A recent report suggests the United States and other industrialized nations were aware, long before the 2015 Paris Agreement, of potential legal obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The “What Countries Knew” report by the Center for International Environmental Law outlines when climate research first alerted governments in nations like the US, Australia, Canada, and Germany about the risks of fossil fuel emissions.
These countries account for around 40% of emissions since the late 1800s. Documents from that era reveal governments discussed rising global temperatures and sea-level rise as early as 1957, during the International Geophysical Year.
Warnings intensified in the 1960s, coinciding with economic reliance on fossil fuels. In 1965, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson was informed about significant climate changes due to carbon dioxide, while similar warnings were issued by Norway and Italy’s state-owned oil companies.
Despite accumulating evidence, industrial activities expanded. In Germany, coal mining was celebrated, and in the U.S., oil production was incentivized. Lindsay Fenlock from the Center for International Environmental Law noted the depth of governments’ awareness of climate impacts.
During the International Geophysical Year, 70 countries studied Earth’s interconnected systems and human impacts. A study by Roger Revelle and Hans Suess described rising CO2 as a unique large-scale experiment.
Fenlock pointed to early conferences where striking discussions on combating climate change occurred. A 1968 symposium in France focused on fossil fuel alternatives, and a 1973 meeting in Austria addressed governmental climate responses.
Michael Burger, from Columbia University’s Sabin Center, emphasized the report’s link between historical knowledge and legal responsibilities under international law.
Fenlock stated the report illustrates governments often ignored crucial scientific evidence. Nikki Reisch from CIEL highlighted its potential to revive discussions about governmental responses to climate change.
The report could influence legal interpretations about whether nations violated international obligations, especially after the International Court of Justice advisory opinion last year, which found nations may owe reparations for climate-related damages.
Reisch said establishing when governments became aware of climate risks is key to determining legal liability. Governments had opportunities to mitigate these risks but often chose not to.
Michael Gerrard from the Sabin Center likened ignoring such risks to knowingly driving a faulty vehicle, increasing culpability in subsequent accidents.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org