Team that made early climate predictions marks 30 years, 'spot on' accuracy

In 1990, a newly formed team of scientists predicted that global temperatures would rise half a degree Celsius by this year.

Now, as the British Meteorological Office’s Hadley Center for Climate Science celebrates its 30th birthday, it’s also celebrating the fact that its predictions were “spot on,” said Jonathan Watts, The Guardian's global environment editor.

“The Hadley Center was set up to be on the cutting edge of climate research, and they were remarkably accurate,” he said.

Watts recently wrote about the center’s legacy and how it has helped make the issue of climate change less partisan in Britain than it is in the United States.

Hear his conversation with MPR News chief meteorologist and Climate Cast host Paul Huttner using the audio player above.