Brief History of the Earth's Climate

What's natural, what's caused by humans, and why climate change is a disaster for all.

I love it. Earle understands the big climate picture and paints it with exceptional clarity.
- JAMES HANSEN, director, Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions, Columbia University Earth Institute

A model for clear science writing that forcefully awakens readers to what's at stake and what needs to be done.
- RICHARD HEINBERG, Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute, author, Power

A Brief History of the Earth's Climate is an accessible myth-busting guide to the natural evolution of the Earth's climate over 4.6 billion years, and how and why human caused climate change is different and much more dangerous.

Richly-illustrated chapters cover the major historical climate change processes including evolution of the sun, plate motions and continental collisions, volcanic eruptions, ocean currents and cycles, sunspots, and Earth's orbital variations, as well as human-caused global warming. Content includes:

• Understanding natural geological processes that shaped the climate
• How human impacts are now rapidly changing the climate
• Tipping points and the unfolding climate crisis
• An overview of the implications of the COVID pandemic for climate change
• What we can do to limit the damage to the planet and ecosystems
• Countering climate myths peddled by climate change science deniers.

A Brief History of the Earth's Climate is essential reading for everyone who is looking to understand what drives climate change, counter skeptics and deniers, and take action on the climate emergency

A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the Earth's climate system.
- ANDREW WEAVER, professor, University of Victoria, former chief editor, Journal of Climate

An engaging tour through the complex natural processes at play.
- TOM GREEN, Senior Climate Policy Advisor, David Suzuki Foundation

Steven Earle, PhD, has taught university Earth Science for almost four decades and is author of the widely used textbook, Physical Geology. He participates in community engagement with climate change solutions on Gabriola Island, Canada, where he lives with his family.