ExxonMobil Exaggerates Emissions Reductions In NYT Ad
On June 16, 2009, ExxonMobil placed an ad on the front page of the New York Times which significantly overstated emissions reductions. Additionally, the ad neglected to mention the staggering growth in the amount of vehicles on the road and omitted the fact that a majority of the reduction in emissions occurred in the 1970s with the passage of the Clean Air Act.
ExxonMobil Placed An Ad In The New York Times...
ExxonMobil Ad: "Today's car has 95% fewer emissions than a car from 1970." [ExxonMobil ad in the New York Times, 6/16/09]
...That Significantly Overstated Emissions Reductions
Emissions Have Decreased Substantially, But Not By 95%
|
Highway Vehicle Emissions, 1970 and 2001 |
||||
|
1970 (Thousand Short Tons) |
2001 (Thousand Short Tons) |
Total % Change |
% Change Per Vehicle |
|
|
Carbon Monoxide |
162,231 |
74,825 |
-54.20% |
-86% |
|
Nitrogen Oxides |
12,624 |
8,249 |
-34.70% |
-69% |
|
Volatile Organic Compounds |
16,910 |
4,874 |
-71.20% |
-86% |
|
Particulate Matter |
480 |
218 |
-54.60% |
-78% |
|
|
||||
|
Number of Highway Vehicles |
111,242,295 |
235,331,282 |
111.50% |
|
[Department of Energy, accessed 6/19/09]
The Vast Majority Of The Emissions Reductions Occurred In the 1970s With The Passage Of The Clean Air Act. According to the Department of Energy: "By 1979, carbon monoxide (CO) emissions were 68 percent lower, emissions of total suspended particulates were 50 percent lower, sulfur dioxide was 19 percent lower, and nitrogen oxide emissions were 18 percent lower than in 1970. Emissions of various atmospheric pollutants were reduced further during the 1980's and 1990's." [Department of Energy, accessed 6/19/09]
