Tag: 1982

Categories
CO2 Newsletter

C02 Newsletter Vol. 3, no. 3 – “Presently no self-proclaimed environmental-protection groups are clamoring for increased funding for CO2-greenhouse studies”

The fifteenth edition of the CO2 Newsletter, published bi-monthly by American geologist William N. Barbat between 1979 and 1982 is live. You can download a pdf and see the full text here.

The eight page issue has a front page story on what the Florida coast looks like when the world is warmer (as we’re now finding out).

There’s a banger of an editorial – Barbat is beginning to realise that, basically, he’s on his own…

Presently no self-proclaimed environmental-protection groups are clamoring for increased funding for CO2-greenhouse studies. Not one scientific organization has issued a position paper on the CO2 problem, and scientific magazines have yet to treat the CO2 problem with genuine concern, especially in editorials.

The news media frequently have reported on the CO2 problem in articles, but with no real continuity or editorial comment. Congressional hearings on the CO2 problem have been brief, infrequent and not well attended by lawmakers. Other governments have not matched the U.S. government in a substantive fashion in CO2-greenhouse research. (emphasis added)

Barbat imagines that there might be, well – read it and weep –

“If the results of such an effort illustrate the seriousness and urgency which we anticipate, it might be possible to generate a well-funded, international geophysical program comparable to that of the International Geophysical Year (the ‘International Carbon Dioxide Year’), with a long-term funding potential for critical programs.

There’s all the reader has come to expect – excerpts from recent reports, Barbat’s own takes etc.

Gaia, what an achievement this was.

Categories
Cultural responses

October 4, 1982 – Koyaanisqatsi 

Forty four years ago, on this day, October 4th, 1982,

Koyaanisqatsi (English pronunciation: /koʊjɑːnɪsˈkɑːtsiː/[3]), also known as Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance, is a 1982 American experimental film directed by Godfrey Reggio with music composed by Philip Glass and cinematography by Ron Fricke.

Koyaanisqatsi – Philip Glass

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 341ppm. 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 through the 70s the hippies had begun to realise that they were in fact right, that you couldn’t have infinite growth on a finite planet, that it doesn’t profit a man much to gain the whole world if he loses his biosphere, and there were ongoing struggles, decolonization hadn’t been the panacea that the more optimistic among had hoped for. 

The specific context was, well, you can read about Koyaanisqatsi here.

What I think we can learn from this is that artists and filmmakers and creatives, generally to use an ugly term, have known which way was up and have known that the hippies were largely right. 

What happened next There was another film, Powaquaatsi, a few years later.

There keep being new films, which are going to change things, and then they don’t. These things don’t change things, and here we are.

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: 

October 4, 1957 – see, see – SPUTNIK!! – All Our Yesterdays

October 4, 1969 – “If we melt the Antarctic, our problems are solved because all of the ports of the world would vanish and the ocean will rise 200 feet.”

October 4, 1990 – “Verdict on our efficiency: we must try harder” – All Our Yesterdays

October 4, 1993 – Coal chief wringing his hands about “greenhouse,” promises new tech – All Our Yesterdays

Categories
CO2 Newsletter

July 23,  1982 – Barbat’s newsletter gets some publicity

Forty four years ago, on this day, July  11st, 1982,

July 23 1982 High Country News – about Barbat and his C02 newsletter – https://www.hcn.org/wp-content/uploads/1982/07/1982_07_23.pdf

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 340ppm. 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 Barbat had been switched on to carbon dioxide build-up in the late 1960s.  He was finally provoked to set up the CO2 Newsletter when the Carter era Energy Department was clearly dragging its heels on the carbon dioxide build-up issue.

The first issue appeared in September 1979.

The specific context was that by this time Barbat had learned some hard lessons about institutional inertia and the priorities of campaigning groups.

What I think we can learn from this – we aren’t going to change. If we were going to, it was going to be in the 1970s and – at a push – in the 1980s.  We are in the Fafocene now, and it’s only going to get worse.

