We now have very little room to significantly and rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change, with only an estimated six years left before we inflate our carbon budget to stay below 1.5°C of warming. We've known how gases like carbon dioxide trap heat for more than 100 years, and alarm bells have been ringing loudly for more than 35 years since climate scientist James Hansen testified that global warming had begun. With the arrival of extreme weather and temperatures, many of us wonder if it had to be this bad before we took action. Did we have to see to believe? What role has our own psychology played in our slowness? ( Jeff Rotman, Deakin University)