The societal relevance of paleoenvironmental research. -- The late quaternary history of atmospheric trace gases and aerosols: interactions between climate and biogeochemical cycles. -- The history of climate dynamics in the late quaternary. -- The late quaternary history of biogeochemical cycling of carbon. -- Terrestrial biosphere dynamics in the climate system: past and future. -- The climate of the last millennium. -- The role of human activities in past environmental change. -- Challenges of a changing Earth: past perspectives, future concerns. -- Appendix A: The Past Global Changes (PAGES) Program. -- Appendix B: The PAGES data system.