Story: Climate change

World Climate Conference

World Climate Conference

The first World Climate Conference was held in February 1979. At a time when interest in climate change was relatively new, the idea for the conference grew out of industrialised countries’ concern to improve their understanding of changes in the atmosphere. By the beginning of the 1990s the issue was at the forefront of environmental concerns. As many countries push for action, governments are also aware of the risks to economic growth. Oil-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia want the global community to do little, whereas many small Pacific Island states, fearing a rise in sea level, want immediate action.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-350-075
Cartoon by Jim Hubbard

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Brett Mullan, Petra Pearce, Stephen Stuart, Ben Liley and Stacy Mohan, 'Climate change - Global warming', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/cartoon/7547/world-climate-conference (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Brett Mullan, Petra Pearce, Stephen Stuart, Ben Liley and Stacy Mohan, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 20 Jul 2020