Do scientists expect the number and severity of extreme weather events to increase in a warming world? Which parts of the world are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change? What international efforts are being made to combat the problem? This accessible resource considers all those questions and more as it explains the relationship between climate change and the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, and wildfires.

This unbiased examination of the facts around climate change trends throughout history provides readers with a foundational understanding of our current environmental context. This coverage is supplemented with extended discussion of the political and cultural factors shaping policy responses to the issue, both in mitigating the impacts of climate change and adapting to changing environmental realities. In addition, Extreme Weather and Climate Change offers an extensive array of personal and scholarly essays and illuminating primary documents that illuminate the issue from a range of scientific, political, and cultural standpoints.