June 4, 1979 Daily Mail reports on climate change without losing its mind
Forty five years ago, on this day, June 4th, 1979, the Daily Mail managed a half-way decent article on climate change,
It continues –
Lamb’s newly published book, World Without Trees, is compulsive doomwatch reading.
Man’s obsessive squandering of trees, says lamb, is potentially disastrous.
“Trees are one of the main sponges for the carbon dioxide in the air. They mop it up. If we continue to destroy trees at the present rate, it will cause a surplus of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.”
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 337ppm. As of 2024 it is 426ppm, but check here for daily measures.
The context was that the First World Climate Conference had just happened. Carbon dioxide buildup was out and about. But this article was pegged off a new book called A World Without Trees by a guy called Robert Lamb, I have a copy (of course) and yes, he does mention CO2 buildup.
What we learn is that the Daily Mail was for a short while anyway able to treat the issue of climate change without being completely idiotic about it.
What happened next is that the Daily Mail became completely idiotic about it.
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:
June 4 , 1989, 1992, 1996 – from frantic concern to contempt for everyone’s future…
June 4, 1998 – A New South Wales premier signs a carbon credit trade…