Earth’s mean annual surface temperature has increased by 1.3 degrees Celsius over the pre-industrial average. We know that over the next 75 years, without an immediate and dramatic change in behavior, we will see an increase of 3-8 degrees C, levels not seen in the time since humans first evolved. The risks for human societies from this magnitude of warming are complex, with interacting hazards that are potentially amplified by our response. Historical sciences can speak to these uncertainties about how it will affect our societies and our health. In this talk, Dr. Gwen Robbins Schug will describe archaeological perspectives on human health and well-being during periods of rapid climate change over the past 10,000 years. She will focus on the historical and socio-cultural factors that promoted resilience and those that were associated with high levels of violence, infectious disease spillover, and starvation. Ultimately, Dr. Robbins Schug proposes that discussions of human health may be one of the greatest opportunities for motivating the urgent, transformative, and sustained actions we now require to achieve a fair, equitable, sustainable future on Earth.