A reminder of just how long the fossil fuel industry has been lying about climate change and why this is so important in 2022......

 

In recent years there have been a number of media and legal journals reporting on individuals, communities and classes of people suing multinational mining, oil, gas and coal corporations with regard to the environmental and climate change consequences of their business policies and actions.

One of the telling points being made before the courts is 'what did the company know and when did it know it'.

Although the facts set out below refer to the fossil fuel industry, it is time rural, regional and outer metropolitan communities on the Australian East Coast began a search in the records of federal, state, local governments and their agencies/agents, for all documents, minutes, memos, emails, as well as Hansard and media articles or comments, which reveal 'what governments knew and when they knew it'. 

It's well past time that the level of private litigation increases — because these three tiers of government will not stop: a) giving permission for urban development on floodplains or geologically unstable land; b) all but ignoring high greenhouse gas emissions by industry & business; c) refusing to act on the high rate of land clearance & destructive logging of native forest which exacerbates land mass temperature rise or d) failing to seriously address the climate risk associated with the millions of vulnerable residential dwellings which will not be able to withstand the erratic rolling unnatural disasters anticipated to hit Australia within the next 8-28 years; unless the courts begin to hand down judgments that cumulatively cost them billions in any election cycle and through budgetary pain force government to act.

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In 1959 — years before some reading this post were born —

the American Petroleum Institute (API) along with the great and good of the oil industry celebrated 100 years of drilling for oil in the USA.

At that centennial celebration nuclear weapons physicist Edward Teller addressed the around 300-strong audience.

According to a later account of this address, in part he stated:

Ladies and gentlemen, I am to talk to you about energy in the future. I will start by telling you why I believe that the energy resources of the past must be supplemented. First of all, these energy resources will run short as we use more and more of the fossil fuels. But I would [...] like to mention another reason why we probably have to look for additional fuel supplies. And this, strangely, is the question of contaminating the atmosphere. [....] Whenever you burn conventional fuel, you create carbon dioxide. [....] The carbon dioxide is invisible, it is transparent, you can’t smell it, it is not dangerous to health, so why should one worry about it?

Carbon dioxide has a strange property. It transmits visible light but it absorbs the infrared radiation which is emitted from the earth. Its presence in the atmosphere causes a greenhouse effect [....] It has been calculated that a temperature rise corresponding to a 10 per cent increase in carbon dioxide will be sufficient to melt the icecap and submerge New York. All the coastal cities would be covered, and since a considerable percentage of the human race lives in coastal regions, I think that this chemical contamination is more serious than most people tend to believe…..

At present the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen by 2 per cent over normal. By 1970, it will be perhaps 4 per cent, by 1980, 8 per cent, by 1990, 16 per cent [roughly 360 parts per million], if we keep on with our exponential rise in the use of purely conventional fuels. By that time, there will be a serious additional impediment for the radiation leaving the earth. Our planet will get a little warmer. It is hard to say whether it will be 2 degrees Fahrenheit or only one or 5. [my yellow highlighting]

But when the temperature does rise by a few degrees over the whole globe, there is a possibility that the icecaps will start melting and the level of the oceans will begin to rise. Well, I don’t know whether they will cover the Empire State Building or not, but anyone can calculate it by looking at the map and noting that the icecaps over Greenland and over Antarctica are perhaps five thousand feet thick.

Robert Galbraith Dunlop, Chairman of Sun Oil Co and a director on the API board at the time, was present when Teller informed the oil industry it was contaminating the atmosphere.

In 1965 at an annual API conference its president Frank Ikard gave an address titled “Meeting the Challenges of 1966” which informed his audience of the contents of a recent published report submitted to President Johnson’s Science Advisory Committee titled “Restoring the Quality of Our Environment”.

Ikard stated: “One of the most important predictions of the report is that carbon dioxide is being added to the Earth’s atmosphere by the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas at such a rate that by the year 2000 the heat balance will be so modified as possibly to cause marked changes in climate beyond local or even national efforts. The report further states, and I quote: “...the pollution from internal combustion engines is so serious, and is growing so fast, that an alternative nonpolluting means of powering automobiles, buses and trucks is likely to become a national necessity.” [my yellow highlighting]

Then again in 1968 an unpublished paper commissioned by the American Petroleum Institute was delivered in final form to API. Again, at this time Robert Dunlop of Sun Oil was still a current director & by now also a former Chair of the American Petroleum Institute (1965 to 1967).

Here are the details of that paper…..

