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Is climate change real? Is climate change real?
Yes, climate change is real Yes, climate change is real
No, climate change is not real No, climate change is not real
We can't know for sure if climate change is real We can't know for sure if climate change is real
Only human emissions account for climate change Only human emissions account for climate change
All published scientific research on climate change confirms it's real All published scientific research on climate change confirms it's real
Oil companies have known for many years climate change is real Oil companies have known for many years climate change is real
Climate change models have proven very accurate Climate change models have proven very accurate
Climate change is not real because it is very cold outside Climate change is not real because it is very cold outside
The earth goes through natural cycles of warming and cooling The earth goes through natural cycles of warming and cooling
The climate and nature are just too big for us to understand The climate and nature are just too big for us to understand
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Is climate change real?
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Yes, climate change is real

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Oil companies have known for many years climate change is real

In the 1960s and 70s oil company scientists understood that climate change was real, and the companies worked to hide and obscure this information from the public.
Shannon Hall Thomas Heath
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The Argument

Oil companies were aware of the harm fossil fuels could cause to the environment. In 1977, after sending scientists to conduct tests, Exxon acknowledged that fossil fuels did in fact negatively affect global temperature.[1] Yet, they continued to produce fossil fuels. Oil companies should decrease their production.

Counter arguments

Decreasing the sale of oil would affect the economy. Without oil, cars would not be a means of ready transportation, leaving many people stranded from job opportunities outside of their neighborhood or city.[2]

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Oil companies were aware of the effects of fossil fuels on the environment. [P2] Oil companies should cut down on production.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] If oil companies cut down on production, it will affect people’s livelihood and hurt their chances of getting good jobs.

References

  1. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/exxon-knew-about-climate-change-almost-40-years-ago/
  2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-good-and-bad-of-the-steep-drop-in-oil-prices/2018/11/14/6f3e4cc0-e845-11e8-bbdb-72fdbf9d4fed_story.html
This page was last edited on Monday, 26 Oct 2020 at 15:18 UTC

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