Small changes in inputs lead to small changes in ouputs.
This assumes the Earth is a linear system. But it's not. There are many climate-related feedback mechanisms which, once excited, can lead to unstable, out-of-control changes. For example, ice-albedo feedback. A small rise in termperature is not just a small rise in temperature. It can result in reducing the reflectivity of the Earth's surface (the albedo ) by melting ice. This in term increases the absorption of sunlight, which leads to more ice-melt and off we go. It works in the other direction too. Decreasing temperature causes the albedo to increase as ice forms. This can lead to uncontrolled cooling.
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