CLIMATE CHANGE TIMELINE

10000 BCE

AGRICULTURAL DEFORESTATION

The roots of human-induced climate change can be traced back to the advent of agriculture around 10,000 BCE. The transition from nomadic lifestyles to settled farming communities led to deforestation, which reduced the number of trees available to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2). Early slash-and-burn techniques further exacerbated CO2 emissions.

1769

STEAM ENGINE

James Watt improved the steam engine, revolutionizing transportation and manufacturing but also increasing coal consumption.

1804

1804

STEAM LOCOMOTIVE

The first steam-powered locomotive was built, facilitating faster transportation of goods but also increasing coal use.

1824

GREENHOUSE EFFECT

In 1824, French physicist Joseph Fourier first described the Earth's natural "greenhouse effect," explaining how the atmosphere traps heat and regulates the planet's temperature. This laid the foundation for future climate science research.

1859

1859

OIL DRILLING

1859: Edwin Drake drilled the first successful oil well in Pennsylvania, leading to the commercial extraction of oil.

1859

1859

CO2 TRAPS ATMOSPHERE HEAT

In 1859, Irish physicist John Tyndall discovered that some gases, including carbon dioxide and water vapor, could trap heat in the atmosphere. This finding was crucial in understanding the mechanisms behind the greenhouse effect.

1885

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

1885: The invention of the internal combustion engine by Gottlieb Daimler, which ran on gasoline, further increased oil demand.

1889

Svante Arrhenius predicted global warming

1889

GLOBAL WARMING ANTICIPATED

In 1896, Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius made a groundbreaking prediction that changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels could substantially alter the surface temperature through the greenhouse effect. This was one of the first scientific connections between human activities and potential climate change.

1908

FORD MODEL T

1908: The introduction of the Ford Model T made cars accessible to the masses, increasing gasoline consumption.

1938

1938

GLOBAL WARMING PROVEN

In 1938, Guy Callendar, an amateur scientist, made history by discovering that the planet had warmed. He collected data from 147 weather stations worldwide and calculated that global temperatures had risen by 0.3°C over the previous 50 years. Callendar argued that carbon dioxide emissions from industry were responsible for this warming, although his findings were largely ignored by the scientific community at the time.

1947

NITROUS OXIDE POLLUTION

1947: The first commercial chemical fertilizer plant opened, contributing to nitrous oxide emissions, a potent greenhouse gas.

1950

1950

POST-WW2 SUBURBANIZATION

1950s: Post-World War II economic boom led to the suburbanization of America, with more families owning cars and commuting longer distances.

1956

1956

CO2 THEORY OF CLIMATE CHANGE

The 1950s saw significant progress in climate science. In 1956, Gilbert Plass formulated the Carbon Dioxide Theory of Climate Change, further solidifying the link between CO2 and global warming.

1960

AMAZON DEFORESTATION

1960s: This decade marked the beginning of mass deforestation, as colonists started establishing farms within the Amazon jungle. Poor soil conditions and unsustainable farming practices led to continuous clearing of new lands.

1962

SILENT SPRING

1962: Rachel Carson’s book "Silent Spring" highlighted the dangers of pesticides and sparked environmental awareness.

1967

GLOBAL WARMING AND CO2 LEVEL

In 1967, Syukuro Manabe and Richard Wetherald produced the world's first accurate computer model of Earth's climate. Their model predicted that doubling CO2 concentrations could raise global temperatures by 2°C, a prediction that aligns well with modern assessments.

1970

TRANS-AMAZONIAN HIGHWAY

1970s: Deforestation escalated significantly after the construction of highways that penetrated deep into the forest. A crucial example is the Trans-Amazonian Highway, built in 1972, which opened up previously inaccessible areas.

1970

FIRST EARTH DAY

April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated, bringing attention to environmental issues, including air and water pollution.

1973

ARAB OIL EMBARGO

In 1973 OPEC began an oil embargo against the USA and the Netherlands over their support for Israel. This resulted in huge increases in the cost of oil and gasoline. As a result interest in alternative energy such as solar and wind power began.

1974

1974

COMPUTER AGE

1970s: The proliferation of electronic devices and the rise of computing, requiring substantial energy and increasing electricity consumption.

1985

ANTARCTIC ICE AND CO2

In 1985, ice cores extracted from Antarctica confirmed that CO2 and temperature had risen and fallen together over the past 150,000 years, providing strong evidence of the relationship between greenhouse gases and climate.

1988

IPCC

In 1988, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established by the United Nations to assess the scientific knowledge on climate change and its impacts. This year marked a pivotal moment in raising global awareness and fostering international cooperation on climate issues.

1992

UNFCCC

In 1992, the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro produced the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a landmark agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. It established the framework for future negotiations and action on global warming.