Exxon & Shell vs The Uber Files

Public:“Reset the climate clock... The science of climate change is too uncertain to mandate a plan of action that could plunge economies into turmoil. Let's not rush to judgment before facts are in.”

Private:“There is general scientific agreement that the most likely manner in which mankind is influencing the global climate is through carbon dioxide release from the burning of fossil fuels... mankind has a time window of 5 to 10 years before the need for hard decisions.”

Public:“Shell is committed to meeting the world's energy demands cleanly and responsibly. Sound environmental policy must rest on validated scientific facts rather than alarmism.”

Private:“By the time the global warming becomes detectable, it could be too late to take effective countermeasures to reduce the effects... Changes in the atmosphere could lead to major shifts in agriculture, coastal inundation, and weather extremes.”

Public:“Currently, the scientific evidence is inconclusive as to whether human activities are having a significant effect on the global climate. Projections of disaster are based on completely unproven models.”

Private:“Atmospheric CO2 concentration will reach 415 ppm around 2020, with global temperature increases of 1.0°C above 1970 levels. Mitigation of the 'greenhouse effect' would require major reductions in fossil fuel combustion.”

Public:“Our offshore installations are engineered with conservative safety margins against natural North Sea wave height fluctuations.”

Private:“An extra one meter of platform air gap above high-tide level is incorporated specifically to mitigate projected 100-year sea level rise resulting from global greenhouse warming.”

Public:“Uber's priority is always the safety of riders and drivers. We condemn all forms of violence and seek peaceful, collaborative dialogue with taxi unions and city leaders.”

Private:“I think it's worth it. Violence guarantee[s] success. And these guys must be resisted, no? Agree that the right place and time must be thought out.”

Public:“Uber cooperates fully with authorities in the Netherlands and provides all requested documentation through standard legal processes.”

Private:“Please hit the kill switch immediately. Access must be shut down in AMS. Lock all laptops remotely and sever connectivity to the San Francisco servers.”

Public:“Uber operates in a modern digital framework. Outdated taxi regulations from the 1930s simply never envisioned smartphone-based peer transportation.”

Private:“Sometimes we have problems because, well, we are just f***ing illegal.”