New Evidence Reveals Fossil Fuel Industry Sponsored Climate Science in 1954
Documents shed light on the earliest-known instance of climate science funded by the fossil fuel industry, adding to growing understanding of Big Oil’s knowledge of climate change.
Fossil Fuel Industry Sponsored Climate Science in 1954
A young Caltech researcher named Charles David Keeling conducted research on carbon dioxide levels across the western United States in the 1950s. His findings would later lead to the famous Keeling Curve, which visually depicts rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels caused by burning fossil fuels.
Newly discovered documents reveal that Keeling's research was partially funded by the fossil fuel industry through the Southern California Air Pollution Foundation. The foundation, established in 1953, received contributions from 18 automotive companies, including American Motors, Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors.
In addition to automotive companies, the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Western Oil & Gas Association were identified as major contributors to the foundation's funds. The API and the association were represented by top-level executives, and their involvement can be traced back to at least 1954.
Significance of the Sponsorship
The discovery of these documents reveals that the fossil fuel industry has been connected to climate science since its earliest beginnings. Not only did it contribute to the greenhouse effect behind climate change, but it also played a role in the scientific discoveries that transformed our understanding of the Earth's atmosphere.
This sponsorship of climate science in the 1950s paints a more nuanced picture of the relationship between the fossil fuel industry and scientific research. It shows that the industry had knowledge of the potential climate impacts of carbon dioxide emissions and provides important evidence of its involvement in shaping scientific knowledge on climate change.
Furthermore, despite being aware of the potential climate impacts of CO2 in 1954, many members and sponsors of the Air Pollution Foundation went on to fund campaigns denying the science and attacking climate policies aimed at addressing global warming.
Carbon Isotope Research and Keeling's Findings
Keeling's research focused on carbon isotopes and their role in determining the age of ancient objects through carbon dating. He found that carbon atoms from fossil fuels had different isotopic compositions compared to naturally produced carbon atoms. This allowed researchers to identify the contribution of fossil fuel emissions to atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
In November 1954, Keeling's research director, Samuel Epstein, proposed using carbon isotope analysis to study changes in the atmosphere. The proposal emphasized the potential impact of burning coal and petroleum on Earth's climate. The Air Pollution Foundation approved funding for Keeling's carbon dioxide investigations, marking the earliest-known instance of climate science sponsored by the fossil fuel industry.
Keeling's subsequent measurements of atmospheric CO2 levels, including his famous work on Mauna Loa, confirmed the increasing trend of carbon dioxide caused by the burning of fossil fuels. His findings, represented by the Keeling Curve, provided crucial evidence for human-caused climate change.
