That is exactly what scientists from around the world are cautioning will happen if we don't take the threat of climate change seriously.
In a paper published Wednesday in the journal BioScience, more than 14,000 scientists from 153 countries signed their name to research that warns of an incoming climate emergency.
The scientists found that the world is richer than it has ever been, as indicated by global gross domestic product.
It's also worth noting that renewable energy sources, like wind and solar, are now a cheaper option globally than coal.
The paper published this week is an update on similar research conducted in 2019, which amassed signatures from more than 11,000 scientists.
In the time since that paper was initially published, the world has suffered significantly from extreme weather events caused or made worse by climate change.
Now it's up to governments, industry, and the rest of us to actually heed these warnings â or suffer through what comes next. »