This Day An Early Climate Change Warning Ignored (1957) w/ Amy Westervelt
May 13, 2025
Amy Westervelt, an environmental writer and the host of Drilled, joins the conversation to shed light on the early climate change warnings that were largely ignored. She discusses Roger Revelle's groundbreaking 1957 congressional testimony about the dangers of carbon emissions. The discussion uncovers the tension between emerging climate awareness and corporate profit motives. Westervelt highlights the historical neglect of scientific findings and calls for accountability and proactive measures to combat climate challenges.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Revelle's 1957 Climate Warning
- Dr. Roger Revelle's 1957 testimony was the first time a scientist warned Congress about the greenhouse effect as a political problem.
- His work marks a turning point when climate science moved from incremental research to urgent political concern.
Early Political Curiosity on Climate
- In 1957, political leaders were curious and open to scientific explanations about climate impacts despite the Cold War context.
- Revelle used Cold War concerns, like shipping lanes, to frame his climate warnings effectively.
Fossil Fuel Industry's Shift in Stance
- Fossil fuel companies initially participated in legitimate climate science, even contributing to data gathering in the 1970s.
- They shifted to denial only after scientific evidence threatened their business interests significantly.