A looming crisis will force humans to change how we eat, build, and power our lives - here are some of the most promising solutions
The warnings were plentiful. The limits were clearly defined. We have long understood how to keep the Earth's average temperature from reaching dangerous levels.
But as greenhouse gases in the atmosphere continue to trap more heat, we're now face-to-face with the volatile climate, intense heat waves, and large-scale storms scientists predicted decades ago.
Substantial damage is already locked in, even if emissions - the cause of the problem - are quickly cut. The question is no longer whether we can prevent a climate crisis. It's: Now what? Scientists, planners, engineers, and entrepreneurs are developing solutions and adaptations to address this new reality. But surviving in an inevitably harsher environment will require fundamental changes to the way we eat, live, build, and power the world.