If nothing was done to manage the increase of the greenhouse effect tied to human activity, we should see, at the end of this century, a minimum average 4 °C increase in temperature worldwide which will increase well beyond 2100. The impacts of such a « business as usual » scenario would be difficult if not impossible to handle. And these difficulties will hold true for a +3 °C climate change a level which could be reached in the current context of the Paris agreement. After briefly examining the causes and consequences of this ongoing global warming in the light of recent IPCC reports, we will conclude on the absolute need to keep global warming well below 2°C, and much better around 1.5°C, if we want today young generations be able to adapt to future climate change in the second part of this century and beyond. We will argue that research, innovation and creativity are essential for going towards this low carbon society but that this « ecological transition » also requires large dedicated teaching efforts in higher education and all along our life.