ICE MELTDOWN:

THE IRREVERSIBLE TRUTH

From: Kimberly Smith

To: Exxon Mobil and Chevron

July 19, 2019

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2

GLOBAL WARMING: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE……………………………………………………. 2

Global Warming: Past………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2

Global Warming: Present……………………………………………………………………………………………. 3

Global Warming: Future…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3

CARBON FOOTPRINT: THE CONTRIBUTORS & THE IMPACT…………………………….. 4

The Contributors………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4

The Impacts on the Arctic…………………………………………………………………………………………… 5

Arctic Sea-Ice………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5

Polar bears……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

Stop increasing the amount of fossil fuel plants……………………………………………………………… 6

Provide honest information to the public…………………………………………………………………….. 7

Renewable Energy……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7

CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8

WORK CITED…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9

Figures
Figure 1…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3

Figure 2…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5

Figure 3…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

Figure 4…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

Figure 5…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7

ABSTRACT

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Climate change should not be ignored as it has the ability to change the world as we know it. There
are roughly 800 million people across the world exposed to droughts, floods, heat waves, rough
weather events and sea-level rise, due to climate change (Conservation.org). Not only are climate
changes effecting millions of people but it is also threatening our wildlife, more specifically, the
Arctic polar bears. The Arctic has been affected more than any other land mass in the world due to
the heat waves melting sea-ice and polar caps. There are predictions made by Conservation
international that parts of the planet may become uninhabitable if changes aren’t made to slow
down the growing climate.

There are many sceptics of climate change but the most convenient sceptics are fossil fuel companies.
Global warming and disinformation seem to go well together if you are a distributor of petroleum,
coal, or natural gas. Despite the misleading information given by many well-known fossil fuel
providers, the climate is changing and although there is no way to reverse it, we have the ability to
slow down the process.

While the fossil fuel industry is providing misleading information to the public and their investors,
valuable time is being lost to fight global warming. Disinformation that looks accurate is easy to trust
if no further research is being done, therefore, it is easy to doubt the accuracy of changing
temperatures. The truth behind climate change is far worse than led on by the fossil fuel industry
and needs to be revealed sooner rather than later.

GLOBAL WARMING: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

Global Warming: Past
Climate change is a silent killer. It unknowingly began in the 1830s, marking the beginning of
civilization. Scientists who study human contribution to modern warming have found enough
evidence to state that human-made carbon emissions contribute to more than half of global warming
since the 1950s, when scientists started tracking the temperature changes (Carbon Brief). Ice core
data from the 1700s to present show a gradual increase of CO2 (carbon dioxide) concentration up
until the 1940s where it sky rockets

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 Figure 1: Ice-core data from the year 1700-1958 and Mauna Loa Observatory data from
1958-present. This data represents CO2 Concentration over the past 2,000 years.

Global Warming: Present

The earth’s temperatures have continued changing in a continuous cycle since 1880, but never at the
increasing rates we see today. John Leslie with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) reported that June of 2019 was, “the hottest June on record for the globe.”, he continues by
saying the Antarctic sea-ice coverage is on a new low for June due to the warmth, for the second month
in a row. The Antarctic sea-ice extent was 8.5% below the 1981-2010 average (John Leslie NOAA).
When sea-ice melts it is taking habitats away from polar bears and seals which could eventually lead to
a higher chance of encountering a polar bear migrating to colder climates.

Global Warming: Future

While animals and plants are already vanishing from parts of their range that are now too hot to
inhabit, extinction is still to come. Should climates continue to rise in the years to come, Greenland
and Antarctica would have enough ice melting to turn coastal cities into swamp wastelands (John J.
Weins Nat Geo).

Assuming the world won’t address the climate issues we are facing and lead contributors like the fossil
fuel industry continue falsifying information that needs to be known about climate change,
temperatures will increase. Temperatures could increase anywhere from 5 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit,
setting a record higher than the ones that have continued to grow since the beginning of
industrialization (Stephen Leahy Nat Geo).

In less than 20 years, millions of people in the United States could endure heat indexes reaching 127
degrees Fahrenheit. Stephen Leahy, a journalist with National Geographic, predicts there are

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“dangerous days ahead”, he also states, “extreme heat kills hundreds every year across the U.S. without
any action to stop climate change.” (Stephen Leahy Nat Geo). Unfortunately, Stephen Leahy is right,
the truth is hidden by people with power and money who stand to gain something by misleading
society on the true effects of climate change.

