For decades, climate change has been a polarising topic. People feel strongly about it either because they fear losing their way of life as activists push climate-related regulations, or because they fear for the planet’s fate, as apocalyptic scenarios may unfold in the not-so-distant future due to inadequate action. As a result, societies are divided into two strongly opposed ideological camps. However, climate change is not an ideology: it’s a simple fact that everybody can understand. Emotional responses like hate, fear, and frustration do not make it more or less real, and keeping a cool head is more important than ever. So let’s get back to basics and stick to the facts. In this course we will analyse how natural climate changes were triggered in the past, the consequences that unfolded, and how we can draw connections to our current situation, aiming to foster understanding and action as an impact-oriented institution.