Coal Knew Too: Explosive Report Shows Industry Was Aware of Climate Threat as Far Back as 1966

A new report shows conclusively that the coal industry was aware of the climate impacts of burning fossil fuels as far back as 1966—and, like other sectors of the fossil fuel industry with knowledge of the consequences of their business model, did next to nothing about it. 

The revelation was published in an article by Élan Young at HuffPost Friday.

"It wasn't just big oil that knew about climate change decades ago," tweeted HuffPost editor Kate Sheppard.

The story uses a discovery by Chris Cherry, professor of civil engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to show industry foreknowledge of the ramifications of extractive technologies over 50 years ago. Cherry found the evidence in a 1966 copy of the Mining Congress Journal he was given by his father-in-law. 

In the journal, James R. Garvey, president of now-defunct research firm Bituminous Coal Research Inc., describes the future consequences of coal.

"There is evidence that the amount of carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere is increasing rapidly as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels," Garvey wrote. "If the future rate of increase continues as it is at the present, it has been predicted that, because the CO2 envelope reduces radiation, the temperature of the earth's atmosphere will increase and that vast changes in the climates of the earth will result."

Garvey added that the result of the changes in climate could include melting icecaps and rising seas.

"Such changes in temperature will cause melting of the polar icecaps, which, in turn, would result in the inundation of many coastal cities, including New York and London," wrote Garvey.

"This is astonishing," tweeted historian Brad Simpson.

The article sent shockwaves across the environmental movement.

"The entire fossil fuel industry knew about the risks of climate change and covered it up for decades all to make a buck," said Earther reporter Brian Kahn.

As Young writes in her article, though, it's difficult to know what the revelations in her reporting will result in as far as damages or accountability. 

"Even as the Trump administration has promised a coal resurgence and rolled back Obama-era regulations, the industry's profitability continues to experience a downward slide," writes Young. "If the slogan 'Coal Knew' ever does take off, it's unclear who'll be left to sue."