CARBON FOOTPRINT: THE CONTRIBUTORS & THE IMPACT

The Contributors
Fossil Fuel companies have always been well aware of the harm burning fossil fuels would bring to the
planet but chose to mislead the public and their investors any way. By misleading the public and
possible investors, the biodiverse and conservationist images were withheld.

In May of 2019, Dr. Rick Hammer, Associate Professor of Biology, attended the ExxonMobil annual
shareholder’s meeting in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Hammer was prepared with a question for ExxonMobil
CEO Darren Woods, “why is your company so far behind in creating a business plan that protects the
Gulf Coast, and the entire plant, from the impacts of fossil fuel-driven global warming?”. Before given
the chance to ask this question, he was directed to Dr. Susan Avery, an ExxonMobil Board member
and climate scientist. After discussing his concern to Dr. Avery, she answered with a uniform response
that points fingers at everyone other than ExxonMobil and the petroleum industry. Her response was
as follows,

“Neither ExxonMobil nor the petroleum industry as a whole should be singled out for primary
culpability as a major enabler of fossil fuel emissions over the segmentation of polluters.” (UCS Rick)

I want to emphasize this previous quote because it is the main reason the fossil fuel industry, the main
contributors to climate change, are able to continue misleading the public. These companies aren’t
facing the true issue at hand. The true issue being the lack of responsibility taken by companies like
ExxonMobil who are the leading force in global warming.

Figure 2: Carbon Emissions being released at a fossil fuel distribution factory

The shared idea between fossil fuel companies is that there’s a win/win situation at the end of whatever
they think the future may be. These companies believe that it is possible to continue exploration of
new fossil fuel technologies without contributing to the thick smog accumulating from carbon
emissions.

Figure 2: Fossil fuel distribution plant emitting a carbon footprint

The Impact on the Arctic

Arctic Sea-Ice
The Arctic has experienced a warmer climate change than the rest of the world resulting in
shrinking borders and thinning ice. Data research done by the NOAA has shown ice coverage
has dropped 8.5% below average coverage for June compared to the 1981-2010 average
(NOAA). Ice Sheets in Antarctica have been shrinking rapidly in the previous years and will
continue without an action plan to combat the warming of our planet. Antarctica lost 127
billion tons of ice between 1993 and 2016 (Climate and weather).
UN International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has urged the need for action to avoid
irreversible impacts that global warming will have on our planet’s necessities (Climate and
Weather). With severe changes to climate, most rapidly in the polar regions, sea-ice is drifting
and ice shelves begin to calve leading to higher sea levels that will eventually affect every remote
coastline.
Polar Bears
The chances of polar bears to vanish from polar regions is about a 50% to 80% chance by
midcentury, with a reduction of emissions, there is a chance that only about 25% to 50%
vanish from their regions. Rise in temperature is the main reason why polar bears are
endangered. With a decrease in ice coverage of the Arctic, it makes it harder for bears to catch
their meals due to the land coverage they are restricted to.

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 Starvation is impacting polar bears greatly and leaving them fighting for survival with barely
an ounce of meet on their bones. Considering a polar bear burns about 12,325 calories a day,
according to the unique metabolic analysis, it is obvious that protein is vital to their health
(Stephen Leahy Nat geo).

Estimates given by Amstrup, a former USGS polar bear expert estimates, “there are 20,000 to
30,000 polar bears in 19 different groups or populations scattered across the top of the U.S.,
Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. Four of these populations are considered to be
declining.” (Nat Geo Stephen). Polar bears have also been listed as vulnerable animals by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Not only do polar bears have a hard-enough time finding the appropriate protein for their diet
but they also aren’t known to have the endurance to walk long distances. The farther they
walk, the more calories they lose and, in the state, that some of these bears are in, energy is
minimal.

