The existence of the greenhouse effect was argued for by Joseph Fourier in 1824. The argument and the evidence were further strengthened by Claude Pouillet in 1827 and 1838 and reasoned from experimental observations by John Tyndall in 1859, who measured the radiative properties of specific greenhouse gases.

The effect was more fully quantified by Svante Arrhenius in 1896, who made the first quantitative prediction of global warming due to a hypothetical doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

However, the term “greenhouse” was not used to refer to this effect by any of these scientists; the term was first used in this way by Nils Gustaf Ekholm in 1901.

The effect was publicly discussed as early as 1924 and its significance publically known for neatly 100 years.

I like the conclusion of this. “The key is getting others to do the same.” Of course we’re constantly told that we mustn’t preach … but I’ve come to think a key reason we are faltering is that our political system is set up to direct power to sociopaths, and the public as a whole is passive.

On climate, I think a key is that humans are herd animals. People are aware of the problem (mostly) but as long as they don’t see those around them, their Facebook friends, acting like it’s important they will assume it must not be important. When they see a LOT of people running around with their hair on fire, as is beginning to happen among the young–there could be a rapid switch, a sea change.

This is why the Green New Deal is so important -– of course it’s not going to pass now, but it creates space to work out what kind of regulations would be sensible and effective so that if and when the political system changes to allow for meaningful legislation, it could be ready to put through quickly.