I was born in 1968, the same year the American Petroleum Institute received a report warning that unchecked burning of fossil fuels could lead to catastrophic climate change. For all of my lifetime - over half a century - fossil fuel companies and governments have known their products harm our planet. Yet they've kept chosing profits over responsibility, leaving us to grapple with the escalating and devastating consequences.
A History of Knowing and Denial
In 1968, the American Petroleum Institute commissioned a report by the Stanford Research Institute titled "Sources, Abundance, and Fate of Gaseous Atmospheric Pollutants." This report explicitly warned that carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels could cause significant global temperature increases, potentially leading to melting ice caps and rising sea levels. The authors stated:
"Significant temperature changes are almost certain to occur by the year 2000, and these could bring about climatic changes."
Despite these early warnings, the industry didn't alert the public or change course. Instead, companies like Exxon (now ExxonMobil) kept things secret while they conducted research confirming the link between fossil fuels and global warming. A 1982 internal Exxon memo projected significant rises in global temperatures and warned of "catastrophic" effects.
Fossil fuels companies also embarked on a deliberate campaign to sow doubt about climate science. They funded think tanks, lobbyists, and advertising campaigns designed to question the legitimacy of climate research. Between 1998 and 2014, ExxonMobil and other dodgy fossil fuel companies spent nearly $120 million funding organisations to promote climate denial. This strategy hasn't just been neglectful - it's been a calculated effort to mislead the public.
The Consequences Are Here and Now
Today, the repercussions of the fossil fuel industry's half century of deception are no longer theoretical - they are unfolding before our eyes. Hurricanes and cyclones like Helene and Milton have been intensified by the very emissions that fossil fuel companies have relentlessly pumped into the atmosphere. Warmer ocean temperatures, a direct result of increased greenhouse gas emissions, provide more energy for storms, making them more destructive and unpredictable. The same goes for the bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef which is directly the result of climate change. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a brutally hot summer and cyclone season as a result of climate change.
Communities worldwide are bearing the brunt. Homes, crops and infrastructure are being destroyed, economies disrupted, and lives irreversibly altered. The most vulnerable populations - often those who've contributed least to emissions - are suffering the most.
Why Accountability Matters
Holding fossil fuel companies and governments accountable for this destruction is not about assigning blame and retribution; it's about seeking justice and ensuring a sustainable future. These corporations have profited immensely while externalising the environmental and social costs of their operations. And governments like Australia's continue to knowingly allow it. The principle is straightforward: those who have allowed, caused and perpetuated the harm should be held responsible for remedying it.
Legal actions are gaining momentum. Cities like New York and San Francisco have filed lawsuits seeking to recover costs associated with climate adaptation and resilience. US States such as Minnesota and Massachusetts are pursuing legal actions for deceptive practices and failure to disclose known risks. And internationally, communities are exploring avenues to hold corporations and governments accountable. Australian companies like Woodside and Glencore arein scope for legal action. So should ministers in our governments who knowingly approve fossil fuel expansionism.
Lawsuits can drive systemic change by enforcing legal accountability and compelling companies and governments to alter their practices and divest from fossil fuels. Holding companies and governments accountable can also set a precedent. It can send a powerful message about the consequences of prioritising profits over security.
A Call to Action
The window to address the climate crisis is almost closed. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that we have only a few years to enact unprecedented changes to avoid the most catastrophic effects of global warming. This necessitates bold action from all of us.
Governments must implement robust policies that limit emissions and accelerate the transition to renewable energy. They must stop approving major fossil fuel projects. Corporate entities, especially those in the fossil fuel industry, must acknowledge their role and take responsibility. And as individuals, we must demand transparency and accountability from our leaders and the companies that are profoundly impacting our future.
As someone who has witnessed this crisis unfold over the span of my lifetime, I believe it's imperative that we learn from the past to inform our actions today. Knowledge of the harm caused by fossil fuels isn't new, nor is the responsibility to act. By holding fossil fuel companies and governments accountable, we can take a significant step towards rectifying past wrongs and preventing future ones.
We can't afford to allow companies and governments to knowingly endanger our security and prosperity. Accountability is not just about addressing past injustices; it's about safeguarding the future.
Something small but important that you can do today is support the Duty of Care bill proposed by Senator David Pocock. So far, Labor and Liberal MPs and senators have opposed it. But if enacted, the bill will ensure that politicians and policy makers have a duty of care to future generations.
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