Did Shell Know About Climate Change All Along?

From Al Gore to UN conferences, climate change is no stranger to the public eye. Now, new evidence is suggesting that Shell knew about the risks more than 25 years ago, but failed to take action.

In 1991, the oil giant produced a public information film exploring the catastrophic risks of climate change. Titled Climate of Concern, the film ran for 28 minutes and was intended for schools and universities. Drawing on both data and expert opinions, it warned of extreme weather, as well as famines, floods and a climate refugee crisis. It placed the blame on fossil fuels, and reinforced its warning with a message that the film was “endorsed by a uniquely broad consensus of scientists in their report to the United Nations at the end of 1990.”

“If the weather machine were to be wound up to such new levels of energy, no country would remain unaffected,” the movie explains. “Global warming is not yet certain, but many think that to wait for final proof would be irresponsible. Action now is seen as the only safe insurance.”

Oil giant keeps concerns to itself

Despite the serious nature of the film, Climate of Concern was never released. A quarter of century later, it’s re-emerged. The scoop is particularly controversial, as the company has invested heavily in fossil fuels and oil reserves, and become an advocate against climate action since 1991. This includes lobbying to undermine European renewable energy targets, and block major climate change policies. It’s also a fracking pioneer, despite the fact that its own 1998 data confirmed that unconventional oil and gas exploration would jeopardise climate goals.

As a result, Shell’s been hit with serious accusations reproving it for being well aware of the risks of global warming, but failing to take preventative action.

Shell’s predictions spot on

According to scientists, the predictions made in Climate of Concern were alarmingly accurate. Both temperatures and sea levels are rising, and climate change has emerged as a major concern for the entire planet.

So how was the film leaked? It was obtained by the Correspondent, a Dutch owned online journalism website. The story has since been picked up by a string of global newspapers and platforms, including the Guardian.  

Critics slam Shell for failing to act

Critics have been quick to call out Shell on its actions, with leading US environmentalist Bill McKibben commenting, “The fact that Shell understood all this in 1991, and that a quarter-century later it was trying to open up the Arctic to oil-drilling, tells you all you’ll ever need to know about the corporate ethic of the fossil fuel industry. Shell made a big difference in the world – a difference for the worse.”

Despite calls to shut down the oil and gas industry in the name of climate change, companies like Shell are continually on the search for new ways to improve efficiency. ‘Focus on Sulphur Analysis’ spotlights the latest technologies being used to analyse individual species at ppb level, in several matrices.