ABSTRACT
Studying the development of the "climate change" issue requires an analysis of different histories, factors, and time scales. From the very outset, one needs to distinguish between three interlocking histories: the history of the climate system itself, the history of human impacts on the climate, and the history of climate science. The notion of "climate" is a complex one. It is derived from a Greek word meaning "inclination" and refers to the inclination of the Sun's radiation when it reaches the surface of the Earth: a small inclination results in cold conditions whereas, by opposition, a larger inclination creates warmer conditions. The 1979 report to the US National Academy of Sciences, coordinated by Jule Charney, marked a decisive turning point. The growing concern about climate change was one of the drivers that favored new institutions, which have gained a considerable importance over time.
