C L I M A T E F O S S I L F U E L

SCIENCE VSVSVSVSVSVSVSVSVS

DOCUMENTING THE REALITYOF GLOBAL WARMING

Leading Scientific Authorities on Climate Change

DECEIVING THE PUBLICFossil Fuel Companies and Their Lobbying Groups

FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS–AND COUNTING

“Predictions of catastrophic global warming are theoretical global warming are theoretical and are not maintained by a and are not maintained by a and are not maintained by a and are not maintained by a general consensus within thegeneral consensus within thescientific community.” –American Legislative Executive Council (ALEC), 1995

“…current indirect CO2 “…current indirect CO2 benefits clearly outweigh benefits clearly outweigh benefits clearly outweigh any hypothesized costsany hypothesized costsby literally orders of magnitude; the benefit-cost ratios range up to more than 200-to-1.” –Peabody Energy, 2014

“…it is impossible for “…it is impossible for “…it is impossible for “…it is impossible for scientists to attribute scientists to attribute the recent small surface the recent small surface temperature increase to human activity.”–ExxonMobil, 2000

“Climate change is a“Climate change is ahistorical phenomenon and historical phenomenon and the debate will continuethe debate will continueon the significance of natural and anthropogenic contributions.”–American Legislative Executive Council (ALEC), 2015

“Climate change is just an environmentalist’s P.R. tool. There’s no scitool. There’s no science to back that up.”to back that up.”to back that up.”to back that up.”–Peabody Energy, 2001

“It’s not known for sure

“It’s not known for sure

whether (a) climate change

whether (a) climate change

actually is occurring,

or (b) if it is, whether

humans really have any

influence on it.”

–American Petroleum Institute, 1

998

“The cause of this trend and whether it is abnormal remain in dispute.” remain in dispute.” –ExxonMobil, 2005–ExxonMobil, 2005

No more deception. No more delay. It’s time for climate action.Take action now. www.ucsusa.org/fightdisinformation

© Union of Concerned Scientists 2015; www.ucsusa.org/fossilfuelfiction

“Victory will be achieved

when average citizens

‘understand’ (recognize)

‘understand’ (recognize)

uncertainties in climate

science”science”–American Petroleu

m Institute, 1998 –American Petroleu

m Institute, 1998

(leaked internal memo)

The risk is clear. It has been for decades.

Global warming is happening.

The consequences are serious.GLOBAL AVERAGE SEA LEVEL RISE

Source: IPCC AR5

Source: NOAA/ESRL; Keeling

Source: NOAA/National Climate Assessment 2014

Th

e glo

bal a

vera

ge te

mperature has increased 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit si nce 1880.

Continued use of fossil fuels magnifies the risk.

Temperature Change (˚F)

10987654321

PROJECTED TEMPERATURE INCREASE 2070–2099(continued increase in C02 emissions)

Source: National Climate Assessment 2014

“...we can state with 99% confidence that current temperatures represent a real warming trend.”

–Dr. James HansenDirector of NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, 1988 Senate Testimony

99% confidence

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

1988

1880 Atmospheric CO2 Concentration(parts per million)

2014 Atmospheric CO2 Concentration(parts per million)

Atmospheric CO2 Concentratio

280ppm

“...support for the“...support for theeffects of climate change effects of climate change on public health andwelfare is limited and is welfare is limited and is welfare is limited and is welfare is limited and is typified by a high degree typified by a high degree typified by a high degree of uncertainty”of uncertainty”–ConocoPhillips, 2009

80.

Fossil fuels are the primary cause.

399ppm

FICTIONmpera

ture has grees Fahre