A Climate Declaration

Timeline of Failure

A Framework For US To Rescue Nature

Timeline of Failure

I have often written about the catastrophic failure of world leaders, how they have done nothing meaningful to stop climate collapse. In fact, their failure has been consistent and total. While some policy makers have been outright hostile towards the climate, even the “good” politicians have done more posturing and have made no meaningful improvement—EVER.

This is why we need to stop looking to our “leaders” to fix things. They never will. In some cases, this may be by design—many owe their power and wealth to bribes from fossil fuels profiteers. (Don’t make me laugh by calling that money “donations.”) And some, no doubt, sincerely intend to save the climate. But they won’t.

This is why I have propagated A Climate Declaration, and have begun a number of initiatives including production of Climate Samizdat to promote a broader climate movement worldwide, Virtual Climate Parties to encourage small activist groups to meet regularly and strategize and ACT, silent climate vigils at sunset to bring people together and grow awareness of what’s at stake.

But here I simply want to graphically show the consistency of this failure by “leaders” so we can dismiss their absurd posturing once and for all—and get to work fully, ourselves.

PPM data is from NOAA.

 

1994 - 425 PPM
1994 - 425 PPM

UN Climate Framework

The United Nations first climate agreement, a nonbinding framework called The United National Framework Climate Convention (UNFCC) goes into effect—whatever that means. The agreement sets no targets and only proposes that countries meet regularaly to talk about climate issues.

1997 - 432 PPM
1997 - 432 PPM

Kyoto Protocol Signed

The first binding climate agreement is signed to much fanfare. Signatories ultimately fail to meet targets and C02 emissions continue to rise unabated.

2000 - 441 PPM
2000 - 441 PPM

SCOTUS Choses Oil Profiteer As President

The majority of American voters chose Al Gore, a passionate environmentalist, as their president but the United States Supreme Court installed George W. Bush—who lost the popular vote by more than a million votes—as leader of the world’s biggest C02 emitter.

2001 - 443 PPM
2001 - 443 PPM

George W. Bush Pulls Out of Kyoto Agreement

The Court-selected American President withdraws from the (toothless) Kyoto Protocol, deciding to not even pretend to do anything about the climate crisis.

2005 - 454 PPM
2005 - 454 PPM

Kyoto Protocol Takes Effect Without U.S.

The Kyoto Protocol goes into effect but has absolutely no effect. C02 emssions continue to rise. The United States is not a member of the Protocol but that is probably not relevant because signed papers have never been followed by meaningful action.

2009 - 465 PPM
2009 - 465 PPM

Copenhagen Agreement Fails Completely

Leaders meeting in Copenhagen do not even sign papers promising to do something about the climate crisis. The ongoing record of failure continues.

2015 - 485 PPM
2015 - 485 PPM

Landmark Paris Agreement Signed

During a historic meeting in Paris, 96 countries agree to set targets to reduce C02 emissions. They fail to actually do so.

2018 - 497 PPM
2018 - 497 PPM

Children Strike For Climate

Following decades of consistent failure by “adults,” children begin an ongoing strike, staying home from school on Fridays to protest inaction. While leaders do nothing, young people recognize the crisis and refuse to keep silent.

2019 - 500 PPM
2019 - 500 PPM

C02 Level Reaches 500 PPM

Year after year, C02 emissions continued unabated. In 2019, it reached a landmark of 500 PPM. In 1985, it had been 400 PPM.

2020 - 504 PPM
2020 - 504 PPM

Trump Withdraws From Paris Agreement

Following a similar path to George W. Bush, Trump withraws from the Paris Agreement. The agreement has had no meaningful effect anyway. But this signals that the United States is openly hostile to doing anything to stop climate collapse.

2021 - 508 PPM
2021 - 508 PPM

Biden Rejoins Paris Agreement

The new President reverses course and rejoins the Paris Agreement. It doesn’t seem to matter. The next year, he signs into law the Inflation Reduction Act which is billed as the most important climate legislation ever. The law offers financial incentives to reduce C02 emissions. It also includes provisions approving more drilling on public lands by oil companies.

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