In 1958 measurement of atmospheric carbon dioxide level began at Mauna Loa, Hawaii observatory. [chart above] On May 4th the observatory measured 415.39ppm, a level not occurring on Earth since the Pliocene Epoch 400,000 years ago when sea levels were 25 meters higher and global temperatures 2-3 degrees centigrade higher than today. So you can see Exxon's prediction was dead on. According to the report, “At the high end, some scientists suggest there could be considerable adverse impact including the flooding of some coastal land masses as a result of a rise in sea level due to melting of the Antarctic ice sheet,” The report continued stating this would only take place centuries after temperatures warmed by 3 degrees Celsius. The Exxon engineers got that part wrong.
The Antarctic ice sheet is already melting.{20.05.19} The Fourth Annual National Climate Assessment, says unequivocally, "The impacts of climate change are already being felt in communities across the country. More frequent and intense extreme weather and climate-related events, as well as changes in average climate conditions, are expected to continue to damage infrastructure, ecosystems, and social systems that provide essential benefits to communities". In 2018, the United States alone experienced 14 different climate and weather-related disasters, each costing over a billion dollars. Renowned climate scientist Michael Mann says that at the current rate of increase atmospheric carbon dioxide will cross 450ppm in just over a decade. That level will lock-in dangerous planetary warming of 3.5℉
Despite their accurate prognostication, Exxon continued to sell its fossil fuels unabated, nor did it inform government authorities of its alarming findings. Instead, like the tobacco industry which also pushes a toxic product, Exxon choose to spend millions on a disinformation campaign of climate change denial. The company knew in 1982 as evidenced by the chart that most of the world's remaining oil reserves would have to remain unexploited if the Earth was to avoid catastrophic climate change in the future. That conclusion, however, was extremely bad for business. US Person asks, anyone care to sue Exxon-Mobile, the world's largest international oil company, for selling a known hazardous substance to the world for 27 years?