The Collapse of Western Civilization assumes that readers will have a basic understanding of climate change science and the implications of climate change. A few relevant elements of climate change science that are important for the understanding of the text include the carbon cycle, the impact of greenhouse gases and aerosols, tipping points and feedback loops, and global heat distribution.

The carbon cycle refers to the cyclical movement of carbon between the atmosphere and the ground. Atmospheric carbon is absorbed by plants and water, and it interacts with certain rocks, including limestone. It is then stored in the earth or in the oceans, and since carbon is acidic, this results in the acidification of oceans. Greenhouse gases are gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄), that trap radiation from leaving the Earth’s atmosphere. The greenhouse effect of these gases is important for maintaining habitable temperatures, but excessive greenhouse gases are causing the global temperature to rise and the climate to destabilize.

As a result, extreme weather events are becoming more common. As greenhouse gas levels continue to rise, scientists predict that the weather will continue to destabilize, negatively impacting both humans and the environment.