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Proof of Climate Change
In 1938, steam engineer Guy Callendar decided to collect records from the 147 weather stations across the world. After extensive calculations, Callendar discovered that global temperatures had increased 0.3oC over the past 50 years. Callendar attributed warming temperatures to CO2 emissions from factories, but most scientists ignored his hypothesis, believing that humans were unable to impact the climate. However, Callendar’s ideas are actually quite accurate, according to modern science. -
Proof of Rising CO2
Young undergraduate geochemist Charles Keeling decided to measure the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. He designed special technology to do this as no one had performed a similar experiment before, and took measurements from the top of the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii. Five years later, Keeling had proof that CO2 levels were on the rise, and further analysis attributed this increase to fossil fuels. This was already hypothesized by 19th-century scientists, but it was only now proven. -
Earth's Temperature First Measured with Satellites
NASA’s Nimbus III satellite launched into orbit, revolutionizing the way scientists study earth’s weather, climate, and atmosphere. For the next 30 years, the satellites provided never-seen-before data on global temperatures, greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, ozone, and sea ice thickness. For the first time, scientists could predict the weather in advance! The satellite was also further confirmation of earth’s rising temperatures. -
First Major Climate Change Legislation
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was introduced and eventually signed by 197 countries. It was the first international treaty designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions and prevent climate change. This treaty led to the Kyoto Protocol in 1995, which was an extension/furthering of the UNFCC that had similar goals. -
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Greta Thunberg
Swedish environmental advocate Greta Thunberg was born on 1/3/2003 and has been a strong voice in the climate movement since she was young. She made a statement by sailing across the Atlantic to the 2019 UN Summit, and at the summit, made a powerful speech that was a call to action. In recent years, she has been a leader in the climate movement, especially among youth. She has planned school strikes and other active methods of change to raise awareness and spark progress. -
UN Climate Action Summit
The UN Climate Action Summit of 2019 took place in New York City and gathered environmentalist leaders from all over the globe. The goal was to set goals for the future concerning emissions pollution, etc. Despite much talk, many people were disappointed by the summit for the lack of solutions and action concerning these problems.
