We used a computer model to explore how changes in climate, like unusually hot or cold years, might influence how quickly society takes action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While we already know that public opinion, government policy, and technology are important drivers of emissions, the role of natural climate fluctuations is less well understood. Our results show that periods of unusually hot or cold years can speed up or delay global climate action by several years. In general, warmer conditions increase public support for reducing emissions, while cooler periods can slow it down. We also found that greater year-to-year temperature variability makes it harder for society to recognize climate change, which leads to slower action. This research highlights that natural temperature variability can influence when and how society responds to climate change.