logo
episode-header-image
May 2022
14m 9s

A Climate Time Capsule (Part 1): The Sta...

NPR
About this episode
In 1992, diplomats and scientists at the United Nations negotiated the first-ever treaty intended to tackle the scientific phenomenon now known as climate change. This brought the issue to the forefront and led to a series of conferences that would occur almost every year for the next 30 years.

Short Wave host Emily Kwong talks to freelance climate reporter, Dan Charles, about how those at the conference wrote a clear and ambitious goal that they didn't even fully understand.

Email the show at shortwave@npr.org.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Today
AI-made viruses could be the future of medicine
The era of AI-generated viruses is here. Some scientists are using AI to design viruses that can attack bacteria. The hope is that these tailor-made viruses can fight drug-resistant bacterial infections in people. And longer-term, Brian Hie, the Stanford researcher spearheading t ... Show More
11m 35s
Yesterday
How much has the U.S.’s wildlife changed since Lewis and Clark?
Ever wish you could have been part of the Lewis and Clark expedition? Us too. The Corps of Discovery came across scores of plants and animals that were new to Western science: Grizzly bears, ponderosa pines, a “barking squirrel” that William Clark would later call the prairie dog ... Show More
14 m
Aug 21
Why scientists are stoked about mysterious black hole stars
You've heard of black holes. You've heard of stars. But have you heard of the newly discovered black hole stars that may explain multiple mysteries of the universe? We just did and we're honestly freaking out about it. Learn everything you need to know about it in this episode. P ... Show More
12m 14s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2023
Harjeet Singh: Getting rich countries to pay up for climate change
UN climate conferences don't generally start off with a bang. But COP28 in Dubai this year did just that, when on day one a Loss and Damage fund was created to support developing nations hit hardest by climate change. It's been a 30-some year fight to get here for climate activis ... Show More
21m 45s
Dec 2023
UN climate talks get off to a fast start
Countries kicked off this year’s United Nations climate summit with an agreement to create a loss and damage fund, which would help developing nations recover and rebuild from the impacts of climate change. But a separate deal to phase out fossil fuels is in trouble. POLITICO’s S ... Show More
8m 29s
Nov 2021
What did the climate talks achieve?
What was really at stake at the COP26 negotiations in Glasgow, and how much have the politicians done to avert a climate disaster?Justin Rowlatt speaks to two researchers on the frontline of the climate crisis. Carrie Lear, professor of earth sciences at Cardiff University, expla ... Show More
18m 11s
Jul 2021
Putting a Price on Pollution
<p>Extreme weather across Europe, North America and Asia is highlighting a harsh reality of science and history: The world as a whole is neither prepared to slow down climate change nor live with it.</p><p>European officials are trying to change that. The European Commission, the ... Show More
25m 40s
Oct 2020
Episode 8: How Did We Get Here? A History of the Climate Negotiations
<p>The Climate Briefing returns from its summer break with a deepdive into the history of the international climate agenda.</p> <p><a href="http://www.robertfalkner.org/">Professor Robert Falkner</a> of the Grantham Institute speaks to Ben about the origins of the UN-led climate ... Show More
1h 1m