I recently came across a DeSmog article (Here is what #ShellKnew about Climate Change in the 1980s) revealing how the company was aware of the risks of fossil fuel as far back as the 1980s.

“Shell knew climate change was going to be big, was going to be bad, and that its products were responsible for global warming all the way back in the 1980s, a tranche of new documents reveal.”

The article shares critical excerpts of company documents that highlight their knowledge of the fossil fuel contribute to climate change and risks this presents – sea level rise, temperature changes, acidification of our oceans, etc…

It’s sad to know that we could have change course towards a more sustainable future 30-40 years ago. I’m also hopeful that current trends towards electrification of transportation and shift to renewables will allow us to not only reverse our impact on the environment, but force energy and auto industries to shift their business models as well. (Imagine if they can all succeed without relying on fossil energy.)

I’m proud to say that we are part of the solution. Hawaii State now has over 6800 electric cars. The Big Island has over 350 (40% increase over the same period last year).

Slowly but surely, we’re kicking gas.

– Noel Morin

Some related articles:

• Exxon knew of climate change in 1981, email says – but it funded deniers for 27 more years (The Guardian)
• Exxon’s Climate Denial History: A Timeline (Greenpeace)
• Koch Industries: Secretly Funding the Climate Denial Machine (Greenpeace)
• Not just the Koch brothers: New study reveals funders behind the climate change denial effort (Phys.org)
• Seven climate change myths that big oil continues to perpetuate (The Conversation)