A video by energy giant Shell warning about the dangers of climate change has resurfaced more than a quarter of a century after it was first released.
The VHS tape ‘Climate of Concern’ is a 28minute look at the possible impact of global warming on the planet.
It is understood the video was played in universities and schools as the energy giant made an early attempt to warn the world about the burning of fossil fuels raising temperatures.
The tape first resurfaced on Netherlands based crowdfunded journalism platform thecorrespondent.com
In the article several criticisms are made of Shell’s continued activity in oil and gas.
Allegations are also made that the supermajor lobbied against climate change targets.
But Shell say that the company’s stance has always been public knowledge.
The firm is also a member of the Transparency Register where information about its memberships to industry bodies is publicly available.
A Shell spokesperson said: “Our position on climate change is well known; recognizing the climate challenge and the role energy has in enabling a decent quality of life.
“Shell continues to call for effective policy to support lower carbon business and consumer choices and opportunities such as government lead carbon pricing/trading schemes.
“Today, Shell generally applies a $40 per tonne of CO2 internal project screening value to project decision-making and has developed leadership positions in natural gas and sugarcane ethanol; the lowest carbon hydrocarbon and biofuel respectively.
“Shell has long shared its understanding of its business environment through publications such as the Annual Report and the Sustainability Report.”
At Shell’s annual results presentation earlier this month, chief executive Ben van Beurden said: “If you look at climate change, and what is going to happen, our position has been very clear and has not changed.
“We believe that climate change is real and we believe that action will be needed. We believe that we are in the middle of an energy transition that is unstoppable and we want to be in the vanguard of that.”
The video opens with a warning from the narrator: “The need to understand the interplay of atmosphere and oceans has been given a new sense of urgency by the realisation that our energy consuming way of life may be causing climatic changes, with adverse consequences for us all.”
Do you remember seeing Shell’s video on climate change? What did you think of it at the time? Let us know by emailing alan.shields@ajl.co.uk
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