Category: World Meteorological Organisation

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International processes Science World Meteorological Organisation

September 21, 1978 – Draft Agreement between WMO and ICSU

Forty eight years ago, on this day, September 21st, 1978,

Draft Agreement between WMO and ICSU re: climate research programme

https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/toward-a-u-s-climate-program-plan-comprehensive-review-and-recommendations-from-the-1978-workshop/289538439#88

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 335ppm. 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 the World Meteorological Organisation had been beavering away on any number of issues, but a subgroup had in 1976 come out in favour of a warming world, because of carbon dioxide build up. This had been reported in the Times, and here we see the agreement for a kind of successor programme to the GARP in the lead up to and to be agreed at the first World Climate Conference to be held in Geneva in February of 1979.

The specific context was that the reports and conferences about carbon dioxide build-up were beginning to come quicker.

What I think we can learn from this is that the wheels of the bureaucracy go round and round, they grind very fine, but you’re not going to get big research programmes funded unless you do things like this, draft programmes, revised drafts, etc.

What happened next. The First World Climate Conference happened. It was not the pivotal moment it could have been. The problem did not become a public issue until 1988.

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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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 21, 1958, LA Times runs a Greenhouse Cartoon

September 21, 1990 – Stabilisation in 2005, says the UK

September 21, 1990 – Ministers call for Toronto Target to be federal policy …

September 21, 1993 – Manchester says “no, not hot air”. Yeah, right.

September 21, 2014 – big #climate march in New York. World saved.

Date for your diary – Sun Day, Sept 21st 2025

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Italy Science Scientists World Meteorological Organisation

March 1, 1983 – WMO ICSU meeting of WCRP in Venice 

Forty three ago, on this day, March 1st, 1983, the scientists had been sciencing.

March 1 to 8 1983 WMO ICSU meeting of WCRP in venice 

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 343ppm. As of 2026 it is 428ppm, but check here for daily measures. 

The broader context was that scientists had begun to really think hard about carbon dioxide build up as a problem in the late 60s. There had been a two or three week scientific meeting in the middle of 1971 about man’s impact on climate. By the mid 1970s, the World Meteorological Organisation was saying carbon dioxide was probably the problem. And in 1979 it had held the First World Climate Conference, which could – and should – have said, “carbon dioxide is the problem.” But for opposition from people like John Mason. 

The specific context was that by 1983 people were beginning to twig to this. There had been the Charney report and so forth, and various international efforts, a meeting with the ICSU as well. In a place like Venice! It would have been fun to be a fly on the wall. 

What I think we can learn from this is that the scientists were beavering away, as scientists do, and by the mid 1980s really, the verdict was in.

What happened next. The big, seminal moment, pivotal moment, according to people who know about these things, was Villach. Maybe Villach wasn’t quite so important scientifically, but it certainly was politically, and you can read about it here. LINK

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.

Also on this day: 

March 1, 1954 – Lucky Dragon incident gives the world the word “fall out”

March 1, 1967 – Carbon dioxide as important waste problem

March 1, 1970 – so many tribes, so few common interests – All Our Yesterdays

March 1st 2010 – scientist grilled over nothing burger…

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Egypt World Meteorological Organisation

January 10, 1978 – World Meteorological Organisation outlines World Climate Programme…

Forty seven years ago, on this day, on January 10

“An ad hoc group of expert members of the EC (WMO Executive Committee) met in Cairo from 10 to 12 January 1978 to outline essential elements of a World Climate Programme (WCP), and this program was approved by the thirtieth meeting of the EC in May 1978. 

(Cain, 1983: 83)

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 335ppm. As of 2025 it is 425ppm, but check here for daily measures. 

The context was that that the WMO had, of course, been looking at carbon dioxide build up falongside or in front of the United Nations Environment Program, the folks at IIASA and others (though still in the 1970s the number of scientists working on C02 build-up could comfortably fit in a conference hall, I think).

And there was a push to have a world climate conference. I think it had already been agreed by the time that this meeting took place.

What I think we can learn from this is that the scientific wheels for international collaboration grind, necessarily, relatively slowly. Which gives all the more amazing kudos to the IPCC in its early days for getting that first report out In 1990 having only been agreed at the end of 1988.

What happened next is that the World Climate Program got going, and the first world climate conference happened in Geneva in February of 1979 and there was a lack of consensus around the dangers of CO2, in large part to John Mason, who had been digging his heels in on this issue for a decade and a half

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.

Also on this day: 

FILL THIS IS!!! WITH PREEXISTING BLOGS (You can do the links during deadtimes)