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What is Climate?

What is Climate?

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Global Climate Change

Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 6, 2026

Assessing Intertidal Populations of the Invasive European Green Crab

Assessing Intertidal Populations of the Invasive European Green Crab

Published on: September 16, 2020

Why combating climate change is so challenging.

André de Palma^1,2, Robin Lindsey³, Stef Proost⁴

¹Thema, Cergy Paris University, Paris, France.

|September 11, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Implementing climate change policies faces economic, social, and political hurdles. Overcoming these requires stable legal frameworks, public acceptance of policies like carbon taxes, and addressing sector-specific challenges for effective climate action.

Keywords:

Climate change Electric cars International negotiations Legal barriers National inaction Political economy Social acceptability

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Last Updated: Jan 6, 2026

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Using Generative Art to Convey Past and Future Climate Transitions

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Published on: March 31, 2023

Area of Science:

Environmental Policy
Socio-economics
Political Science

Background:

Effective climate change policy implementation is hindered by complex economic, social, and political factors.
International agreements often lack enforceability, and political motivations can prioritize short-term gains over long-term environmental goals.
Public acceptance of economic instruments like carbon taxes remains a significant implementation challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the multifaceted obstacles to implementing climate change policies.
To analyze the interplay of economic, social, and political factors influencing policy success.
To identify necessary components for a stable national legal framework to bridge the gap between policy goals and outcomes.

Main Methods:

Qualitative analysis of policy implementation barriers.
Case study examination of the European automobile sector's transition challenges.
Review of legal, economic, and social factors impacting climate policy effectiveness.

Main Results:

Non-enforceability of international agreements and short-term political incentives are key barriers.
A stable national legal framework with clear principles, enforceable regulations, judicial oversight, and public participation is crucial.
The European Union's ban on thermic vehicles highlights potential job losses, economic disparities, and social unrest, alongside challenges with electric vehicle adoption.

Conclusions:

A multifaceted, interdisciplinary, and inclusive approach is essential for successful climate change policy implementation.
Addressing social acceptability and economic impacts, such as the transition in the automotive sector, is vital.
Strengthening national legal frameworks and fostering public participation are critical for achieving ambitious climate goals.