User reviews

As Episode 1 of "Black Gold" (2022 release; 3 episodes of about 50-55 min each) opens, we are at the "American Petroleum Institute" in Washington, where an opening prayer is offered before the keynote speaker (later revealed as a top guy from Exxon) comes on. We then hear from a talking head: "Global warning is here. How did we get here?", and we then go back in time in the 1970s when Exxon wanted to be an "energy" company, rather than an "oil and gas" company... At this point we are 10 min into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this mini-series is co-directed by highly regarded Zachary Heinzerling ("McCartney 3,2,1" and Gabrielle Schonder (PBS Frontline). Here they look back at how Exxon's stance on global warming/climate change evolved over the years. In the 1970s an Exxon researcher studied the "greenhouse effect" and a subsequent paper to Exxon management carried a stern warning about it. Initially Exxon management was supportive, only to eventually reverse course and instead in the late 80s launching a massive disinformation campaign about global warming (very similar to how tobacco companies lied for years and decades about the dangers of smoking). It is utterly depressing to see the parallel between that and where the country has come to find itself today, where tens of millions of Americans have been manipulated into believing the Big Lie (that the 2020 presidential election was "rigged and stolen"). As depressing as it is, this mini-series makes for compelling viewing, reminding us that at one point the issue of global warming (a/k/a climate change) had broad bipartisan support (watch President George H. W. Bush declare himself to be an environmentalist). It also boggles the mind that indeed at one point there was a different trajectory for tackling the issue of climate change, only sadly to be undermined by the greed and dishonesty of Big Oil.

"Black Gold" (couldn't they have come up with a more original title?) premiered earlier this week on Paramount+. I binge-watched all 3 episodes in a single setting. If you are interested in a historical context of how the issue of global warming evolved from having broad bipartisan support to a bitterly divisive and partisan issue, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

This documentary is a very one sided view of the the issue without a real solution to the problem ever offered. The assertion is Exxon knew about "global warming" in the 70s and should have decided to sacrifice profits and start focusing on renewable energy instead. The issue is Exxon is competing with other multinational Oil Companies as well as OPEC, none of which had the same scrutiny. In the real world public companies are scrutinized against their peers quarterly and if they lag they will be punished accordingly. The extra star I give is the nostalgic ads from long ago.