To examine climate change issues from a policy and scientific perspective, the Science and Technology Policy, Energy Forum, and Health Economics programs of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, together with the Energy & Environmental Systems Institute and the Shell Center for Sustainability at Rice University, hosted a conference on February 9, 2008, titled “Beyond Science: The Economics and Politics of Responding to Climate Change.” The event, supported by the Science & Innovation Section of the British Consulate-General in Houston, sought to highlight the challenges and opportunities for developing a more effective U.S. climate policy. Conference participants discussed policies that have been adopted or are under consideration in the United States, as well as the background data needed to assess the effectiveness of these policies and other options. Among the topics covered were the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2007 Assessment Report; mitigation and adaptation strategies; policy approaches to limiting carbon emissions and the economic issues related to such policies; and technology options for dealing with climate change. This conference report is a summary of the findings and discussions.