Key Climate Change Dates

UNFOLDING STORY OF WARMING PLANET
Key dates in the story of climate change:

- 1750: Before Industrial Revolution, atmosphere holds 280 parts
per million of heat-trapping carbon dioxide, later research determines.

- 1898: Swedish scientist Svante Ahrrenius warns carbon dioxide
from coal and oil burning could warm the planet.

- 1955: U.S. scientist Charles Keeling finds atmospheric carbon
dioxide has risen to 315 parts per million.

- 1988: NASA scientist James Hansen tells U.S. Congress global
warming "is already happening now."

- 1992: Climate treaty sets voluntary goals to lower carbon dioxide and
other greenhouse gas emissions.

- 1995: U.N.-organized scientific panel says evidence suggests
man-made emissions are affecting climate.

- 1997: Treaty parties approve Kyoto Protocol mandating
emission cuts by industrial nations, an approach rejected in
advance by U.S. Senate.

- 1998: Warmest year globally since record-keeping began in
mid-19th century.

- 2001: U.N. scientific panel concludes most warming likely due
to man-made emissions; President Bush renounces Kyoto Protocol.

- 2004: Carbon dioxide reaches record 379 parts per million;
Russia gives crucial ratification to Kyoto Protocol.

- 2005: Kyoto Protocol takes effect on Feb. 16

Associated Press, February 16, 2005
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