Written by A brief history of Climate Change
Human activities began shaping the climate more than two centuries ago. Early research linked carbon emissions to warming, and activists pushed for change when evidence mounted. Most governments have acted, but progress remains slow. Climate risks and adaptation now dominate the public conversation[1][2][3][4].
When Science First Noticed Harm
Joseph Fourier described an insulating effect of the atmosphere in 1824. John Tyndall showed that carbon dioxide and water vapor trap heat in the air during the 1850s. In 1896, Svante Arrhenius calculated how much warming a doubling of carbon dioxide would cause. By the early twentieth century, scientists like Guy Stewart Callendar demonstrated temperatures rising along with emissions from fossil fuels[1][2][5][6][7].
First Scientists to Sound the Alarm
Arrhenius warned that burning coal could one day raise temperatures by up to six degrees. John Tyndall’s work showed that small changes in gas concentrations could drive global shifts. Early warnings appeared in newspapers as early as 1912, noting that coal could make the world warmer within centuries[1][2][5][7].
Early Climate Activists
Rachel Carson’s 1962 book “Silent Spring” made environmental awareness mainstream, launching broad activism. The first Earth Day in 1970 galvanized public support. Scientists like Roger Revelle and Charles Keeling tracked rising carbon dioxide from the 1950s onward, connecting pollution and warming in real time[8][9].
Political Groups and Government Alliances
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) began in 1988 as governments sought accurate science. Whole-of-government alliances like the UK’s Climate Action Secretariat and the US National Climate Task Force coordinate ambitious plans. Some regions have specific plans, such as Canada aiming for net zero by 2050, with annual emissions targets and adaptation strategies[10][11][12][13].
Where We Are Now
The world has warmed about 1.4°C since the 1800s. The five-year average for global temperatures is expected to cross the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C threshold by 2029. Arctic ice continues to melt faster, wildfires and extreme weather increase, and nations like Canada target steep reductions by 2035. Most countries publish climate action plans, though warming remains on track for at least 1.5°C[3][4][13].
What to Expect
If greenhouse gas pollution continues, models predict temperatures could rise another 4°C by the end of the century. This will mean stronger storms, longer droughts, continued sea ice loss, and rising sea levels. Each tenth of a degree brings more risk, including food insecurity and forced migration[14][4][15].
What We Can Do
People can push for better policies, reduce energy use, choose renewable energy, and work for local resilience. Governments are investing in renewables, limiting plastics, and tracking emissions with mandatory reporting. On the local level, energy conservation, recycling, rewilding landscapes, and supporting sustainable food systems build resilience against mounting climate risks[11][15][13].
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Sources
[1] History of climate change science https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_climate_change_science
[2] Climate change https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change
[3] 2025 on track to be second or third warmest year on record https://www.carbonbrief.org/state-of-the-climate-2025-on-track-to-be-second-or-third-warmest-year-on-record/
[4] Global climate predictions show temperatures expected to … https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/global-climate-predictions-show-temperatures-expected-remain-or-near-record-levels-coming-5-years
[5] When did scientists first warn humanity about climate … https://www.livescience.com/humans-first-warned-about-climate-change
[6] Climate History: The Early Science https://outrider.org/climate-change/timelines/climate-history-early-science
[7] The History of Climate Change https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/climate-change-history
[8] Climate Change Conversations: Causes, Impacts, Solutions https://americanarchive.org/exhibits/climate-change/history
[9] History of Climate Action Timeline | CFR Education https://education.cfr.org/learn/timeline/history-climate-action
[10] Greater than the sum of its parts https://climateinstitute.ca/publications/greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts/
[11] Provincial Government Releases Climate Change Action … https://www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2025/ecc/0630n03/
[12] IPCC — Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change https://www.ipcc.ch
[13] Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 2025-26 … https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/corporate/transparency/priorities-management/departmental-plans/2025-2026.html
[14] Predictions of Future Global Climate https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/climate-change-impacts/predictions-future-global-climate
[15] The Effects of Climate Change https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/effects/