HOUSTON, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Scientists at ExxonMobil have accurately predicted the global warming which would occur from burning fossil fuels since 1970s, contradicting what the oil giant led the public to believe, according to a new study in the journal Science issued on Thursday.

"Our results show that in private and academic circles since the late 1970s and early 1980s, ExxonMobil predicted global warming correctly and skillfully," the study said.

The study showed that between 63 percent and 83 percent of the climate projections reported by ExxonMobil scientists were accurate in predicting subsequent global warming. For example, they forecast the world would warm at a rate of about 0.20 degrees celsius per decade, which was in line with independent academic and government studies in the 1970s through the early 2000s.

The company's research also led to an accurate estimate of how much carbon dioxide could be emitted before the world would warm by more than 2 degrees celsius. This implied that some of the company's oil and gas holdings could become stranded assets, but such risks were not communicated to the company's investors or the public, the study said.

The study accused that though it knew as much as academic and government scientists knew, the company "worked to deny it - including overemphasizing uncertainties, denigrating climate models, mythologizing global cooling, feigning ignorance about the discernibility of human-caused warming, and staying silent about the possibility of stranded fossil fuel assets in a carbon-constrained world."

Exxon has repeatedly argued that its understanding of climate change evolved over the years and that critics are misunderstanding its earlier research.

"This issue has come up several times in recent years and, in each case, our answer is the same: those who talk about how 'Exxon Knew' are wrong in their conclusions," said ExxonMobil spokesperson Todd Spitler in a statement.

"Some have sought to misrepresent facts and ExxonMobil's position on climate science, and its support for effective policy solutions, by recasting well intended, internal policy debates as an attempted company disinformation campaign," the spokesperson said.

Dozens of cities, counties, and states across the United States are suing oil and gas companies for their "longstanding internal scientific knowledge of the causes and consequences of climate change and public deception campaigns," the study said, adding that the European Parliament and the U.S. Congress have held hearings.

A grassroots social movement has arisen under the moniker #ExxonKnew. Enditem

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