On this day 33 years ago
New and conflicting predictions continue to be made. For example, on 18 April 1992 the Australian carried a page one headline ‘Global Warming May Lower Sea Levels’, while later in the business section a case was made against a carbon tax on fossil fuels. Business interests remain unimpressed by the call to tax themselves.
(Love, 1992:44)
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 359ppm. As of 2025 it is 427ppm, but check here for daily measures.
The context was that the international negotiations were grinding on (in face of United States intransigence). The denial and confusion campaigns funded by the “Global Climate Coalition” were grinding out, and tame “journalists” were dutifully regurgitating the lies and calling it a contribution to Informing the Public.
What we learn
The Australian has not been a newspaper for a very long time. A poisonous propaganda rag.
What happened next.
The UNFCCC treaty was toothless, at absolute best worthless. The “journalists” prospered. Murdoch prospered (if you can call it that). We’re so fubarred.
References
Love, R. 1992. Stranger Weather Still. Arena 99/100 pp.39-46.
Also on this day
April 18, 1970 – Harold Wilson in York, bigging up UN, rights/obligations
April 18, 1989 – begging letter to world leaders sent
April 18, 2013, Liberal Party bullshit about “soil carbon” revealed to be bullshit