-
Period: to
Landmarks in Environmentalism
-
Industrial Revolution in Europe
Increased urbanization, resource usage and pollution.
The European Industrial Revolution is the real start of our technologically advanced society. The industrial revolution shaped the world for centuries to come. -
Green Revolution - intensive technological agriculture
Resource use (especially fossil fuel use) and pollution increased. Human population rises sharply. Humans have continued to advance technologically and fossil fuel use continues to rise. The effects of this use are known but mostly ignored. -
First Earth Summit - UN Conference on the Human Environment
Declaration of UN conference. Action Plan for the Human Environment. Environment Fund established. Formation of UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Earth Summits planned at 10 year intervals. The first earth summit brought international attention to environmental issues and planning them at 10 year intervals helped shape a better future. -
British Antarctic Survey Team detects ice sheets thinning and ozone hole
Public awareness of ozone depletion and risk of skin cancer. Awareness of the issues of global warming increases and will shape political policies for decades to come. -
Chernobyl Disaster
Nuclear fallout affects millions. Awareness of the dangers of nuclear power become more prominent. Starts a political debate on the necessity/use of nuclear power. -
Rio Earth Summit and Kyoto Protocol
Agreement to reduce carbon (CO2) emissions to counter enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming. A worldwide agreement to reduce carbon emissions is put into place, forcing governments to take action and meet reduced emissions targets, -
Film "An Inconvenient Truth" released
Documentary by Al Gore, former US vice-president, describing global warming. Increased public awareness of global warming. Started a cultural revolution amongst younger generations. -
Nuclear War with North Korea
Relations are tense and any little mistake from either side could lead to worldwide devastation. Due to the United States military superiority, mostly likely it would end with North Korea being destroyed and the peninsula devastated.
