A global warminghiatushas been observed since the beginning of the 21st century despite the increase in heat-trapping greenhouse gases,challenging the current global warming studies. Focusing on the phenomena and mechanisms of the global warminghiatus,the National Key Research Program of China launched a project in July,2016. The main research themes of this project cover: ①Revealing the spatial and temporal variability of the global warming hiatus,and quantifying the contributions of external forcing and internal (natural) variability, respectively; ②Revealing the role of the atmosphere in the global heat and energy redistribution under global warming hiatus; ③Revealing the role of the ocean in the global heat and energy redistribution under global warming hiatus; ④Investigating the predictability of the global warming hiatus. The key scientific issues to be resolved include: ①Identifying characteristics of the global warming hiatus and discerning the roles of decadal,multidecadal oscillations; ②Revealing the role of ocean-atmosphere dynamical processes in the global redistribution of heat and energy; ③Understanding the predictability of the global warming hiatus. The research aims to predict the future development of the global warming hiatus,and to point out the possible impacts on China and other important areas,includingThe Belt and Roadcore area and the Polar Regions.