1886: Swedish chemist Svante Arrhennius publishes the first scientific paper on human-induced global warming.

1957: Roger Revell and Hans Suess, renowned oceanographers at the Scripps Institution, proclaim that "human beings are now carrying out a large-scale geophysical experiment" as a result of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion.

1979: National Academy of Sciences publishes its first report on global warming, projecting that a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations could result in significant global climate change.

1988: The United Nations and World Meteorological Organization establish the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and appoint key international scientists to the panel.

1990: IPCC publishes its first scientific assessment report, projecting that if business as usual prevails, the rate of global warming over the next century will be faster than any natural climate changes over the last 10,000 years. The report also predicts that a doubling of CO2 will result in a temperature increase of 1.5 to 3.5 degrees Celsius.

1992: Climate treaty signed at the Earth Summit. Industrialized countries pledge to "aim" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2000. Mandatory cuts are rejected.

1995: IPCC publishes second assessment report concluding that global warming has already begun and humans are at least partly responsible. The 2,000 scientists forecast possibly severe sea-level rise, extreme droughts and flood, and the spread of disease unless strong action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

1995: The first conference of Parties (COP1) to the climate treaty in Berlin calls for a protocol to strengthen the climate treaty by 1997.

1997: In December, COP3 meets in Kyoto, Japan. After the US Vice-President Gore brings message of increased flexibility, an agreement is reached to cut emissions.

1998: The government of the United States of America signs the Kyoto Protocol.

1999: COP4 and COP5 meet in Bonn to negotiate the particulars of the Kyoto Protocol.

2000: In November, COP6 meets in The Hague to finalize the rules for implementing the Kyoto Protocol but fails to achieve its objective.

2001: In June, a National Academy of Sciences panel of top scientists commissioned by the White House reported that global warming was a real problem and was getting worse. It held human activity largely responsible for the change.

2001: In July, COP6-b continues negotiations in Bonn and reaches agreement.

2001: In November, COP7 finalizes and approves the rules for implementing the Kyoto Protocol and makes it available to governments for ratification.

2001: In December, a new National Academy of Sciences report concluded that greenhouse gases and other pollutants could trigger large, abrupt and potentially disastrous climate changes.


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