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Meters of sea level rise, unprecedented forest fires, drought and millions of climate refugees. According to scientists, this is what awaits us this century now that the earth is heading for a warming of around 3 degrees. Could it have been different? Yes, concludes New York Times journalist Nathaniel Rich, pointing to a conference in November 1989 organised by the Netherlands. At this first international climate conference in Noordwijk aan Zee - exactly 30 years ago this week - more than sixty countries including the United States, the Soviet Union and China tried to reach an agreement to reduce CO2 emissions. In retrospect, the conference in 1989 was, according to many, the best chance to prevent disastrous climate change. Why did it go differently? Nieuwsuur spoke with Rich and the key players from that time. This is a report by: Marijn Duintjer Tebbens, Renee van Hest and Bram Vernhout. #climate #CO2 #greenhouseeffect