5/22/2016 Exxon - The Lamp, Fall 1996 http://www.exxon.com/current_news/fall_lamp/f96_lamp2.html 1 captures JAN FEB 4 1996 1997 4 Feb 97 ‑ 4 Feb 97 FROM THE CHAIRMAN Climate change: don't ignore the facts The issue reaches into every home and pocketbook around the world. by Lee R. Raymond Chairman, Exxon Corporation This would have profound implications since developing nations face real and immediate problems. The World Bank says one-third of the world's population lacks adequate sanitation and more than one billion people are without safe drinking water -- conditions that inevitably lead to disease and suffering. Solving these problems as populations increase requires economic growth, which, in turn, requires rising energy use. In the debate over global climate change, one of the most critical facts has become one of the most ignored - Politicization stirs fears - the undeniable link between Proponents of the global warming theory economic vitality and energy use. say that higher levels of greenhouse gases Achieving economic growth remains -- especially carbon dioxide -- are causing one of the world's critical needs, and world temperatures to rise and that with good reason. It creates more and burning fossil fuels is the reason. (See Global Warming -- What to Think? What better jobs, improves our quality of to Do?) Yet scientific evidence remains life and enables us to safeguard the environment. When economies grow, inconclusive as to whether human activities affect global climate. their energy consumption rises. It's no accident that nations with the While the atmospheric concentration of highest standard of living have the greenhouse gases is increasing, 96 percent highest per-capita use of energy, of the carbon dioxide entering the about 85 percent of which comes atmosphere is produced by nature and is from fossil fuels. beyond our control. Even a small increase in these natural-source emissions could 'Achieving economic negate any cuts made in the 4 percent of caused by humans. Moreover, growth remains one of emissions forecasts show that even if developed the world's critical nations reduced their carbon dioxide emissions to zero today, the overall level needs...' of atmospheric concentrations of CO2 would continue to rise because of growth Today, however, a multinational in the developing world. effort, under the auspices of the United Nations, is under way to cut Unfortunately, huge economic the use of fossil fuels, based on the consequences and scientific uncertainty unproven theory that they affect the have not prevented activists from earth's climate. politicizing the issue and trying to stir up In July, the U. S. administration, without full public discussion and debate, and to the surprise of nearly everyone, proposed the concept of a binding international agreement requiring developed nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after the unreasonable fears. They say the industrialized world should cut back on the use of fossil fuels, and that developed nations should agree to legally binding actions by the end of next year. This stance overlooks the need for longer-term research to determine whether human http://web.archive.org/web/19970204032855/http://www.exxon.com/current_news/fall_lamp/f96_lamp2.html 1/2 5/22/2016 Exxon - The Lamp, Fall 1996 year 2000, and committed the United States to such an agreement. This policy, if implemented, has ominous economic implications that could touch pocketbooks and impair lifestyles throughout and even beyond the industrialized world. activity impacts global climate. High costs ignored In advocating this course of action, proponents ignore the significant costs of mandated reductions in energy use. Developing nations, which will account for most of the growth in greenhouse gas emissions, are excluded from most emissionreduction proposals, but they're not immune to their impact. In our increasingly integrated world economy, policies that limit growth in industrialized nations affect trade with developing nations and hinder their economies as well. [Up to next column]   Climate change: don't ignore the facts Living with tigers Azerbaijan: the land of giants Panorama Oil in watercolor Forest Esham's lost well Global warming: What to think? What to do? Lighting the Pearl of the Orient http://web.archive.org/web/19970204032855/http://www.exxon.com/current_news/fall_lamp/f96_lamp2.html 2/2