Shell's "Climate of Concern" Film Resurfaces

Shell, one of the world’s largest fossil fuel producers, has been directly linked to 1.67% of all global industrial greenhouse gas emissions from 1988 to 2015—a staggering contribution to the climate crisis. Yet, what makes this statistic even more alarming is Shell’s long-standing awareness of its environmental impact. In 2017, the rediscovery of a 1991 public information film titled Climate of Concern revealed that Shell had a clear and science-based understanding of global warming and its dangers decades ago. The film warned of rising temperatures, melting polar ice, and increased weather volatility, aligning closely with today’s climate realities. Despite this early insight, Shell continued to expand its fossil fuel operations, invest in lobbying efforts that undermined climate policy, and support trade groups skeptical of climate science. The re-emergence of Climate of Concern has reignited scrutiny of Shell’s corporate ethics, casting a harsh light on its failure to act in accordance with its own knowledge. Critics argue that the company prioritized profit over environmental responsibility, effectively burying its warnings while the planet edged closer to ecological tipping points. This contradiction underscores a broader issue: how much should a corporation be held accountable when it has not only contributed to a global crisis, but also knowingly stood in the way of meaningful action? Shell’s case is a sobering reminder that awareness without accountability is not leadership—it’s complicity.