‘We are damned fools’: scientist who sounded climate alarm in 80s warns of worse to come

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece here in The Guardian or enjoy below

🗞️ Driving the news: US scientist James Hansen, who first warned about global warming in the 1980s, suggests we are moving towards a climate hotter than any point in the last million years
• He blames this trend on humanity’s inaction regarding the climate crisis

🔭 The context: Hansen’s testimony to the US Senate in 1988 was one of the first high-profile revelations of global heating
• Today, he warns that we have a 20% chance of experiencing extreme summer temperatures like those currently seen in the northern hemisphere, a significant increase from a 1% chance 50 years ago

🌎 Why it matters for the planet: The lack of action to reduce emissions since Hansen’s warning poses a severe threat to Earth's climate balance
• If this trend continues, temperatures could increase to levels not seen since before human existence, creating unprecedented challenges for our survival

⏭️ What's next: This year is likely to be the hottest ever recorded, with average global temperatures predicted to continue rising
• Despite these alarming statistics, some scientists are divided on whether this rate is accelerating or steady

💬 One quote: “We are headed wittingly into the new reality – we knew it was coming.” (James Hansen)

📈 One stat: Since the start of mass industrialization, the world has warmed by about 1.2C, causing an increase from a 1% to a 20% chance of having extreme summer temperatures, according to Hansen

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