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History of Climate Action

For decades, the climate movement has reached across borders and ideologies to protect our environment. From Rachel Carson’s bold portrayal of pesticides in Silent Spring to the recent youth-led school strikes for climate action, activists have paved the way for millions of people—especially young people—to take a stand around the world. They join indigenous communities who have been at the forefront of protecting their lands in the Amazon Rainforest, and countries like Tuvalu that demand action to protect their country from rising sea levels.

The rich history of environmental activism emphasizes the international public concern over the Earth’s well-being and provides a guide to understanding the current state of the movement.

Industrialization began in force in the late 1800s, but its devastating environmental consequences were not truly understood until decades later. Environmentalists began to observe that deforestation was on the rise, factories emitted harmful pollution, and the stench of smog was the new norm. Yet even as awareness grew of the ills of modernization, the general public had little information about the greater impact on the planet.

In 1962, biologist Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, which discussed the consequences of pesticide use and human activities on the environment. Silent Spring gained international acclaim and jumpstarted the environmental movement, inspiring a generation of activists that generated political attention. The early environmental movement culminated in 1970 with the first Earth Day, which saw over 20 million Americans protest against unchecked pollution. The U.S. federal government responded with the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, landmark pieces of legislation that marked a new era of environmental regulation.

In 2006, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore released the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” describing the harmful impacts of climate change. The film accelerated climate activism and sparked global interest. The film showed the harsh truth that many were blind to, such as melting glaciers, rising sea levels, rising temperatures, and biodiversity loss. Al Gore’s film thrust the topic of climate change into mainstream media and shaped the public’s view on climate activism.

These conferences and films helped mainstream activists realize that climate change is not a linear topic, but rather that it rippled into economics, human rights, and social justice. This inclusivity led to the growth of the movement. This growing pressure influenced international collaborations and agreements and laid the foundation for climate activism as we know it.

A decade after the first Earth Day, scientists discovered that the ozone layer was depleting due to human-made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). They warned the public that risks included the destruction of sensitive ecosystems essential to the planet’s health, an increase in skin cancer, eye damage, and weakened immune systems. Increasing political pressure forced governments to come together to create the Montreal Protocol in 1987, an international agreement to end the use of ozone-harming substances.

The enforceable agreement, signed by over 190 countries, worked. The Montreal Protocol decreased the use of CFCs, resulting in a measurable recovery of the ozone layer. The protocol was a model for future collaborations, showing the power of international cooperation.

Five years later, leaders from around the world gathered in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 for the Rio Earth Summit (officially called the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, or UNCED). The summit’s goal was to broadly address issues regarding the environment, such as climate change, pollution, industrialization, and biodiversity. The Rio Earth Summit established the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which spearheads scientific research, international cooperation, and a yearly conference about climate change.

The Kyoto Protocol in 1997 established climate change as an international priority, getting pledges from 41 countries and the European Union to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The treaty inspired growing emphasis on climate change as a global issue; governments, researchers, and the public banded together to address the impacts of climate change on the entire planet. It established climate change as not just an environmental issue but a societal one.

In 2009, the UN convened in Copenhagen to negotiate a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol, set to expire in 2012. 192 nations were represented by 15,000 delegates. Unfortunately, the conference did not achieve a treaty but emphasized the urgency in addressing climate change, especially at the international level. The summit laid the foundation for future climate negotiations and sparked renewed interest in environmental treaties and agreements.

Now in the 21st century, youth groups and local nonprofit organizations are on the rise. Youth advocates like Greta Thunberg and Xiye Bastida took over headlines demanding politicians to focus on climate action. These movements influenced people of all ages and backgrounds to join the fight for climate change and put an emphasis on the public’s voice when it comes to influencing government officials.

The digital age showed us the role of social media and how incredibly evident it is in amplifying the voice of climate activism. These social media platforms became a haven for activities to spread information and organize events for a global audience. Social media connected like-minded individuals when it came to climate activism and highlighted the importance of the internet in shaping discourse and contributing to real-world change.

Climate activism’s varied history is proof to the solid dedication and collaboration between individuals and organizations worldwide. From young activists such as Greta Thunberg to researchers spending years honing their skills in order to combat climate-damaging substances, the climate movement is a mosaic of devoted voices. By incorporating the legacy of the past, present, and future, climate activism can continue to grow and the challenges can wane, eventually leaving us with a healthy and sustainable world.

History of Climate Action

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