In an unusually blunt assessment, a group of scientists early this year warned of the catastrophic consequences of climate change. Their paper, “Underestimating the Challenge of Avoiding a Ghastly Future”, published last month, presented ample evidence that our environmental conditions are much more dangerous than commonly believed. Almost as dangerous is the chronic underestimating of the perils of climate change by leaders and governments, leading to the failures to achieve the already established sustainable development goals. The Paris Agreement adopted at the Paris climate conference (COP21) in December 2015 set the 1.5–2 degrees Celsius target to avoid dangerous climate change. However, without huge additional commitments, global warming is expected to reach 2.6–3.1 degrees by 2100, even if present commitments are achieved – an impending catastrophe for biodiversity and humanity.