Support for green parties grows after uncharacteristically warm years. The image shows the effect of uncharacteristic regional heat on the proportion of votes for "green" parties in elections.

The biggest barriers to curbing or slowing climate change are political. Although carbon emissions can be reduced using current technologies, it is believed that such a reduction requires sacrificing a great deal today in order to reduce the risk of climate catastrophe in the future. Many voters refuse to take on such financial obligations.