Fossil fuel companies knew products would harm coral reefs since “at least” 1980s
Major fossil fuel companies have been aware since at least the 1980s that their products would destroy coral reefs around the world through ocean acidification, marine heatwaves, and intensified storms, according to new research from the Oxford Sustainable Law Programme.
The researchers used a self-developed AI tool called CLARA to scan through thousands of historical documents for evidence, including internal company documents.
“We also found that, even decades later, the fossil fuel industry supported public-facing disinformation denying and downplaying the destructive effects of their products on coral reefs,” says lead author Dr Benjamin Franta, Senior Research Fellow in Climate Litigation at the Oxford Sustainable Law Programme and founding head of the Climate Litigation Lab.
“As coral reefs around the world are killed by marine heatwaves and other effects of climate change -- destroying ecologies, cultures, livelihoods, and enormous economic value -- the fossil fuel industry's historical awareness of this global tipping point is increasingly important. Already, climate lawsuits are pointing to the devastating impact of global warming on reefs,” he continued.
The authors say CLARA demonstrates how AI, if properly designed and implemented, can open new horizons for research supporting corporate accountability and planetary health.
