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Tim Pelton SOLVE Office / Civic Engagement Center The End of the World (as we know it) The end of the world by fire or extreme heat can be found in some of the worlds earliest writings and continues today as the subject of newspapers documentaries, movies, radio broadcasts, on the internet and more. Earliest Writings – 1800s Awareness of Climate Effects In 1827 Jean-Baptiste Fourier predicts that atmospheric effects can keep the Earth warm using a greenhouse analogy and in 1863 John Tyndal publishes a paper showing water vapor to be a greenhouse gas. Scientists also begin to believe fossil fuel burning can cause warming. In the 1800s and Early 1900s stories about climatology begin to appear in newspapers. An awareness of industrialization and its effects begins to appear in the press. 1800s & Early 1900s Notice of Warming The 1930s brings the depression to the USA and the Dust Bowl. Scientists believe it is a sign of greenhouse activity. From the 189os to 1940 global temperature rises about ½ of one degree F. The Dust Bowl’s effects widely reported in the press and on the radio. Guy Stewart Callendar connects temperature rise to CO2 levels in 1938. 1900s Environmental Awareness The popular press begins to report warming trends. Scientists warn that global warming could bring significant increases in temperature and are tied to CO2 levels, but it goes largely unnoticed by the press. The late 1960s bring with them new awareness of the environment and the word, “ecology” becomes widely used due to exposure in the media. 1950s & 1960s Earth Day Senator Gaylord Nelson begins in the 1960s to believe that an annual day to recognize the importance of a clean environment is a way to increase awareness of the problems of pollution. April 22, 1970 is designated as Earth Day, the beginning of the annual U.S. observance of the importance of the environment. Activities are widely reported in the media. April 22, 1970 Climate Change Concerns Grow Studies in the 1970s continue to indicate that warming is occurring and scientific conferences are held to discuss the problem with some press coverage. The 1970s bring a U.S. energy crisis to the forefront. By the 1980s the media begins more intense scrutiny. Dissenting scientists question the reality of climate change dangers . 1970s & 1980s Coral Reef Changes Coral bleaching becomes a concern to scientists who determine it is caused by warming waters. Coral polyps expel Zooxanthellae, a single cell algae that works symbiotically to keep the coral functioning. Scientists later learn that the corals expel the algae so that new species of algae that can endure warmer waters can replace it. But sometimes no such replacement exists and the corals die. 1980s Sea Level Rise Concerns Along with changes in coral reefs concerns about the possible rise of sea level from the melting of polar ice caps begins to appear in news stories. Congressional hearings on warming make headlines in the 1980s as scientists learn that the decade shows the highest temperatures on record. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the IPCC, is established. 1980s Warming at the Movies & on TV Climate change becomes the subject of television documentaries. Sea level rise becomes the subject of “Waterworld,” an over-budget science fiction film about Earth with nearly no land remaining. Later “The Day After Tomorrow” portrays global climate change run amok in an impossible scenario. 1980s, 1990s & Beyond Global Conferences & Treaties The first report of the IPCC is released showing that the planet has warmed nearly one full degree Fahrenheit in 100 years, and warns that serious warming will result without action. In 1992 Climate Change Convention is signed by 154 nations in Rio de Janeiro. Vice President Al Gore attends for the U.S. The Rio conference receives extensive press coverage. By mid decade island states have demanded a decrease in greenhouse gasses to prevent sea level rise and in 1997 the Kyoto Protocol calls for over 5% cut in emissions by industrialized nations. 1990s Energy Producers’ Opposition Energy producers begin to worry about how public perception might negatively affect future profits and governmental regulation. The American Petroleum Institute hosts a meeting and a plan is drafted. An effort is launched to downplay the dangers of global climate change and the contribution of human activity including burning of fossil fuels. The project is funded by Exxon and other corporations. The effort does not get reported in the press for several years. The 1990s & A New Millennium Bush Administration & Global Changes A new president is elected after a historically narrow victory. Dangers of global climate change are downplayed officially. President George W. Bush renounces the Kyoto Protocol because he believes it will damage the U.S. Economy. The press covers developments as the White House denies that climate change is caused by human activity. By 2004 enough industrialized nations have ratified Kyoto to put the treaty into effect with out the U.S. as part of the effort. A New Millennium Political Revisions to Scientific Findings NASA climate change expert, Dr. James Hansen, claims he is being pressured by Bush public relations personnel to downplay his findings about global climate change when discussing them publicly. In other federal agencies similar complaints surface at times when scientific findings conflict with Bush Administration political views. Congressional hearings confirm Hansen complaints and NASA spokesman George C. Deutsch resigns when it is learned that he had lied about his credentials and had never completed college. The 24-year-old from Texas had been appointed after working on the Bush election campaign. A New Millennium National Security Concerns While the Bush administration officially downplays the dangers of climate change the intelligence community begins to recognize the dangers that it could bring as nations come to grips with failing crops, catastrophic weather changes, and disappearing resources. Global climate change becomes part of the National Intelligence Assessment, an official report of the threats to the security of the United States. Dr. Thomas Fingar reports to Congress in 2008. The hearings are covered by the press. A New Millennium An “Inconvenient” Awakening Vice President Al Gore begins to lecture on the topic of global climate change and is asked if his presentation might be incorporated by a filmmaker into a documentary. “An Inconvenient Truth” is released in 2006 and becomes a hit. The film wins an Academy Award for Best Documentary. Al Gore and the IPCC jointly win the Nobel Peace Prize for efforts in brining global climate change to public awareness and international action. President Bush acknowledges that human activity may contribute to global warming. A New Millennium A New Political Landscape The presidential elections of 2008 become a race for change. Senator Barak Obama focuses on climate change and alternatives to fossil fuels as the key to success for America. Senator John McCain agrees but chooses to emphasize additional fossil fuel development. “Drill baby drill” becomes a common chant at McCainPalin rallies. Gasoline tops $4 and even oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens sets forth plans for energy alternatives. A New Millennium A New Administration and Awareness Economic disaster in the U.S. becomes the focus of political campaigns and Sen. Barack Obama is elected decisively. At his inauguration Obama pledges to support development of new technologies that will lead to energy independence and a decrease in CO2 emissions in the United States – more difficult to justify as oil prices drop. Kenneth Cohen, Exxon's vice president of public affairs says "there is no question that human activity is the source of carbon dioxide emissions." He emphasizes that Exxon will work with policy groups and universities to find new ways to lower greenhouse gases while producing energy. A New Millennium New Directions Congress begins deliberations on economic bill to begin to address economic concerns. Funding for alternative energy development is included in house version of stimulus package. As international talks continue 190 square miles of ice shelf on the Antarctic coast breaks away into the sea. New York Times columnist, economist Tom Friedman, and others warn of global weather impacts from global “weirding.” He calls for a green revolution to develop new technologies to solve the problem and revive the U.S. economy. A New Millennium New Opinions and Lost Ground Rasmussen Reports, a political polling firm that monitors public opinion about the causes of global climate change. In July 2006, 46% of voters said global warming is caused primarily by human activities, while just 35% of voters said they believe it is due to long term planetary trends. On January 19th the group released its most recent findings on public opinion about global climate change. It found that now more voters believe that warming is a result of normal planetary fluctuations than from human causes. Those who believe it is caused by people dropped to 41% while those who believe the converse rose to 44%. A New Millennium