The 2013 PAGES 2k consortium reconstructions have shown clear regional expressions of temperature variability at the multi-decadal to century scale, whereas a long-term cooling trend prior to the 20th century was evident globally. These findings pointed to the necessity of understanding regional differences for a truly global view. This special issue intends to assemble papers proceeding from the coordinated efforts of the PAGES 2k network to refine temperature reconstructions and create a history of regional precipitation changes. To achieve this goal, it will gather a series of synthesis papers from each PAGES regional group, i.e Australasia, Arctic, Antarctic, South and Central America, North America, Europe, Asia and from the Oceans, as well as transregional comparisons. This special issue will include reconstructions from not only various types archives, e.g. documents, tree rings, sediments and ice, but also model-proxy comparisons, analyses of modes of variability and assessments of dating uncertainties.