Fifty six years ago, on this day, September 18th, 1970,
A branch of the “United Nations Association” is holding a meeting about pollution.
“The increase in the use of combustible fuels has led to a 10 per cent increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over the last century. By 2000 AD the increase could be 25 per cent. The consequences of so much CO2 in the atmosphere upon world weather and climate are uncertain, but could eventually be catastrophic, claim some reports.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 325ppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.
The broader context was that from 1968-69 around the world environment concerns were growing. The UK had had the Torrey Canyon in ‘67. In late 1969 Frank Fraser Darling’s Reith lectures had set a cat cat amongst the pigeons (see telegraph report and economist editorial).
The specific context was, with a new Department (of the Environment) being formed, we see an United Nations Association organising a talk, and yes, on the agenda is carbon dioxide build-up.
What I think we can learn from this is that people have known about this problem, and people have urged politicians to take action and urged society to take action and it has not worked, it did not work
What happened next we have trapped so much heat and poured stored up so many consequences for ourselves the Fafocene is just beginning.
On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays
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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.
What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.
If you want to get involved, let me know.
If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).
Also on this day:
September 18, 2004 – Australian States back ETS plan
September 18, 2013 – Abbott’s wrecking ball starts swinging
September 18, 2013 – Feeble denialists launch feeble denialist “report”
September 18, 2013 – Greenpeace try to occupy the “Arctic Sunrise.”