The concept of climate change wasn't defined by a single person, but rather developed over centuries through the work of many scientists. Here's a breakdown of key figures and developments:

Early Observations (19th Century):

* Joseph Fourier (1824): He first proposed the concept of the "greenhouse effect," where certain gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun.

* John Tyndall (1859): He identified carbon dioxide and water vapor as the primary greenhouse gases.

Climate Change Theory (20th Century):

* Svante Arrhenius (1896): He calculated how much Earth's temperature could increase due to increased carbon dioxide levels from burning fossil fuels.

* Guy Stewart Callendar (1938): He showed that carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere were indeed increasing and linked this to rising temperatures.

* Charles David Keeling (1950s): His meticulous measurements at Mauna Loa observatory provided the first irrefutable evidence of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

Scientific Consensus (Late 20th Century and Present):

* Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): Established in 1988, the IPCC brings together scientists from around the world to assess the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts, and possible solutions.

* Thousands of scientists: Through extensive research and data analysis, scientists from numerous fields (geology, meteorology, oceanography, etc.) have contributed to understanding and defining climate change.

Conclusion:

While certain individuals made key contributions, climate change is a complex phenomenon defined through the cumulative efforts of many scientists across different disciplines and generations.