On this day, December 14 in 1988 the New York TImes reports on joint Soviet/US committee
“The national science academies of the United States and the Soviet Union, warning that the earth’s ”ecological security” is now endangered, announced today the formation of a joint Committee on Global Ecology Concerns.
The new committee will identify and investigate threats to the global environment and report its conclusions, along with policy recommendations, to their Governments and to international organizations.”
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/14/world/us-soviet-panel-formed-to-study-ecology.html
This is a fruit of an earlier announcement – May 11, 1988 – “Greenhouse Glasnost” USA and USSR to co-operate on climate
[The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 351ppm. At time of writing it was 419ishppm- but for what it is now, well, see here for the latest.]
The context was this –
By the end of 1988 everyone was talking the greenhouse effect, everyone wanted to say that they were taking the matter seriously, this included the Soviet Union which of course would begin to collapse the following year.
Why this matters.
This one really doesn’t, this is for historical interest only if you’re a geek like me and if you are get help.
What happened next?
The Soviet Union collapsed, the United States muscled the negotiations for a global climate treaty and made sure that nothing serious would be done.