The Changing Climate: When Did Global Warming Start?

Rising Earth temperatures and climate change are on everyone’s minds as the world grapples with unprecedented weather trends and ecological distress. The issue is so concerning that many want to know, “When did global warming start?” 

Understanding when and how global warming began is crucial to mitigating its impacts on the environment, economies, and societies. Climate change is as much of a natural phenomenon as it is anthropogenic, but global warming is nearly entirely the result of human activity.

Here is a closer look at how global warming started, whether it can be stopped, and ways to reduce personal emissions to improve the Earth’s outlook. 

When Did Global Warming Start?

Numerous scientists believe global warming started during the pre-industrial period — from 1850 to 1900 — when global economies transitioned to technological fossil fuel-fed changes. The rising industries included the following:

• Use of iron and steel materials
• New energy resources, such as coal, electricity, petroleum, and internal combustion engines
• Manufacturing of new machinery for greater production with less human energy outputs
• The rise of the factory system in the labor market
• Innovations in transportation — steam locomotives, cars, and planes 
• Communication developments like the telegraph and radio
• Greater use of natural resources in mass goods manufacturing

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the average global temperature rose 1 degree Celsius — 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit — since the pre-industrial era. The temperature has continued to increase by over 0.2 C every decade since then — the fastest warming began occurring due to human activity in the 1950s.

The effects of global warming have been witnessed worldwide as climate change and altered weather patterns bear down on people and ecosystems. Wildfires are unhindered, hurricane seasons have intensified, and some regions have endured food insecurity, water shortages, and rampant disease spread. 

In fact, 2023 was named the warmest year since 1850, reaching 1.18 C above 13.9 C — the 20th-century average. Even more shocking is the 10 warmest years ever recorded over the last 174 years occurred in the previous decade.

Is it Too Late to Stop Climate Change?

With the rapid expansion of industrialization and urbanization, efforts to reduce global warming may seem null. After all, people must decrease carbon emissions by 8% annually from 2024 to 2034 for even a 50% chance of maintaining warming temperatures below 1.5 C. 

Researchers say the average global temperature could rise by 2.5 to 4.5 C by 2100 without action. At that point, the Earth will experience more frequent and intense heat waves, longer warm seasons, and poor agricultural and public health outcomes. 

Yet, the scientists also suggest a two-thirds chance of reaching 1.5 C if the world achieves net zero emissions by 2040. This will significantly lessen the impact of climate change. 

A Race Against Time: How Do You Stop a Warming Planet?

One person cannot stop global warming and climate change. However, the collective efforts of people worldwide can help mitigate the effects of a changing planet. Here are six ways to limit global warming in your daily life. 

1. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Do you know how many emissions you contribute through everyday activities? Everything from turning on the lights to baking a cake and watching television creates greenhouse gases and particulate matter.

Using a free carbon footprint calculator to determine how much carbon you should offset is an excellent starting point. These tests measure your emissions at home, on the road, in the air, food and drink, and digital consumption through expenses and electricity use.

2. Use Alternative Transportation

The transportation sector accounts for 28% of emissions in the U.S., making it the top contributor to global warming. Light-duty vehicles produce 57% of greenhouse gases, followed by medium—and heavy-duty trucks at 23%.

Opt for biking or walking whenever possible, leaving your car at home. Upgrading your daily vehicle to an electric alternative is another way to reduce your transportation emissions. Likewise, you could commit to taking public transportation or carpooling to work several times weekly.

3. Eat a Flexitarian Diet

Meat lovers may hesitate to adopt a plant-based diet. Fortunately, they don’t have to with a climate-conscious flexitarian diet. Although you eat primarily vegetarian offerings, it allows up to 26 ounces of meat at about five days of eating animal protein weekly — ultimately, it depends on how strict you are.

In addition to the environmental benefits, eating predominantly plant-based foods can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and ischemic heart attack. These individuals also have lower insulin and cholesterol levels than meat eaters. 

4. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

Recycling reduces pollution and eliminates resource overconsumption. Reusing items decreases the need for new materials to manufacture additional goods. This also means avoiding single-use items like plastic cutlery and Keurig cups. 

Donate gently used belongings you no longer need and find secondary uses for other things. You can even reduce food waste by composting it for your garden. 

5. Support Sustainable Businesses

Consumerism will always be present, so it’s up to you to make wise buying decisions for the planet. Experts predict manufacturing emissions will rise by 17% from 2024 to 2050. Therefore, you should support businesses that are aligned with your environmental values.

Research brands’ sustainability initiatives to learn more about their commitment to bettering the planet, whether they have green supply chains, or give back to the environment somehow. The higher the demand for eco-friendly products, the more widespread the green economy becomes.

6. Plant Trees in Your Community

Trees are critical in the fight against global warming and climate change. In fact, forests sequester 30% of carbon emissions from fossil fuels — also known as the terrestrial carbon sink. 

Just one tree can absorb 48 pounds of carbon dioxide, storing it until it experiences logging, wildfire, or another physical event. Plant a tree in your yard or within the community to offset emissions and lower the effects of global warming. 

A Climate Story Centuries in the Making

It’s important to ask, “When did global warming start?” Doing so sparks research and discourse to understand human activity’s effects on the planet. It’s what people do with the information that matters the most. If industrialization was the birth date of global warming, it’s in the world’s best interest to mitigate behaviors for the planet’s future.