Quantum mechanics plays a a crucial, albeit often overlooked, role
in our understanding of the Earth's climate. In this talk, I use
three well known aspects of quantum mechanics to present a simple
physical picture of what may happen as the concentrations of
greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide continue to increase. I
also utilize some basic astronomy and wave mechanics to decipher
historical and paleoclimatic records. I conclude with a personal
perspective on the politics versus the science of global warming.