-
1st Billion Population
The world population finally reached the 1st billion in the year 1803, after 140 years of increase. -
Worlds first mechanically drilled oil well
1859, Pennsylvania, began the American petroleum industry. The effects of the drill oil well affect the livelihood of ocean life and the air pollution. -
Bureau of Forestry
The Bureau of Forestry by Theodore Roosevelt was created the in 1905. This Bureau set aside land for cutting. Roosevelt also set aside many acres of land for National Parks and put them under Federal Government rule, making these lands immune to industries. -
2nd Billion Population
The world population reached the 2nd billion in the year 1927, only 124 years after it hit the first billion in 1803. -
Foundation of IUCN
The founding of the International Union for Conservation of Nature assisted governments in preparing national biodiversity policies. The union was made in order to influence and assist governments in pursuing a sustainable environment. -
Minimata Disease
A disease caused by the people of Minimata dumping pollution into the ocean, which caused mercury poisoning to the fish in that region. The disease effects the central nervous system when mercury from the fish was ingested. -
3rd Billion Population
The world population reached the 3rd billion in 1960, only 33 years after it hit the 2nd billion. -
Rachel Carson's Silent Spring
Rachel Carson published her book in 1962. Her research proved the harm of chemical pesticides passed through food chains to top predators. It created awareness about the use of pesticides and the pollution of the environment, aside from its effects on the balance of ecosystems. -
Stockholm Conference
In 1972, the United Nations held its first major conference on international environmental issues in Stockholm, Sweden. It examined how human activity was affecting the global environment. The conference led to the Stockholm Declaration which shaped action at international and local levels. -
Endangered Species Act Enacted
Enacted by legislature in order to protect endangered species for conservation of wildlife. -
Whaling
early 1970’s; confronted soviet whalers in the Pacific Ocean and turned into a “save the whales” campaign. -
4th Billion Population
The world population reached the 4th billion in 1975, only 15 years after it hit the 3rd billion. -
Gaia Hypothesis
a hypothesis that proposes that earth is a living organism and humans are disrupting the balance of earth which can cause terrible outcomes -
Bhopal
Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India released 42 tons of toxic methyl isocyanate gas. This happened because one of the tanks that processed the gas had overheated and burst. 8,000 to 10,000 people died within 72 hours from. -
The Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior
The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, codenamed Opération Satanique, was a bombing operation by the "action" branch of the French foreign intelligence services. During the operation, two operatives sank the flagship of the Greenpeace fleet, the “Rainbow Warrior", at the Port of Auckland in New Zealand on its way to a protest against a planned French nuclear test in Moruroa. The Greenpeace action raised global awareness about the issue and put pressure on France to stop testing. -
Chernobyl
Chernobyl occurred on April 25th and 26th, 1986 after a worker broke safety protocols and caused the nuclear plant to explode sending nuclear residue all over the land. This created a creating a 19-mile-wide exclusion zone. All forms of life were affected by the radiation and are still being tested to this day by researchers. -
5th Billion Population
The world population reached the 5th billion in 1987, only 12 years after it hit the 4th billion. -
Our Common Future
Documenting the findings of the World Commission on Environment and Development, a committee created by the U.N. General Assembly. “Our Common Future” examines the issues and problems of global environment and development to the year 2000 and beyond in order to formulate realistic proposals for resolving these issues. -
UN Earth (Rio) Summit
At this event, countries made Agenda 21 and discussed environmental issues and how to prevent it from getting worse. This resulted in a global awakening towards the state of the environment and what we can do to save it. -
Agenda 21
Plan by the UN made in order to convince countries to maintain sustainable resources by recycling and perserving resources. -
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change, which commits its parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets. The Protocol was enforced in Kyoto, Japan on December 11, 1997. -
6th Billion Population
The world population reached the 6th billion in 1999, only 12 years after it hit the 5th billion. -
An Inconvenient Truth Documentary
A doccumentary by Davis Guggenheim that informed people of Al Gore’s worry of global warming. An awakening for environmental realization. -
7th Billion Population
The world population reached the 7th billion in 2011, only 12 years after it hit the 6th billion. -
Paris Agreement
At COP 21 in Paris, Parties to the UNFCCC reached a landmark agreement to combat climate change and to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low carbon future. The Paris Agreement, for the first time, brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects. -
Protections lifted on the endangered species act.
Trump administration weakened laws that protected endangered and extinct species. This was done in order to promote drilling and other environmentally damaging activities for large coorperations.