The Physics of Climate Change: A Book Review

Abstract

Climate change is inevitable. It stands as one of the triple planetary crises, along with pollution and biodiversity loss, impacting countries worldwide. People across the globe have a responsibility to achieve Goal 13 of SDGs, which emphasizes the urgency for immediate and concerted efforts to address climate change and its multifaceted consequences (Juniper, 2021). The adverse effects of climate change exacerbate existing issues such as poverty, food insecurity, and public health crises, thereby undermining global progress towards sustainable development. Consequently, this issue has gained significant political and technocratic attention, necessitating coordinated efforts to address its challenges.

Significantly, the response to the challenge of climate change is grounded in a robust scientific framework. The 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics reaffirmed the importance of science-based policy by honoring a group of scientists for their groundbreaking research on Earth's climate system. This recognition underscores the irrelevance of the question, "Do you believe in global warming?" (Hegerl, 2022). However, certain individuals still fail to grasp the scientific foundation of climate change, resulting in limited awareness and disregard for the issue. Therefore, mainstreaming the climate change issue needs an approach focused on literacy and science education.

References

Hansen, J. E., Kharecha, P., Sato, M., Tselioudis, G., Kelly, J., Bauer, S. E., Ruedy, R., Jeong, E., Jin, Q., Rignot, E., Velicogna, I., Schoeberl, M. R., von Schuckmann, K., Amponsem, J., Cao, J., Keskinen, A., Li., J., & Pokela, A. (2025) Global Warming Has Accelerated: Are the United Nations and the Public Well-Informed?, Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 67:1, 6-44, https://doi.org/10.1080/00139157.2025.2434494

Hegerl, G. C. (2022). Climate change is physics. Communications Earth & Environment, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-022-00342-8

Juniper, T. (2021). The science of our changing planet: From global warming to sustainable development. D.K. Publishing.

Singh, M. S., & O'Neill, M. E. (2022). Thermodynamics of the climate system. Physics Today, 75(7), 30–37. https://doi.org/10.1063/PT.3.5038

Zhou, T., Zhang, W., Chen, D., Zhang, X., Li, C., Zuo, M., & Chen, X. (2022). Understanding and building upon pioneering work of Nobel Prize in Physics 2021 laureates Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselmann: From greenhouse effect to Earth system science and beyond. Science China Earth Sciences, 65(4), 589–600. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-022-9906-4