Climate Science: From Discovery to Crisis of Governance

History of the Discovery of the Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect was not discovered yesterday. Joseph Fourier in 1824 described how the atmosphere traps heat. John Tyndall in 1859 experimentally demonstrated that CO₂ absorbs infrared radiation. Svante Arrhenius in 1896 calculated: doubling CO₂ in the atmosphere would increase Earth's temperature by 5–6°C (surprisingly close to modern estimates).

In the 1950s, Charles Keeling began systematically measuring CO₂ concentrations in Hawaii. The "Keeling Curve" — a continuous rise since 1958 — became a symbol of climate change. In 1988, climatologist James Hansen testified before Congress: global warming is already happening and is caused by humans.

Climate Science as a Political Object

Paradox: climate science is one of the most resilient scientific consensuses (97% of publications confirm the anthropogenic origin of warming, every scientific academy in the world). And at the same time — the object of unprecedented public denial.

A misinformation campaign by oil companies (documented through internal Exxon documents, published in 2015): the company knew about climate risks since the 1970s, financed internal research — and simultaneously financed an external campaign to sow doubt. The model — the tobacco industry.

The "Deficit model" — the idea that the public denies science due to lack of knowledge. Proven false: Dan Kahan showed — more knowledge about climate among those who deny it does not change their position. Denial is an identity, not epistemic, stance. This is a crisis in science communication, requiring political, not just educational solutions.

Question for reflection: Climate science shows: knowledge is insufficient for behavioral change. What is additionally needed — in personal or organizational context — for knowledge to be transformed into action?