“Sources, Abundance, and Fate of Gaseous Atmospheric Pollutants”, Final Report, Robinson, E. “Elmer” (Author) & Robbins, R. C. “Bob” (Contributor - American Petroleum Institute, Stanford Research Institute). First published in 1968 by Stanford Research Institute, Menlo Park, Calif. USA, with supplementary information supplied in1969 and 1971, 123 pages with diagram, table & references at:

http://chr.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Exhibit-3H-Sources-Abundance-and-Fate-of-Gaseous-Atmospheric-Pollutants.pdf

Excerpts:

It seems ironic that in our view of air pollution technology we take such a serious concern with small-scale events such as the photochemical reactions of trace concentrations of hydrocarbons, the effect on vegetation of a fraction of a part per million of S0₂, when the abundant pollutants which we generally ignore because they have little local effect, CO₂ and submicron particles, may be the cause of serious world-wide environmental changes….. [my yellow highlighting]

Possible Effects of Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

We are concerned with the possible changes in atmospheric CO₂ content because CO₂ plays a significant role in establishing the thermal balance of the earth. This occurs because CO₂ is a strong absorber and back radiator in the infrared portion of the spectrum, especially between 12 and 18. As such CO₂ prevents the loss of considerable heat energy from the earth and radiates it back to the lower atmosphere, the so-called “greenhouse effect. Thus the major changes which are speculated about as possibly resulting from a change in atmospheric CO₂ are related to a change in the earth's temperature….

If the earth's temperature increases significantly, a number of events might be expected to occur, including the melting of the Antarctic ice cap, a rise in sea levels, warming of the oceans, and an increase in photosynthesis. The first two items are of course related since the increase in sea level would be mainly due to the added water from the ice cap. [my yellow highlighting]

Estimates of the possible rate at which the Antarctic ice cap might melt have been made….

Changes in ocean temperature would change the distribution of fish and cause a retreat in the polar sea ice. This has happened in recent time on a very limited scale….

Summary of Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere

In summary, Revelle makes the point that man is now engaged in a vast geophysical experiment with his environment, the earth. Significant temperature changes are almost certain to occur by the year 2000 and these could bring about climatic changes…..

[my yellow highlighting]

The following year saw this report sent to API, “Sources, Abundance, and Fate of Gaseous Atmospheric Pollutants: Project PR-6755, Supplemental Report” (1969) at:

http://chr.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Exhibit-3I-Sources-Abundance-and-Fate-of-Gaseous-Atmospheric-Pollutants-Supplement.pdf

Yale Environment 360, 30 November 2022:

The Center for International Environmental Law, an advocacy group Muffett now runs, published excerpts in 2016. Now, the paper — along with a follow-up that Robinson and Robbins produced in 1969 — is playing a key role in a wave of lawsuits seeking to hold oil companies accountable for climate change.

Minnesota, Delaware, Rhode Island, Baltimore, and Honolulu are among about two dozen U.S. states and localities suing the industry. Some of the cases seek compensation for the damage wrought by climate-driven disasters like floods, fires, and heat waves, plus the cost of preparing for future impacts. Others allege violations of state or local laws prohibiting fraud and other deceitful business practices, or requiring companies to warn consumers of a product’s potential dangers. The defendants, which vary from case to case, include the American Petroleum Institute as well as major companies such as ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, BP, and ConocoPhillips.

The suits’ common thread is the charge that the industry has long understood emissions from oil and gas combustion would drive warming — and create a host of major global risks — but carried out a decades-long misinformation campaign to confuse the public and prevent a shift to cleaner fuels. Most cite Robinson and Robbins’ work. The pair’s reports have been proffered internationally too, most notably in a Dutch case in which a court last year ordered Shell to slash its carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2030; the company is appealing. European courts have been more favorable for cases seeking to force such reductions or push governments to strengthen climate policies, while U.S. suits generally aim at extracting financial penalties or compensation from companies….. [my yellow highlighting]

Read the full article here.

Further reading

https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Smoke-Fumes-FINAL.pdf

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/162144/Presentation%20Geoffrey%20Supran.pdf

“Assessing ExxonMobil’s climate change communications”, Geoffrey Supran, PhD, History of Science, Harvard University

A reminder of why "Enshrining A First Nations Voice In The Australian Constitution" is important

 

Why is the Uluru Statement from the Heart and, what it asks of all Australia, so important?

It is a matter of historical record and of a continuous culture enduring from time immemorial on this continent down to the present day. A matter of connection with and care of Country — an understanding of responsibility towards and belonging to a place which has existed since long before the British-European notion of sovereignty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8sYLZk5QeM

KIMBERLEY ROCK ART: A World Treasure. 2020. Kimberley rock art is one the largest figurative bodies of art to survive anywhere on the planet.... and yet so little is known about it. The Kimberley Foundation Australia is about to change that. The Foundation is sponsoring a world-class team of scientists to date the rock art.

