# Key moments from decades of climate conferences Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-10-25 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: History of Climate Change Awareness: Key Moments Meta Description: Explore pivotal moments from 1800s to present day, from Arrhenius' CO2 calculations to Kyoto Protocol disagreements, shaping global climate action. URL: https://financedigest.com/key-moments-from-decades-of-climate-conferenceshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2021-10-25t051654z1lynxmpeh9o03xrtroptp4climate-un-moments-1736837526899-compressed.jpg) By Andrea Januta (Reuters) – This year’s U.N. [climate conference](https://www.financedigest.com/one-minute-to-midnight-says-johnson-as-climate-conference-opens.html "“One minute to midnight” says Johnson as climate conference opens") in Glasgow, Scotland, marks the 26th time since 1995 that world leaders have gathered to confront global warming. But the realization that industrial activity was causing [climate change](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-world-bank-seeks-more-funds-to-address-climate-change-other-crises-document.html "Exclusive-World Bank seeks more funds to address climate change, other crises -document"), and discussions about what to do about it, began much earlier. Here are some key moments in the [global climate conversation:](https://www.financedigest.com/cavai-and-mediamath-announce-global-partnership-to-deliver-conversational-advertising-programmatically.html "Cavai and MediaMath announce global partnership to deliver conversational advertising programmatically") 1800s – Throughout the 1800s, several [European scientists study how different gases and vapours can trap heat](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-forget-showering-its-eat-or-heat-for-shocked-europeans-hit-by-energy-crisis.html "Analysis-Forget showering, it’s eat or heat for shocked Europeans hit by energy crisis") in Earth’s atmosphere. In the 1890s, Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius calculates the temperature effect of a doubling of atmospheric CO2, showing that burning [fossil fuels](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-approves-effective-ban-on-new-fossil-fuel-cars-from-2035.html "EU approves effective ban on new fossil fuel cars from 2035") would likely warm the planet. 1938 – By compiling historical weather data, British [engineer Guy Callendar for the first time shows the planet’s temperatures are rising in the modern era](https://www.financedigest.com/engine-parts-makers-must-cross-valley-of-death-to-reach-ev-era.html "Engine parts makers must cross ‘valley of death’ to reach EV era"). He correlates the temperature [trends with measured rises](https://www.financedigest.com/all-terrain-vehicle-market-demand-supply-growth-factors-latest-rising-trend-and-forecast-to-2027.html "All-Terrain Vehicle Market Demand, Supply, Growth Factors, Latest Rising Trend and Forecast to 2027") in atmospheric CO2, and proposes the temperature change is linked. 1958 – American scientist Charles David Keeling starts systematically measuring atmospheric CO2 levels over Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory. His findings result in the “Keeling Curve,” a graph showing CO2 concentrations steadily increasing. 1988 – James Hansen, an American [climate scientist](https://www.financedigest.com/scientists-in-germany-turn-up-heat-on-seagrass-in-climate-change-fight.html "Scientists in Germany turn up heat on seagrass in climate change fight"), testifies before Congress that the planet is warming because of a human-caused buildup of greenhouse gasses, and notes that this is already altering the climate and weather. 1990 – At the U.N.’s so-called Second World Climate Conference, scientists highlight the risks of [global warming to nature](https://www.financedigest.com/u-n-summit-aims-for-global-pact-to-protect-nature.html "U.N. summit aims for global pact to protect nature") and society. [British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher says](https://www.financedigest.com/british-doctors-strikes-risk-patient-safety-minister-says.html "British doctors’ strikes risk patient safety, minister says") binding emissions targets are needed. 1992 – Countries sign onto the U.N. Framework Convention on [Climate Change at the Rio Earth Summit](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-to-urge-big-polluters-to-toughen-climate-pledges-by-cop27-summit-draft.html "EU to urge big polluters to toughen climate pledges by COP27 summit – draft"). The UNFCCC’s goal is to control emissions to prevent extreme [climate change](https://www.financedigest.com/deloitte-research-reveals-inaction-on-climate-change-could-cost-the-worlds-economy-us178-trillion-by-2070.html "Deloitte research reveals inaction on climate change could cost the world’s economy US8 trillion by 2070"), but it also enshrines the idea of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” meaning developed countries must do more because they are responsible for most historical emissions. The treaty does not [set out binding emissions targets](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-sets-recycling-reuse-targets-to-cut-packaging-waste.html "EU sets recycling, reuse targets to cut packaging waste"). 1995 – UNFCCC treaty members gather for a first “conference of parties,” or COP, in Berlin. The [final document calls](https://www.financedigest.com/final-call-for-entries-to-tech-start-up-accelerator.html "FINAL CALL FOR ENTRIES TO TECH START-UP ACCELERATOR") for legally binding emissions targets. 1997 – At COP3 in Kyoto, Japan, parties agree to the first treaty that requires specific [emissions reductions](https://www.financedigest.com/seenthis-launches-emissions-dashboard-to-enable-advertisers-to-analyse-data-reduction-and-emission-savings-on-campaigns.html "SeenThis launches Emissions Dashboard to enable advertisers to analyse data reduction and emission savings on campaigns"). Under the Kyoto Protocol, [developed countries](https://www.financedigest.com/what-its-like-for-women-entrepreneurs-in-developing-countries.html "What it’s Like for Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries") are obligated to reduce emissions between 2008 and 2012 from 1990 levels, with different limits assigned to different countries. In the United States, key Senate Republicans denounce the accord as “dead on arrival.” 