HISTORY OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Here is a timeline of humanity's development and progress in our understanding of climate change.
1800-1870
The level of CO2 in the atmosphere is about 290 ppm. The first industrial revolution started with a focus on coal and railroads.
1859
John Tyndall demonstrated that some gases block infrared radiation, and that changes in the concentration of the gases could bring climate change.
1879
The International Meteorological Organization began to compile and standardize global weather data.
1896
Svante Arrhenius publishes the first calculation of possible global warming from human emissions of CO2.
1870-1910
The Second Industrial Revolution began, with a focus on fertilizers, other chemicals, electricity, and public health.
1938
Guy Callendar argued that CO2 greenhouse global warming was underway, reviving interest in it.
1957
Roger Revelle found that excess CO2 would not be readily absorbed by the oceans, contradicting the popular notion that it would.
1960
Charles Keeling created a chart tracking CO2 levels and that chart, known as the "Keeling Curve", was among the earliest charts to show that carbon dioxide levels were on a steady uptick. The CO2 level is 315 ppm.
1963
First meeting of concerned climate scientists warn that a rise in sea level is likely, with "immense flooding" of shorelines.
1967
Syukuro Manabe and Richard T. Wetherald made a calculation that doubling CO2 would raise world temperatures a couple of degrees.
1968
Studies suggest the possibility of a collapse of the Antarctic ice sheets, which would catastrophically raise sea levels.
1970
First Earth Day. The environmental movement attains strong influence and spreads concern about global degradation. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is created.
1971
Study of Man's Impact on Climate (SMIC) Conference reports a danger of rapid global change and calls for an organized research effort.
1972
Droughts in Africa, Ukraine, India cause a world food crisis and spread fears about climate change.
1975
Warnings about the environmental effects of airplanes led to investigations of gases in the stratosphere and the discovery of their danger to the ozone layer.
1976
Studies show that chlorofluorocarbons, methane, and ozone can make a serious contribution to the greenhouse effect.
1976
Deforestation and other ecosystem changes are recognized as major factors of climate change.
1979
A report by the US National Academy of Sciences report reaffirms that doubling CO2 will bring a warning of 1.5-4.5°C.
1982
Strong global warming since the mid-1970s is reported, with 1981 the warmest year on record.
1985
Villach Conference declares a consensus among experts that global warming is inevitable and calls on governments to consider international agreements to restrict emissions.
1987
The legally-binding Montreal Protocol imposes international restrictions on emission of ozone-destroying gases.
1988
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is established.
1993
The ice cores of Greenland suggest that great climate changes can occur within a single decade.
1995
Second IPCC report declares that serious warming is likely in the coming century. Reports of breaking Antarctic ice shelves revitalize public opinion on global warming.
1997
The Toyota Prius is introduced as the first commercial electric hybrid car; swift progress is made in wind turbines, solar electricity, and other energy alternatives.
2000
The Global Climate Coalition dissolves as many corporations grapple with the threat of warming, but oil companies convince the US to ignore the problem.
2001
Warming was observed in ocean basins. The Third IPCC report states that unprecedented global warming is "very likely," with highly damaging impacts.
2003
Numerous studies raise concerns that the collapse of ice sheets can raise sea levels faster than most had believed.
2007
The fourth IPCC report warns that serious effects of warming have become evident and that the cost of reducing emissions would be far less than the cost of damage.
2007
Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets and Arctic Ocean sea-ice cover were found to be shrinking faster than expected.
2008
Climate scientists point out that even if all greenhouse gas emissions are halted immediately, global temperature will remain elevated for millennia.
2009
The Copenhagen conference fails to negotiate binding agreements, ending hopes of avoiding severe future climate change.
2012
Studies find recent disastrous heat waves, droughts, extremes of precipitation, and floods were made worse by global warming.
2015
Researchers find that the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet may be irreversible and bring meters of sea-level rise over future centuries.
2018
The fifth IPCC report states that to avoid dangerous climate change, the world’s greenhouse gas emissions must be in sharp decline by 2030.
2021
The sixth IPCC report warns that catastrophic consequences of climate change cannot be ruled out.
2021
The Glasgow conference spurs modest pledges to restrict emissions that reduce the risk of catastrophic impacts but don't go far enough to avoid dangerous climate change.
2021
The mean global temperature is 14.8°C, the warmest in tens of thousands of years. The level of CO2 in the atmosphere is 418 ppm, the highest in millions of years.