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John Gibbons: The climate future we have long feared is already here

In 2008, scientist James Lovelock predicted that it would take just 20 years for climate breakdown to truly be felt. Now it seems his prediction is coming true

A resident holds an empty water hose during an attempt to extinguish forest fires approaching the village of Pefki in Evia, Greece’s second largest island: Picture: Getty Imags

It was only a matter of time before a year like 2023 came along. I just never imagined it would be so soon.

Despite tracking the unfolding climate emergency closely for many years, I still clung to the notion that we would be into the 2030s before the signs of widespread climate breakdown became impossible to ignore. I was wrong, dead wrong. The future we have long feared is here, now.

In 2008, the brilliant ...