to defeat law and regulation that would act to reduce or control activities linked to climate change.

Why does it matter?

Climate change is the biggest threat our entire species faces in the 21st century, which, if left unchecked, would cause billions of dollars of damage, displace millions, and impovrish entire reigons, leaving them worse off by more than their entire GDP¹⁷.

Shell or Exxon Mobil had the power to change all of this, doing good for every person on the planet, while being in the best position to profit from their new knowledge. Instead, they did their best to bury it and cause confusion in the public mind regarding climate change, it's nature, and it's source, for their own personal profit and gain. We will be suffering for their decisions and actions for decades to come.

Beginning in 2006, Volkswagen showed a massive change for the better in terms of the emissions of its diesel vehicles. These were high-performance cars with exhaust emissions that rivaled those of the Toyota Prius⁷. It wasn’t until September of 2015 that it came to light that their testing results had been a cheat, and that the tested vehicles had been made to run in a reduced-performance (and therefore reduced emissions) mode in testing environments⁴.

This was a deliberate decision on the part of Volkswagen to thwart and deceive policy makers, in order to market their cars as more environmentally friendly than they were. This was not “a few rogue engineers” as Volkswagen first claimed⁷, but a deliberate choice on the part of management. Oliver Schmidt, a high-level actor at Volkswagen Group, was sentenced to seven years in a U.S. prison for his part in the coverup³.

Why does it matter?

This isn’t a victimless crime. It isn’t a case of “well they cheated but no harm done”. Higher emissions have a direct effect on the air that we breathe, having serious health impacts, such as aggravating existing asthma conditions, shortness of breath, decreased lung function, difficulty breathing, and inflammation^14,15. Diesel fuel is also a known carcinogen, directly linked to the formation of cancer in humans and animals^18-21. Increased smog in our cities are a direct result of increased vehicle emissions, causing undesirable city aesthetics, a decrease in plant growth, and serious human health impacts¹⁶. This is why emission regulations exist and must be strictly enforced; it impacts everyone.