IMAGE: The Blackfulla Perspective (2018)
@theblackfullaperspective2186
Click on image to enlarge

The languages of Aboriginal Australia
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
(1994)
Click on image to enlarge

In Australia today est. 812,000 people formally identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. This figure is believed to probably be an undercount of the Indigenous population, in part due to the voluntary nature of the question in the national census and the difficulty in census teams visiting some parts of the country due to the physical remoteness of some Aboriginal communities.

A national referendum is expected to take place sometime in the 2023-24 financial year asking all citizens registered to vote to express their view on including a new provision in the Australian Constitution which establishes a First Nations Voice. 

Cartoon of the Week

 

David Pope

News Tweet of the Week

 

"I think that people are owed an explanation of what happened."

Niki Savva's new book 'Bulldozed' details Scott Morrison's fall and Anthony Albanese's rise - and it's already causing some major rumblings in Australian politics. pic.twitter.com/KbGKbiXpuq

— News Breakfast (@BreakfastNews) November 28, 2022

 

Image of the Week

 

"A censure motion will be moved in federal parliament against former prime minister Scott Morrison."
Australian Associated Press, 28 November 2022. 
IMAGE: Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS

In case you missed it....

 

The Echidna, newsletter, 2 December 2022:

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Australia's information commissioner has begun an investigation into Medibank's data-handling practices as the hackers behind the breach dumped the last customer information they stole on the dark web. The health insurer reported the breach on October 13 and the Russian ransomware group has been releasing customer information in a staged manner since early November. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner confirmed it was examining Medibank after preliminary inquiries found enough evidence to press further.

• Health authorities have issued a warning for all green thumbs using potting mix after a Sydney woman in her 60s died from Legionnaires' disease. Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by exposure to legionella bacteria. It is life-threatening but rare. Symptoms include fever, chills, a cough, shortness of breath and aching muscles. Associate Professor and specialist in infectious diseases at the Australian National University Sanjaya Senanayake said gardeners should wear a face mask and gloves while handling potting mix.

• Bushfire season has officially begun in Australia, and despite copping a drenching from La Nina, the country could still see devastating burns. NSW is facing its most significant grassfire risk in a decade, with two years of rain creating conditions for "prolific vegetation growth". Forecast hotter and drier conditions for the second half of summer also means the overall impact this season could be much worse than many are expecting. Grassfires can move up to three times faster than a bushfire, generating enormous amounts of heat, and flames up to five metres high.

To sign up for this newsletter go to: https://www.theechidna.com.au/

New Liquor Accord now operating in the Lower Clarence area

 

Clarence Valley Independent, 30 November 2022:

If you’re under 18 and are thinking about sneaking into a licensed premises, be warned – new liquor accord rules in the Lower Clarence mean you’ll have to wait until you’re at least 19 before you can enjoy a drink with friends at a pub or club.

President Chris Durrington said the new rule, which received the full support of local licensing police, and was ratified at the October meeting of the Lower Clarence Liquor Accord targets fake identification and under-age drinking.

“If you’re 17 and you get caught under-age drinking on premises, your barring starts from when you turn 18,” he said.

“You can’t go into a pub or club or restaurant that is a licensed premises until you are 19.

“If you get caught again a second time, your ban from licensed premises will extend until you’re 20.”

The new rule for 18’s has been implemented successfully in other areas including Coffs Harbour.

Presenting fake identification becomes more prolific in holiday periods, Mr Durrington said.

“Especially around this time of year at the pubs, a lot of kids from Sydney bring up fake id’s…there’s a few fake apps that they use that look 100 per-cent, but there are a few things we look for to identify it’s fake,” he said.

“The licensing police have increased their presence recently and have been doing walk-throughs of premises at least every couple of weeks.”

Stiff penalties apply for licensed premises selling alcohol to a minor with a fine of $11,000 or up to 12 months imprisonment, or both, for both the person selling the alcohol and the licensee.

Mr Durrington said the new rule for under 18’s will work hand-in-hand with the liquor accords barred from one, barred from all policy.

“We’ve had the barred from one, barred from all, successful initiative that’s been going for a few years,” he said.

“If you commit an offence in any club, pub or any licensed establishment you can be put on the barred list, so you will be barred from anywhere in the Lower Clarence that sells alcohol.

“Restaurants, bottle shops, clubs, pubs, every licensed premises.”

Since the implementation of the barred from one, barred from all initiative, Mr Durrington said all venues had experienced a dramatic drop in offences committed at premises.

“Since we started the barred from one, barred from all, crime rate in the clubs and pubs is down about 80 per-cent,” he said.

“They see the sign, especially if they’re locals, that they can’t go to the pub or the club for a year and it just stops them.”…..

One of the consequences of this new agreement among liquor outlets is that adults of any age may find it difficult to access home delivery from local bottleshops. 

I'm not sure that Mr. Durrington, Operations Manager of the Yamba Golf and Country Club or the Coffs-Clarence Police District commander, foresaw that situation.