Global climate change has recently become a central political and societal issue. In addition to climate models that illustrate possible future developments of the global climate and its regional effects, measurement data shows that climate change is already underway: over the past hundred years, the global average temperature has risen by 0.74 °C. Thus, global civilization faces the enormous challenge of initiating extensive transformation processes that, on one hand, contribute to mitigating climate change through a reduction of climate-relevant greenhouse gases (Mitigation). On the other hand, proactive adaptation to ongoing changes is necessary to minimize the risks of climate change and to seize any opportunities that may arise (Adaptation). The causes and effects of climate change.