The history of climate change has seen a two-century-long evolution of understanding and awareness. From early scientific observations and theories to advancements in technology and growing public policy efforts, the journey tracks back to the 19th century. The urgency for climate change mitigation has led to significant initiatives like the launch of the World Bank’s collaboration with NASA and the European Space Agency to collect and organize satellite-based measurements of greenhouse gases.

1800’s: Early climate science

Theories on climate change date back to the early 19th century when French mathematician and physicist Joseph Fourier and others made significant observations. Later, Irish physicist John Tyndall and Swedish physicist Svante Arrhenius contributed to the understanding of modern climate change and its potential impacts.

1900s: Attitudes shift toward climate change

In the 1930s, English steam engineer and amateur scientist Guy Callendar gathered and analyzed historical temperature information and carbon dioxide measurements, linking the increase in Earth’s temperature with changing levels of carbon dioxide caused by fossil fuel combustion. The decades that followed saw significant contributions from scientists like Gilbert Plass, Roger Revelle, and Charles David Keeling, whose work paved the way for today’s concerns about climate change, with emphasis on increasing carbon dioxide levels.

Late 20th century and beyond: Technology-propelled discoveries

The 1950s and ’60s saw the emergence of computer models used as a vital tool for climate scientists. Additionally, advancements in technology, such as the launch of the NASA’s Nimbus III satellite, provided unprecedented temperature measurements for different parts of the atmosphere, contributing to a more holistic picture of the planet’s temperature changes. Today, satellites and ice core research are key tools for gathering climate change data.

Climate science impacts global public policy

Mounting evidence about the significance and severity of climate change spurred significant global efforts on policymaking beginning in the late 1980s and ultimately led to landmark international agreements such as the Montreal Protocol, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement, among others.

Climate change today: Urgent action through policy and innovation

The urgency for climate change mitigation has led to significant global efforts, but despite ongoing mitigation measures, tangible signs of climate change, including changing weather patterns and extreme weather events, have been observed. This has propelled government and corporate leaders to redouble their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change, with an increasing focus on emissions reductions and data management.

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FAQ

What is the history of climate change?

The history of climate change dates back to the early 19th century when scientists like Joseph Fourier, John Tyndall, and Svante Arrhenius made significant observations and contributions to the understanding of modern climate change and its potential impacts.

How has climate science impacted global public policy?

Climate science has spurred significant global efforts on policymaking beginning in the late 1980s, leading to landmark international agreements such as the Montreal Protocol, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement, among others.