Pioneering Australian scientists predicted the increase of carbon dioxide levels and the alarming number of species extinctions due to climate change.
The climate scientists faced challenges of being ignored and attacked, but remain determined and continue pushing forward to solve the climate crisis.
Deep dives
Importance of Climate Scientists' Warnings
Climate scientists saw the climate crisis coming and tried to sound the alarm, but faced challenges of being ignored and attacked. The levels of CO2 in the atmosphere have reached record highs, and Australia has witnessed significant loss of species. Despite their efforts, scientists often feel a sense of failure after years of trying to solve the problem. However, they remain determined and compartmentalize negative emotions to keep pushing forward.
Early Discoveries in Climate Science
In the 1970s, Australian climate scientist Graham Pearman started measuring CO2 levels in the atmosphere. His findings, along with those of other scientists, confirmed that CO2 concentration was steadily increasing. They developed techniques to measure CO2 and discovered that the current concentration is higher than any time in the past million years. Pearman's research provided crucial context for understanding the impact of human activities on the natural Earth system.
Coral Bleaching and the Impacts of Global Warming
Marine scientist Alfo Goldberg studied the Great Barrier Reef in the early 1980s and witnessed the first signs of coral bleaching. Through experiments, he found that a slight increase in temperature could trigger coral bleaching. In subsequent decades, bleaching events became more frequent and severe, leading to the widespread loss of vibrant coral reefs. Scientists predict that by 2040, annual bleaching events could lead to the loss of entire coral ecosystems.
Climate Change's Impact on Biodiversity
Leslie Hughes, a biology professor, delved into climate change research in the early 1990s. Her studies focused on understanding how climate change affects species' life cycles and distributions. Her groundbreaking papers generated controversy as they quantified the potential extinction threats posed by climate change. Hughes' work highlighted that in less than 50 years, up to a third of all species could be on a path toward irreversible extinction.
Science Weekly revisits episode one of this 2023 mini-series from Full Story. Pioneering Australian scientists Graeme Pearman, Lesley Hughes and Ove Hoegh-Guldberg saw the climate crisis coming. Pearman predicted the increase of carbon dioxide levels, Hughes foresaw the alarming number of species extinctions and Hoegh-Guldberg forecast the mass coral bleaching events we’re seeing today. All three went on to become some of the country’s most respected experts in their fields, travelling the globe, briefing leaders, and assuming the world would take action having heard their alarming findings. In part one of this three-part series, these climate change scientists reveal the moment they realised the planet was heading for certain catastrophe. What did they do when they found out? How did they think the world would respond? And how do they feel today, looking back on that moment of cognisance?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode