On this day 25 years ago, March 20, 2000 a gift to the denialists was given,
Within a few years “children just aren’t going to know what snow is.” Snowfall will be “a very rare and exciting event.” Dr. David Viner, senior research scientist at the climatic research unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia, interviewed by the UK Independent, March 20, 2000.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 370ppm. As of 2026 it is 428ppm, but check here for daily measures.
The broader context was that the relationship between media and scientists has been one of “frenemies” for decades, far beyond climate science.
The specific context was that climate change was now steady “background noise”, and there was a flare up in coverage thanks to the Bush administration preparing to pull out of Kyoto.
What we learn? Well, here’s a journo from the same paper.
Steve Connor: Don’t believe the hype over climate headlines | The Independent | The Independent
Headlines are meant to draw people into a story and have to conform to quite rigid restrictions on space in the printed medium – where this headline first appeared. They are meant to be accurate, but they can never do full justice to the nuances of reporting. This is even more true when it comes to the more complex nuances of science. The headline in this case is not what the story itself said, as Dr Viner made clear. The story was about the frequency of snowfalls, and how “snow is starting to disappear from our lives”, which the it stated clearly.
A more accurate headline would be something like: “Snowfalls are becoming less frequent in our little corner of the world but that doesn’t necessarily mean that snow will disappear from our lives completely and forever.” Unfortunately, any sub-editor who would suggest such a tediously long headline is unlikely to last very long.
What happened next
Various denialist sites kept the receipts.
The End of Snow, 13 Years On – The American Interest
Stripped of context – Readfearn in Guardian
Readfearn in DeSmog
Also on this day
March 20, 1967 – Solar Energy advocate warns of carbon dioxide build-up
March 20, 1987 – The “sustainable development” Brundtland Report was released
March 20, 2014 – industry groups monster reef defenders
March 20, 2014 – Australian Senate votes against killing off ARENA, CEFC etc