Just FYI pollution wasn't at its greatest during this time. During the 1970s we saw a huge increase in CO2 pollution much higher then during the 1950s and 60s.

But to answer your question you must first understand that CO2 isn't the only factor in the climate. CO2 has the effect that it makes the Earth warmer but other forms of pollution can cool down the earth. These forms of pollution are sulfur and particulates (aerosol). During this time period industry was very dirty and we actually saw a lot of sulfur and particulate pollution which temporarily caused a decrease in temperature. During the 70s new laws were passed (eg aerosol cans had to remove cfgs) and sulfur/particulate emissions were reduced, coupled with an increase in CO2 emissions, and temperatures have been rising at .2C/decade ever sense.



Btw it's pretty startling how many people "don't believe in global warming." Do people not realize that consensus on the level that we're talking about with climate science is only paralleled by evolution and only surpassed by the physical sciences? More scientists agree with global warming then just about any other issue, ever. Of course even more startling is the number of people who "don't believe in evolution." I guess education in the United States has been getting worse and people don't trust scientists as much anymore. Global warming and evolution are not matters of opinion, they are solid scientific facts. You cant just disagree because you don't like it.