History of Climate Change TimelineThomas McGann

1837

Naturalist Louis Agassiz proposes the Ice Age theory. His theory was

not taken well at first but set into motion the idea that the global climate

could change on its own.

1896

Svante Arrhenius proposes the impact of

CO2 on the earth’s temperature

(Greenhouse Effect). Thought that the burning of fossil fuels could have

long term effects.

1955

The U.S. Weather Bureau reports a rise in the

earth’s temperature of the past 50 years.

1957

Christian Science Monitor releases the

article “Are Men Changing the Earth’s Temperature?” It was

one of the first articles to point out the

connection between CO2 emissions and the rising

temperature.

1958-1961

Charles Keeling collects first quantitative data on

atmospheric CO2.

1962

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring published. This book highlighted the

consequences of unmonitored technological development.

1968

Apollo astronauts send pictures of the entire earth back. The new

environmental ethic had truly begun.

1970

First Earth Day celebration.

1970

EPA and NOAH created under Nixon.

1970

The first international conference on climate change was held. The

group released the article “A Study of Man’s

Impact on the Environment” which

highlighted the dangers of greenhouse gas

emissions.

1973-1974

Arab Oil Embargo and resulting U.S. energy

crisis. Forced U.S. leaders to provided funding for energy alternatives and

promoted U.S. energy independence.

1974

British TV documentary on climate change. Helped to educate

people worldwide about climate change.

1974

Washington Energy Conference.

Dependence on foreign energy was discussed as

well as alternatives.

1975

Science News cover story on climate change

emphasizing global cooling. Created

confusion and exposed a lot of the inconsistencies

in climate change opinions.

1975

Energy Policy and Conservation Act.

1981

1/3 of U.S. citizens have heard of the

“Greenhouse effect.” Global awareness of the

dangers of climate change has increased.

1983

The EPA reports global warming may have real, potentially catastrophic

consequences to the earth’s climate.

1985

British researches discover a hole in the ozone layer. This was widely covered by the

media over the next few years.

1987

The Montreal Protocol halts the production of

ozone destroying substances in response to the hole discovered

prior.

1987

Reagan signs Global Climate Protection Act. This outlined a plan to stabilize the level of

greenhouse gas emissions.

1988

A deadly heat wave occurred. It caused a drought that affected crops and dried rivers

halting commerce.

1988

James Hanson testifies to Senate on global warming trend. He

waited for a hot day and claimed the earth was entering a long term

warming.

1988

The UN establishes the Intergovernmental Panel

on Climate Change(IPCC).

1989

The Global Climate Coalition (GCC) was

formed. It was formed of mostly U.S. businesses

and represented corporate interests.

1990

First IPCC report issued.

1992

First Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Emission

standards were set and some on the U.S. which were mostly ignored.

1993

Greenland ice cores show great climate

changes can occur in a single decade. Raised some doubts as the

legitimacy of climate change.

1995

The IPCC issues its second report.

1997

Toyota introduces the first mass-market electric hybrid car

(Prius). Made it easier for people to buy an eco

friendly car.

1997

International Climate Control Conference in Kyoto Japan. The U.S.

remained the strongest holdout against

emissions standards and refused them unless

standards were placed on developing countries.

1990’s

The warmest decade of the millennium.

1998

Borehole data confirms extraordinary warming

trend.

1998

Super El Nino causes weather disasters and

warmest year on record. Raised the question of could global warming

affect the weather and its severity.

2000

GCC disbanded after membership declines.

2001

Warming observed in ocean basins.

2001

Phil Cooney, a lobbyist for the oil industry,

named to White House Council on

Environmental Quality. Showed corruption and

power that the oil companies possess.

2001

Third IPCC report. Declared that global warming is definitely

man-made and temperatures were increasing rapidly.

2003

Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act

proposing caps on emission levels

defeated.

2004

Michael Crichton’s book State of Fear published.

2004

The film The Day After Tomorrow is released. The plot of the movie

revolves around climate change.

2005

2005 is the warmest year on record.

2005

Hurricane Katrina hits the gulf coast. Leads

some to question if the severity of storms is

increasing.

2005

Kyoto treaty goes into effect. It was signed by

all major industrial nations except the U.S.

2006

Al Gores film An Inconvenient Truth wins

Oscar for best documentary.

2007

U.S. Climate Change Program issues first

State of Carbon Cycle report.

2007

Al Gore awarded Nobel Peace Prize for his work

global warming and climate change.

2007

George W. Bush’s first mention of global

warming in a State of the Union address.

2007

Fourth IPCC report released. Stated that the

worst was certain to happen if changes were

not made.

2009

Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

World leaders met to try and create an

agreement to limit global greenhouse

gases.

2009

“Cap and Trade” bill defeated by congress.

Lobbying by U.S. energy industry caused

congress not to pass a bill that would have imposed limits on greenhouse gas

emissions.