-
Minamata Disease
Japanese chemical factory, Chisso, released large quantities of industrial wastewater that was contaminated with highly toxic methylmercury which caused hundreds of deaths. -
Silent Spring
An Environmental science book written by Rachel Carson. Focuses on the adverse environmental effects caused by the extensive use of pesticides. It changed people’s ideas about the environment and even influenced them to take action. -
James Lovelock's Hypothesis
English scientist, environmentalist and futurist developed a hypothesis which predicted that the Earth's functions are a self- regulating system. -
The First Earth Day
22nd April. An event to show support for the environment and today 193 countries are involved. It is opened for anyone who would like to help the environment and they can do different activities like plant trees, shop with cloth bag instead of using plastic bags, etc. -
The Limits to Growth
Book written by Dennis Meadows and his team from MIT. Centers on climate change and how the Earth is finite. Received a lot of backlash due to the public not wanting to believe it. -
The Chernobyl Accident
26th April. Nuclear accident in Pripyat, Ukraine (Soviet Union) which resulted in 46 deaths. -
Our Common Future
Book by Brundtland Commission. Also known as the Brundtland Report. Set up by the UN, its goal is to provide the essential requirements to the world’s poor. Said there were 3 fundamental components to sustainable development: environmental protection, economic growth and equity. -
Montreal Protocol
Signed by 46 countries in order to regulate and manage the amount of chemical released into the air that hinder the ozone layer, by international agreements and precautionary measures. -
The Earth Summit
Held in Rio de Janeiro, leaders of 105 nations with the intention of rethinking economic growth, advancing in social equality, and ensuring environmental protection. The outcome was the agreement to major treaties. Raised awareness on environmental issues. -
The Kyoto Protocol
December 11th. An international agreement which commits its signatories to reducing Greenhouse gas emissions. This agreement is one of the many ways by which awareness on climate change can be raised. It is seen as an important first step on the way towards a better world.It is also a way of influencing countries which maybe don’t have a strong opinion on climate change and are in time to take action still. -
An Inconvenient Truth
Oscar-winning American Documentary directed by Davis Guggenheim. It is about former US vice-president, Al Gore's campaign to educate people about global warming and on the threat that climate change poses to the earth, its causes, effects and history and potential solutions to it. People started caring more about the environment and making sustainable choices -
Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami
March 11th 2:46pm. There was an energy accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant initiated by a 15-metre tsunami which followed the Tōhoku earthquake of magnitude 9.0. Some radioactive elements escaped from Fukushima and caused the release of radioactive material into the sea damaging ecosystems. -
The Paris Climate Agreement
An agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and it deals with greenhouse-gas-emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance, starting in the year 2020.This agreements aim is to make stronger the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. -
Sixth Mass Extinction
Human behaviour is on the verge of causing a mass-extinction, the sixth in the world’s history. Wildlife is dying out due to many factors as habitat destruction, overhunting, toxic pollution, human overpopulation, continued population growth, and overconsumption. The sixth mass extinction is seriously threatening the world’s food supplies.
