The past 20 years of research using Earth system models (ESMs) is reviewed with an emphasis on results from the ESM based on MIROC (Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate) developed in Japan. Earth system models are climate models incorporating biogeochemical processes such as the carbon cycle. The development of ESM was triggered by studies of the feedback between climate change and the carbon cycle. State-of-the-art ESMs are much more realistic than the first ESMs. They now include various biogeochemical processes other than carbon, such as atmospheric chemistry and the nitrogen and iron cycles as well as nutrient transport by atmospheric dust and rivers. They are used to address many practical issues, such as evaluating the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that is consistent with climate change mitigation targets, and are indispensable tools for the development of climate change mitigation policies. Novel, ambitious attempts to use ESMs include coupling socioeconomics with Earth systems, and projecting the carbon cycle on decadal timescales. Development of ESMs requires ongoing integration of multiple aspects of climate science. Emerging applications of ESMs can bring forth meaningful insights, and should be directed toward expanding connections with fields outside climate science, e.g., socioeconomics.

回顾了过去20年使用地球系统模型（ESM）进行的研究，重点是基于日本开发的MIROC（气候跨学科研究模型）的ESM结果。地球系统模型是结合了生物地球化学过程（如碳循环）的气候模型。ESM的发展是由对气候变化与碳循环之间反馈的研究引发的。最新的ESM比第一个ESM更现实。它们现在包括除碳以外的各种生物地球化学过程，例如大气化学，氮和铁循环以及大气尘埃和河流中的养分运输。它们用于解决许多实际问题，例如评估与缓解气候变化目标相一致的二氧化碳排放量，是制定减缓气候变化政策必不可少的工具。使用ESM的新颖，雄心勃勃的尝试包括将社会经济学与地球系统结合起来，并在十年时间尺度上预测碳循环。ESM的发展需要不断整合气候科学的多个方面。ESM的新兴应用可以带来有意义的见解，并应致力于扩大与气候科学以外领域（例如社会经济学）的联系。