The world is getting hotter and pessimism may be our guide.

NOAA data indicate atmospheric carbon dioxide has risen far faster in recent decades than at the end of the last ice age, and the columnist argues that an "ethical pessimism" better fits the scale and unpredictability of human-driven warming.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide has risen much faster in recent decades than during past natural climate transitions, according to NOAA. The rapid release of fossil carbon is producing faster warming and rising risks of more extreme weather. A globally interconnected civilization of more than eight billion people depends on complex infrastructure that was built for a more stable climate. The Boston Globe columnist contends that given scientific uncertainty and political limits, an ethical form of pessimism is a more responsible stance than unfounded optimism. Key points: - NOAA reports the recent rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 60 years is roughly 100–200 times faster than the increase at the end of the last ice age. - Climate science projects more chaotic weather, with greater extremes of precipitation and drought, increased flooding, and sea-level rise, while some processes (cloud dynamics, tipping points, glacier collapse, permafrost methane) remain uncertain. - Modern society of more than 8 billion people relies on energy and infrastructure not designed for rapid climate shifts, unlike past periods when populations were smaller and more mobile. - The columnist criticizes some climate-model assumptions and international commitments as overly optimistic about political action and the timely scaling of carbon removal. - She advances "ethical pessimism" as a framework for apprehending likely impacts and guiding collective response amid deep uncertainty. Summary: Warming at current rates is expected to produce growing disruption to weather, ecosystems, and infrastructure, and the full societal consequences remain uncertain. Undetermined at this time.