Global climate change is a societal issue that affects natural and human systems right now and will continue dramatically impacting them in the future if the drivers remain unabated. The debate and political polarization surrounding climate change issues is all around us and the messages can be confusing and difficult to interpret. It is crucial that as a society we are equipped with the scientific knowledge and skills to interpret the collected information, make decisions about and prepare for and mitigate the impacts of a changing climate.