What happened next

The last issue of the CO2 Newsletter appeared in late 1982 – it was simply too costly for Barbat to run. In a sane world it would have continued because institutional power would have sustained it.. We do not live in a sane world.

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: 

July 23, 1979 – Charney Report meeting begins 

July 23, 1979 – Charney Report people meet – will conclude “yep, global warming is ‘A Thing’.”

July 23, 1987 – Calvin (and Hobbes) versus climate change! 

July 23, 1997 – US climate envoy wonders what Australian leaders are smoking… 

July 23, 1998 – denialists stopping climate action. Again. 

Categories
Antarctica United Kingdom

July 12, 1982 – Thatcher briefing for meeting about British Antarctic Survey

Forty four years ago, on this day, July  11st, 1982, Margaret Thatcher gets a briefing for a meeting with the British Antarctic Survey bosses. It casually mentions climatic change…

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13OYbbNL2uRDAsE9kqMZAcC40UbZFmmCb/view?usp=sharing

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 340ppm. 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 folks at the Met Office were present in late 1953 when Gilbert Plass gave another presentation about his carbon dioxide theory of climatic change. The theory was pretty well known in any case (having been pooh-poohed by CEP Brooks). Through the 50s and 60s it became better known. The trouble was, the Met Office’s boss from 1965 on, John Mason, was adamantly opposed to it.  In the late 1970s there had been a civil service effort to get the issue under politician’s noses….

The specific context was that shortly after becoming Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher was briefed on the carbon dioxide threat by her chief scientific adviser. Her response was to look at him with incredulity and say “you want me to worry about the weather?” Nonetheless, international work continued, and the problem (not yet an issue) would not go away.

What I think we can learn from this  Another reason to despise Thatcher.

What happened next

Mason retired as Met Office boss, and was replaced by John Houghton, who accepted physical reality (having first written on carbon dioxide build-up in 1965).

In late September 1988, to get ahead of an inevitable trend, Margaret Thatcher gave her speech at the Royal Society.

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: 

July 12, 1953 – “The Weather is Really Changing” says New York Times

July 12, 1978 – US Climate Research Board meeting

July 12, 1996 – medics slam energy companies for outright denial and obstruction

July 12, 2007 – #Australia gets swindled on #climate change…

July 12, 2009 – NGO vs NGO – Al Gore asked to be umpire

July 12, 2011 – Tony Abbott and the The Australia Institute

Categories
Media United States of America

March 22, 1982 – Chicago Trib front page story about … climate change

Forty four ago, on this day, March 22nd, 1982,


The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 341ppm. As of 2026 it is 428ppm, but check here for daily measures. 

The broader context was that journalists had been writing these sorts of stories for a long time; since the 60s, really, (since the 50s, but it was speculation). But from the late 60s, speculation was beginning to harden up.

The specific context was that scientifically, there had been the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in January of 1982 in Washington, DC. Hanson and Flohn, nd other people had made the statements they did, so maybe that helped nudge the Chicago Trib writer, Richard Kotulak (who is still alive).

What I think we can learn from this is that there were switched-on journalists in 1982 which is 44 years ago, and switched-on readers. We knew plenty.

What happened next The carbon dioxide problem had another moment in late 1983, but it didn’t really become front page news again until 1988 thanks to hard “problem entrepreneur” work by dedicated scientists.

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.

References

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Also on this day: 

March 22, 1960 – US Television warning of carbon dioxide build up, courtesy Athelstan Spilhaus…

March 22, 2007 – Unions talk good game on climate

March 22, 2007 – Fairfax tells its staff to Be Green, for an hour. 

March 22, 2012 – flash mobs and repertoire exhaustion

Categories
Science Scientists United States of America

March 17, 1982 – An overview of US carbon dioxide/climate research is written. 

Forty four years ago, on this day, March 17th, 1982

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 341ppm. As of 2026 it is 428ppm, but check here for daily measures. 

