The book reviews the science of climate change and explains why it is one of the most difficult problems humanity has ever tackled. Climate change is a 'wicked' problem bound up with problems of population growth, environmental degradation, and world problems of growing social and economic inequality. The book explores the politicization of the topic, the polarization of opinion, and the reasons why, for some, science has become just another ideology to be contested. How do humans assess risk? Why are they are so bad at focusing on the future? How can we solve the problem of climate change? These are the questions this work answers. The goal of this new, unique Series is to offer readable, teachable 'thinking frames' on today?s social problems and social issues by leading scholars, all in short 60 page or shorter formats, and available for view on http://routledge.customgateway.com/routledge-social-issues.html For instructors teaching a wide range of courses in the social sciences, the Routledge Social Issues Collection now offers the best of both worlds: originally written short texts that provide 'overviews' to important social issues as well as teachable excerpts from larger works previously published by Routledge and other presses.