The issues around 'climate' range across all aspects of the global system, including the different components that have controlled climate on Earth throughout its history, as well as how solar energy is able to reach the Earth, how it is redistributed around the planet by the ocean-atmosphere system, and the relationship and differences between climate and the weather.

This Very Short Introduction examines all this, and further explores the causes and impacts of extreme storms around the world, the role of plate tectonics and Milankovitch orbital cycles on Earth's past climate, and its impact on evolution and human development. The book examines the climate impacts of supercontinents and ice ages and Maslin details all the potential ways that we can tackle future climate change and improve people's lives. He concludes by discussing climate change in the far future and the death of planet Earth.