The broader context was that since 1977, at the beginning of the Carter Administration, there had been workshops, seminars, conferences etc. By 1982 A LOT was known. 

The specific context was that this research was having precisely zero impact on policymakers, who were Reaganaut nutjobs

What I think we can learn from this is that we knew plenty and that we had our chances and we blew them.  

What happened next. The emissions kept climbing. And climbing. And so did the concentrations. 

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.

References

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Also on this day: 

March 17, 1976 – UK Weather boss dismisses climate change as “grossly exaggerated”

March 17, 2006 – Rio Tinto says “CCS is key to cutting greenhouse gases.” Oops, then…

March 17, 2007 – Edinburgh #climate action gathering says ‘Now’ the time to act

 March 17, 2014 – Carbon Bus sets off to the North

Categories
Science Scientists United States of America

January 6th, 1982 – AAAS meeting warns about carbon dioxide build-up

On this day 43 years ago, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (created 1848) held its annual meeting, this time in Washington DC.  The climatologists held panels within that.

They were pretty blunt about what was on the way.

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 382ppm. As of 2026 it is 425ppm, but check here for daily measures. 

The broader context was the AAAS had been around for a long long time. By the late 1960s its annual gatherings were a site for scientific discussion of what was coming (see here and here).

The specific context was by the late 1970s the climate scientists were beginning to get sure of the eventual result of tipping huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (though they varied on time frames). AAAS was involved.

Efforts to get policymakers interested had had some success, but it all fell in a heap after the Reagan Administration came in in January 1981.

What I think we can learn from this is that we have known for a long time. This. Was. Not. A. State. Secret.

[LINK]

What happened next. The climate stuff at the AAAS meeting was covered in newspapers around the US, sometimes featuring quite prominently. The scientific work continued. And continued.

1988 was the pivotal year. [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.

References

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Also on this day

January 6, 1883 – The New York Times reports on the Atmosphere

January 6, 1989 – “Cloud-Radiative Forcing and Climate: Results from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment” 

January 6, 1995 –  Australian business interests battle a carbon tax with “nobody else is acting” argument

Categories
United Kingdom

December 19, 1982 – BBC on “the State of the Planet”

Forty three years ago, on this day, December 19th, 1982,

Horizon BBC Two Sun 19th Dec 1982, 15:20 on BBC Two England

The State of the Planet

This year 100 world authorities on the environment met in London; their task, to assess progress in the ten years since the first major UN Environment Conference in Stockholm.

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 341ppm. As of 2025, 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 yes, the big Stockholm “save the earth” conference was ten years ago. There were some signs of progress on some issues (lead in petrol, etc) but clearly other problems were growing.

The specific context was – the international bureaucracy loves an anniversary – another chance for more reports, more meetings, more pledges.

What I think we can learn from this – we knew plenty a very long time ago. The best time to slam your foot on the brakes is before the bus goes off the cliff.

What happened next – the facts kept getting told. And ignored. By the late 1980s, for a variety of reasons, they became unignorable. BBC Horizon kept making programs about this.

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: 

December 19, 1988 – the launch of “Ark”

December 19, 1991- Will UN negotiations go as usual and “commit us to global catastrophe”?

December 19, 2010 – CCS dies in Queensland

December 19, 2017 – BHP exits World Coal Association.

Categories
United Kingdom

May 19, 1982 – House of Lords debate on “Coal and the Environment”

Forty three years ago, on this day, May 19th, 1982, the House of Lords held a debate on “Coal and the Environment”

Earl of Halsbury (this chap – who introduced the amendment that became, well, Section 28) said the following

Take, for example, the problem of the glasshouse effect and so on—the rise of carbon dioxide —when nothing we do in this country can make very much difference to the carbon dioxide content in the world, but of course what the world does can make quite a big difference to the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere over this country. But the latest and most refined mathematical calculations—these have reached me only in the last few weeks, so they are stop press news—indicate that the atmospheric effects are a good deal more sophisticated than was originally thought. We may be going to be faced, for example, with much more in the way of local, than global, effects; there will be droughts in places where we are no longer accustomed to having droughts, and there will be floods where we are not accustomed to having floods. But all that lies a long way in the future.

