When the Fever Breaks

Many have observed that bad news travels fast while good news takes the scenic route. That holds true for the most part. But not with evolving global ecosystems and climate. In that regard, both bad and good news are in a hurry.

We just completed the hottest year ever recorded, meaning every one of the last 10 years is among the 10 warmest on record. Steadily rising global temperatures put the world on the brink of surpassing the internationally-agreed limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming compared to pre-industrial times. We’re already seeing ever-worsening heatwaves, floods, drought and other natural disasters, and we’re about to blow past the 1.5C limit faster than climate scientists ever imagined.

This grim realization has spawned climate denialism in a few and climate fatalism in many more, but plenty of others have been inspired to get to work bringing about an energy revolution that is already having noticeable positive effects. In 2015, the world was headed for a 3.5C increase…