The climate varies on multiple timescales, but now humans are the main agents of change and are likely to remain so for the next few centuries. It is generally understood that human-induced climate change causes global warming, but what is not adequately appreciated are the direct influences on heavy rainfalls, drought and storms, at great cost to society and the environment. Although the climate change effects are modest, perhaps five to 15 per cent for these events, once thresholds are crossed, things break and damage increases non-linearly. These aspects are not properly factored into costs of climate change, and preparation for expected effects is woefully inadequate, exacerbating damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]