Plant photosynthesis is at an optimum when the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere is three times what it is. Maybe that is what the long-term historical average has always been and plants have adapted to it. Maybe we are merely living in a carbon dioxide world at the present time. The great storehouse of carbon dioxide is the sea, and the sea and the atmosphere interchange carbon dioxide—nobody knows the details. If the sea warms up, it emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and if it cools down it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Having absorbed it, it can fix some of it as coral, future limestone rocks and so on. If we want to know more about that we must study not the atmosphere but oceanography because the two interreact and we shall never understand the atmosphere until we understand the oceans or vice versa. It may be a rather strange conclusion to say that if you want to know about the glasshouse effect, do not bother about measuring the carbon dioxide of the atmosphere but study oceanography. It is an example of how one adjusts one’s priorities if one thinks in the right timescale.

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 341ppm. As of 2025 it is 430ppm, but check here for daily measures. 

The context was the Labour government had set up the “Commission on Energy and the Environment” in 1977. It decided its first report would be on Coal. Brian Flowers, its chair, was persuaded by John Mason to soft-pedal on the carbon dioxide atmosphere issue. By the time the report finally came out, the Conservatives were in charge, and CENE basically got buried. This parliamentary debate is against that backdrop.

What I think we can learn from this

Official reports and commissions of the Great and the Good might be worth reading or then again, they might not be worth a bucket of warm spit. It depends both on the official terms of reference and the unspoken (but still official!) ones.

What happened next  CENE disappeared. The climate issue it ignored did not.

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: 

May 19, 1937 – Guy Callendar’s carbon dioxide warning lands on someone’s desk

May 19, 1957 – LA Times asks “Is your smoke helping to melt polar icecaps?” – All Our Yesterdays

May 19, 1993 – President Clinton begins to lose the BTU battle…

May 19, 1997 – an oil company defects from the denialists. Sort of.

May 19, 1997 – BP boss says “If we are to take responsibility for the future of our planet, then it falls to us to begin to take precautionary action now.”

Categories
United States of America

March 25, 1982 – CBS Evening News runs 3 minute story on the greenhouse effect. Can’t say we weren’t warned…

Forty three years ago, on this day, March 25th, 1982,

The CBS Evening News for March 25, 1982 included a two minute and 50 second story by David Culhane on the greenhouse effect. Chemist Melvin Calvin raised the threat of global warming, Representative Al Gore called for further research, and James Kane of the Energy Department said there was no need for haste. (Sachsman, 2000)

Carbon Dioxide and Climate : The Greenhouse Effect hearings of the House Committee on Science and Technology, 97th Congress, March 25 1982 https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/002758682

See the detailed account in Nathaniel Rich’s Losing Earth

(also in C02 Newsletter Vol 3 No 3, March-April 1982)

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 341ppm. As of 2025 it is 427ppm, but check here for daily measures. 

The context was

that the CO2 issue was something journalists had been particularly interested in since maybe the late 1970s and although Reagan and Republicans were in the ascendant, that didn’t mean that Congress had stopped chipping away. And I think in ‘82 was the first time Al Gore had held hearings

Congressional hearings are a nice hook – the experts are in town, so you can grab them for an interview. And you can get two or three minutes of quality journalism relatively cheaply and predictably. 

What I think we can learn from this that Americans were being tolerably well-informed about future threats. 43 years ago. It was on the television for Christ’s sake – national news. 

What happened next

CO2 kept bubbling away in the American news, famously in ‘83 with the EPA report “can we delay a greenhouse warming?” (no),  and on and on at a relatively low level until it properly exploded in the summer of 1988.

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 25, 1982 – congressional hearings and CBS Evening News repor

March 25, 1988- World Meteorological Organisation sends IPCC invites.

March 25, 2013 – Australian Department of Climate Change axed