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America’s Carbon Bill Is Coming Due

One way or another, we’re paying for climate change.

The White House and others estimate the IRA will help us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions 41 percent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. That’s still 10 percent short of our pledges.
The White House and others estimate the IRA will help us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions 41 percent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. That’s still 10 percent short of our pledges. Photo: Mandel Ngan/Getty
Baratunde Thurston
September 3, 2023

It’s time for a climate change reality check. For decades, we’ve been warned about the consequences of filling the skies with carbon: biblical flooding, uncontrollable fires, unbearable heat, refugee camps overflowing with the displaced. Now that future—Al Gore’s apocalyptic vision—has come to life. Even those of us who have been paying close attention, who have always taken climate change seriously, are experiencing genuine shock over the pace of recent events. Yesterday’s climate predictions are today’s weather.