Figure 3: This video, published in December, Figure 4: A polar bear searching

ignited debate about what's happening to the for food on the iceless coastline.
world's polar bears.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Stop increasing the amount of fossil fuel plants
There is a strong correlation between the amount of carbon emissions and the increase in global
temperatures that affect everyone. The solution that will remain the most impactful is the elimination
of using industrial plants or a significant decrease in a short amount of time. Without the effort being
put forth by the fossil fuel industry there is little to no chance of regaining control over temperatures
rising. The earth is trying to give us signs that it is weakening. The ice is melting, forests are
diminishing, animals are suffering, and time is lessening. When companies, who emit large amounts
of fossil fuels, create “targets” in reduction of carbon emissions the entire lifecycle of a product isn’t

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taken into consideration. Life cycles of products continue for long periods of time and should be
accounted for as whole to get accurate numbers for each target that is set. A great way of efficiently
keeping track of these emissions would be to account for the entire lifecycle period of production so
that reduction is continuing to occur.

Provide honest information to the public

It is against the code of ethics to hide information from the public and investors. The down-playing
of global warming by fossil fuel companies is the number one reason we haven’t seen a substantial
amount of progress yet. The top contributing companies need to take responsibility for their actions
and work to slow down the release of emissions into the atmosphere. Scientists who study, specifically,
environmental the cause and effects of climate change are well researched and reputable. The facts
that are presented need to stay in context to the public so that information important information
regarding climate change can be processed. Comparing the fossil fuel industry’s facts to environmental
scientist’s facts state two very different things.

Renewable Energy
The newest form of conservation comes from renewable energy sources such as, solar, hydro, and wind
energy. There are many emerging markets that will provide easier access to renewable resources that
will help begin the process of reverting to renewable energy completely. The continuing release of
fossil fuels is increasing the amount of non-renewable fuels that form a thick cloud which clogs
circulation causing health issues on top of environmental issues. It is important to change with the
times and accept what needs to happen. Countries around the world are committing to forms of
renewable energy, for example, Paris made an agreement in 2015 to meet emission reduction targets.
Syria, Nicaragua, along with nearly every other country in the world have also made the commitment
to joining the Paris agreement. The U.S. having withdrawn from the agreement, has set ourselves apart
from the rest but not in a good way.

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 Figure 5: (Champine) Taken from the United Nations Treaty Collection which
reflects the U.S. being one of the two areas that have withdrawn from the Paris
Agreement.

CONCLUSION
From the time CO2 data started being collected in the 1800s to now, there is a undeniable increase
in global warming. The damages have been done and there is no reversing what has happened but we
can slow down the process. By creating a business plan to conserve as much energy and emissions as
possible, the world has a chance to maintain stability. The process is not cheap but will make for a
better future. Renewable energy is a major trend with businesses today and it is time now more than
ever to join the trend as a green contributor instead of a carbon emissions contributor. By committing
to a greener future for yourselves along with everyone else, you will succeed in 2 out of 3 solutions I
have provided. One of the solutions would be, of course, renewable energy commitments and the
other being to start providing honest information to the public and speaking truth to the faces of
today. There is no reason to hide behind lies that are manipulated by false facts to save the fossil fuel
industry from collapsing. To excel in the future means to risk everything you have right now and realize
it will be worth it for future generations to come.

WORK CITED

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 Dillon, Jeff. “A Daily Record of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide from Scripps Institution of
Oceanography at UC San Diego.” The Keeling Curve, scripps.ucsd.edu/programs/keelingcurve/.

Early Warning Signs of Global Warming: Arctic and Antarctic Warming.” Union of Concerned
Scientists, www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/early-warning-signs-
of-global-1.html.

Ekwurzel, Brenda. “Yes, ExxonMobil and Chevron Are Still Distorting Climate Science.” Union of
Concerned Scientists, 17 June 2019, blog.ucsusa.org/brenda-ekwurzel/exxonmobil-chevron-
distort-climate-science

Leahy, Stephen. “'Off-the-Charts' Heat to Affect Millions in U.S. in Coming Decades.” National
Geographic, 16 July 2019, www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/07/extreme-heat-to-
affect-millions-of-americans/.

“Seven Things to Know About Climate Change.” Seven Things to Know About Climate Change, 19
Oct. 2017, www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/04/seven-things-to-know-about-
climate-change/#close.

Champine, Riley D. “Syria to Join Paris Climate Pact, Leaving U.S. Isolated.” National Geographic, 7
Nov. 2017, www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/11/syria-to-join-paris-climate-agreement-
leaves-united-states-isolated-spd/.