The book documents a series of scientific observations and political processes, bringing attention to the causes and effects of global climate change.

Kolbert travels around the world where climate change is affecting the environment in significant ways.

The environmental effects that are apparent consist of rising sea levels, thawing permafrost, diminishing ice shelves, changes in migratory patterns, and increasingly devastating forest fires due to loss of precipitation.

Kolbert brings to attention the attempts of large corporations such as ExxonMobil and General Motors to influence politicians and discredit scientists.

Leading this resistance, she explained, was the Bush administration, which was opposed to the Kyoto Protocol since it was ratified in 2005.