Climate today is neither just a natural backdrop to human actions nor a determining force of our actions. Rather, climate is a co-determining factor in social, political, and economic interactions. More than ever, the study of the climate system must also incorporate contributions from the social sciences and humanities. Whether climate will have an even broader impact on our societies in the future is primarily a function of human actions. Understanding and acting in response to climate change long requires a multidisciplinary perspective. Nico Stehr and Amanda Machin demonstrate how climate has evolved from a scientific object viewed as something outside of society to a complex and interconnected system that is significantly shaped by social structures, technological practices, and energy.