Decades-old oil industry magazine predicted climate crisis, starvation

In 1977, a publication by a predecessor of Marathon Petroleum warned that rising global temperatures could cause severe economic and social disruptions, including widespread starvation.

Geoff Dembicki reports for The Guardian.

In short:

• The 1977 article from Marathon Petroleum's predecessor predicted climate-related disasters due to industrial expansion.
• The lawsuit claims Marathon and other companies concealed their knowledge of climate risks for decades.
• Marathon is accused of opposing climate policies while privately acknowledging the dangers of carbon emissions.

Key quote:

"The climate is not going to get better, only worse. Over the long haul, we are going to have to brace ourselves for the prospect of a lot of poor harvests."

— J Murray Mitchell, NOAA scientist

Why this matters:

Companies like Marathon Petroleum knew about climate change risks long ago but continued to prioritize profit over environmental responsibility. Understanding this history is vital for holding them accountable and addressing current climate challenges.