2001 – U.S President George W. Bush takes office and calls the Kyoto Protocol “fatally flawed,”with his rejection signaling the country’s effective exit. 2005 – The Kyoto Protocol goes into effect after Russia ratifies it, fulfilling the [requirement that at least 55 countries accounting](https://www.financedigest.com/whats-required-of-accounting-to-build-a-better-tomorrow.html "What’s required of Accounting to build a better tomorrow") for at least 55% of emissions ratify the treaty. 2007 – Delegates agree at COP13 in Bali to work on a new binding agreement to include both developed and [developing countries](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-launches-trade-system-for-developing-countries.html "Britain launches trade system for developing countries"). 2009 – COP15 [talks in Copenhagen nearly collapse](https://www.financedigest.com/motor-racing-porsches-formula-one-plans-stall-as-red-bull-talks-collapse.html "Motor racing-Porsche’s Formula One plans stall as Red Bull talks collapse") amid wrangling over binding commitments for when the Kyoto Protocol expires. Instead of creating a new framework, as proposed by the Bali Roadmap, countries vote to “take note of” a nonbinding political statement. 2010 – COP16 in Cancun again fails to [set new binding emissions targets](https://www.financedigest.com/big-brands-set-to-miss-plastic-sustainability-targets.html "Big brands set to miss plastic sustainability targets"). The Cancun Agreements, however, establish a Green [Climate Fund](https://www.financedigest.com/g7-launches-climate-shield-fund-some-countries-wary.html "G7 launches climate ‘Shield’ fund, some countries wary") to aid developing nations with adaptation and mitigation, and set a goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius above the preindustrial average. 2011 – COP17 talks in Durban, South Africa [falter after China](https://www.financedigest.com/china-steps-up-easing-cuts-lending-benchmarks-to-revive-faltering-economy.html "China steps up easing, cuts lending benchmarks to revive faltering economy"), the United States and India refuse to sign onto binding emissions cuts before 2015. Instead, the UNFCCC parties agree to extend the Kyoto Protocol through 2017. 2012 – As Russia, Japan, and New [Zealand resist new emissions targets](https://www.financedigest.com/the-mouse-that-roared-new-zealand-and-the-worlds-2-inflation-target.html "The mouse that roared: New Zealand and the world’s 2% inflation target") that do not extend to developing nations, countries agree at COP18 in Doha to extend the Kyoto Protocol through 2020. 2013 – At COP19 in Warsaw, representatives from poorer nations walk out for several hours over the lack of agreement on how to handle climate-related [losses and damage](https://www.financedigest.com/flood-most-damaging-peril-of-2016-causing-nearly-one-third-of-210bn-global-economic-losses-according-to-aon-catastrophe-report.html "Flood most damaging peril of 2016, causing nearly one-third of 0bn global economic losses – according to Aon catastrophe report"). A watered-down [deal is eventually reached](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-g7-fails-to-reach-intervention-deal-to-ease-pain-of-soaring-dollar.html "Analysis-G7 fails to reach intervention deal to ease pain of soaring dollar"). 2015 – Global warming passes 1 degree Celsius. Extreme weather events including floods, droughts and wildfires continue to get more frequent and more severe [around the globe](https://www.financedigest.com/pain-of-breaking-inflation-will-reverberate-around-the-globe.html "Pain of breaking inflation will reverberate around the globe"), and countries are increasingly confronted with these immediate climate change threats. 2015 – The Paris Agreement is the first global [pact to call for emissions pledges from both developed and developing countries](https://www.financedigest.com/as-who-pandemic-pact-talks-begin-poor-countries-on-back-foot.html "As WHO pandemic pact talks begin, poor countries on back foot"), who are asked to pledge Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with increasing ambition every five years. Signatories promise to try to keep global warming within 1.5 degrees C of the preindustrial average. 2017 – President Donald [Trump calls the Paris treaty bad for the economy and says](https://www.financedigest.com/who-is-stormy-daniels-and-what-did-she-say-happened-with-trump.html "Who is Stormy Daniels and what did she say happened with Trump?") the United States will withdraw. That becomes official in 2020. 2018 – Teen activist Greta Thunberg captures global attention while protesting outside Swedish parliament, and over time rallies youths across the world to [join her Fridays for the Future movement to demand](https://www.financedigest.com/david-murray-joins-veraviews-as-demand-director.html "David Murray joins VeraViews as Demand Director") climate action. 2019 – U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls the lack of ambition shown at COP25 in Madrid a lost opportunity. 2020 – The annual COP is postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. 2021 – One of U.S. President Joe Biden’s first acts in [office is to rejoin the Paris Agreement](https://www.financedigest.com/japan-uk-to-sign-reciprocal-access-agreement-for-military-officers-yomiuri.html "Japan, UK to sign reciprocal access agreement for military officers -Yomiuri"). 2021 – COP26 is scheduled to go ahead Oct. 31-Nov. 12 in Glasgow, Scotland. Key points to be discussed [include emissions pledges](https://www.financedigest.com/citi-pledges-to-cut-emissions-for-more-sectors-including-coal.html "Citi pledges to cut emissions for more sectors including coal"), climate financing, and phasing out coal use. (Reporting by Andrea Januta; Editing by Katy Daigle and Frances Kerry) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---