In 1827, French scientists J.B. Fourier proposed a rudimentary version of what most people now accept as the theory of global climate change, using the 'greenhouse' analogy to explain how man-made emissions could alter the Earth's temperature. Over a century and a half later, the first significant international treaty to stabilise greenhouse gas emission was negotiated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992 . The targets set were voluntary, no enforcement provisions were included in the agreement, and by 1997, it was clear the Rio goals would not be met.
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