Environmental Milestones

1970. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is created by President Richard Nixon.

1973. First Energy Crisis (fossil fuel) impacts industrialized nations during the OPEC Oil Embargo. US gasoline prices increase by 350%, leading to an economic downturn.

1974. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is created to ensure the security of oil supplies in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis.

1978. The US National Energy Act encourages conservation in homes, schools, and other public buildings, restricts new power plants using oil or natural gas (although this provision is repealed nine years later), and opens electric markets to alternative power producers. The Act also imposes a “Gas Guzzler Tax” while providing tax credits for alternative fuel use.

1978. The US Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act accelerates solar power generation technologies.

1979. Second US Energy (Fossil Fuel) Crisis. Destabilization of oil exports in the wake of the Iranian Revolution and the fall of the Shah cause a global decline in crude oil supply. Price per barrel of crude oil nearly doubles within 12 months.

“Odd and even” gas rationing: Americans can only purchase gasoline every other day based on odd or even last digit of license plate. Heating oil shortages during the winter in colder states pose a threat.

1980. The US Energy Security Act creates the Synthetic Fuels Corporation Act to market fossil fuel alternatives. The Act also establishes loan guarantees for biofuels and alcohol fuels projects and begins explorations into renewable energy resources including solar, geothermal, and ocean thermal, while encouraging energy conservation.

1982. The US Nuclear Waste Policy Act supports the burial of nuclear wastes in geologic storage sites.

1987. The Brundtland Commission of the United Nations defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This is the foundation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in use today.

1988. The International Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is established to monitor and assess all worldwide science related to climate change.

1990. First IPCC Assessment Report: Climate change has global consequences and requires international cooperation.

1990. The First Gulf War results in the Persian Gulf oil spill (now considered an act of environmental terrorism), and the burning of the Kuwait oil fields. US oil prices spike, contributing to an economic recession.

1992. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is established in Rio de Janeiro to support global efforts to combat climate change.

1992. The US Energy Policy Act requires alternative fuel use in some fleets.

1994. 196 countries ratify the UNFCCC treaty. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is established as the decision-making body of all member representatives.

1995. Second IPCC Assessment Report: Data informing the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

1995. COP 1, Berlin, Germany. World leaders officially agree to meet annually to discuss climate change and limit emissions.

1997. COP 3, Kyoto, Japan. Adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, in which the parties promise to reduce emissions of GHG in industrialized countries and establish the carbon market (purchasable carbon offsets).

2001. Third IPCC Assessment Report: Impacts of climate change will require adaptation.

2003. The US Hydrogen Highway Project is announced by the White House in January 2003.

2003. US-Iraq War begins in March 2003, causing increases in oil prices and impacting the US economy.

2005. The US Energy Policy Act creates tax incentives for conservation and for renewable fuels.

2007. Fourth IPCC Assessment Report: Focus on limiting global warming to 2°C.

2007. COP 13, Bali, Indonesia. Kyoto Protocol to be replaced by the Bali Roadmap, which includes all countries in the pledge to reduce emissions.

2007. The International Panel on Climate Change and US Vice President Al Gore are jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to accumulate and disseminate knowledge about man-made climate change and to lay the foundations for measures needed to counteract the change.

2007. The US Energy Independence and Security Act increases fuel economy requirements, phases out incandescent light bulbs, and encourages biofuel development.

2008. US Public Law 110-343 promotes biofuels, provides tax incentives for electric vehicles, extends tax incentives for renewable energy, and defines electricity as a clean fuel.

2009. COP 15, Copenhagen, Denmark establishes the official goal of staying below 2°C global temperature. The Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is created to address biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems and protect indigenous rights. Developed nations commit to a collective goal of mobilizing USD 100 billion per year by 2020 for climate action in developing countries.

2009. American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 authorizes electric smart grid funding, renewable energy tax cuts, and funds for weatherizing modest-income homes.

2010. COP 16, Cancún, Mexico formalizes the commitments set in Copenhagen and creates the Green Climate Fund.

2011. At COP 17 in Durban, South Africa all countries, including US, Brazil, China, India, and South Africa, agree to start reducing emissions.

2012. COP 18, Doha, Qatar extended the Kyoto Protocol. The extension is not supported by the US, China, Russia, or Canada.

2013. Atmospheric concentrations of CO2 briefly pass 400 parts per million (ppm) for the first time in several million years.

2014. Fifth IPCC Assessment Report: Scientific input for the Paris Agreement.

2014. At COP 20, Lima, Peru all countries agree to develop and share their commitments to GHG emissions reduction.

2015. The global annual average of atmospheric CO2 is over 400 ppm. Global temperatures have risen in parallel with the CO2 level. 2014 through 2022 have been the hottest years ever recorded.

2015. The International Energy Agency adopts a modernization strategy to become an authoritative voice on global energy policy: 1) expanding IEA commitment to energy security beyond oil to natural gas and electricity, 2) deepening the IEA’s engagement with emerging economies, and 3) providing a greater focus on clean energy technology and energy efficiency.

2015. COP 21, Paris, France adopts the Paris Agreement, in which the parties pledge to keep global temperature increase below 2°C and to aim to limit the increase to 1.5°C.

2016. At COP 22, Marrakesh, Morocco the Paris Agreement takes force. In response to the US presidential election with its major directional change on climate, the parties pass the Marrakesh Action Proclamation in support of the Paris Agreement, and the Marrakesh Partnership to strengthen climate collaboration leading up to 2020.

2017. COP 23, Bonn, Germany makes progress on how the Paris Agreement is implemented in practice. The Talanoa Dialogue provides a process for countries to share experiences and promising practices. The Gender Action Plan is instituted to ensure women are involved in decision-making regarding climate solutions.

2018. The IPCC publishes a pre-COP report that analyzes the impact of a 1.5°C global temperature increase and reports that greater urgency to reduce emissions is needed.

2021. COP 26, Glasgow, Scotland creates the Paris Rulebook, a set of guidelines on how the Paris Agreement is delivered that includes enhanced transparency framework for reporting emissions, common timeframes for emissions reductions targets, and mechanisms and standards for international carbon markets. The Glasgow Climate Pact establishes agreement to phase down coal usage for energy.

Also during COP 26, the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net-Zero (GFANZ), the world’s largest coalition of financial institutions committed to transitioning the global economy to net-zero GHG emissions, is established.

2021. The US Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act establishes Department of Energy R&D funding for carbon capture and storage, hydrogen economy technologies, and grid battery storage. Additional funding is included for Smart Grid deployment and resiliency, workforce development, and tax breaks for the nuclear power industry.

2022. COP 27, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt acknowledges that the Emissions Gap Report 2022 is grim. The parties reach agreement on creating a Loss and Damage Fund for vulnerable countries hit hard by climate change. Agreement is also reached to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, to cut GHG emissions, and to adapt to impacts of climate change, boost support of finance, technology and capacity-building needed by developing countries.

2022. Sixth IPCC Assessment Cycle is under way at present. The Report expected in time for the first global stocktake in 2023.

2022. The years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 are the nine hottest years ever recorded.

2022. The US CHIPS and Science Act and the US Inflation Reduction Act expand Department of Energy R&D funding and national security initiatives, Smart Grid funding, forgiveness for utility cooperatives’ debts. In addition, renewable energy tax cuts are extended, and funding is provided for weatherizing low-income homes, tax incentives for electric vehicles and new appliances. On the other hand, oil exploration is prioritized ahead of renewable energy for federal land leases.