When many people hear the term climate change, they envision a few random changes in weather patterns that will not affect the planet and humanity until the end of the current century, or even later. This view is dead wrong. Earth's climate is now changing faster than at any point in the history of modern civilization, primarily as a result of human activities. Global climate change has already resulted in a wide range of impacts across every region of the country and many sectors of the economy that are expected to grow in the coming decades.

Introduction: Climate change is already happening -- An onslaught of extreme weather events -- The ongoing threat of sea-level rise -- Climate change and global food supply -- Ongoing losses of species and biodiversity -- Fighting and adapting to climate change.