A pallid sunrise created by the wildfire smoke that originated in the western United States and Canada (Larchmont, New York)—July 20, 2021

Climate scientists have long highlighted the overwhelming evidence that greenhouse gas pollution is driving a warming of the Earth’s climate. They have long warned that extreme weather and related events—heat waves, drought, floods, and wildfires—would result from ongoing climate change. Greenhouse gas polluters knowingly attacked the truth and deliberately pushed propaganda aimed at paralyzing policy. Policy makers remained oblivious

2021 has already seen an unprecedented heat wave crash upon North America’s Pacific Northwest; unsparing drought send reservoirs in California and Utah’s Great Salt Lake to record lows; exploding wildfires and fire tornadoes pillage parts of western North America and Siberia; terrible floods ravage parts of Europe, India, Nigeria, Russia, and China; and drought-driven famine stalk Madagascar’s helpless population like vultures awaiting death.

The suspects—those who bear primary responsibility for the climate catastrophes of this year and the even greater ones that lie ahead—are well-known. Yet, in many countries, policy makers remain enthralled by the siren song of those fossil fuel polluters. Many governments subsidize the expansion of these increasingly destructive enterprises and activities. People bear the enormous and growing burden of the costs and consequences of climate change.

The lifeless morning of July 20 is just the latest reminder that the world is now at, and perhaps beyond, a pivotal moment. That moment requires courageous, committed, and ethical leadership that, perhaps for the first time, puts the wellbeing of society ahead of the interests of the amoral architects of destructive climate change.

There is no refuge for the world’s peoples from climate change. There are no permanent resting places for the world’s peoples. The intervals between extreme events are temporary respites. Justice requires that there be no respite for the polluters.

November’s COP26 conference offers the world’s leaders a renewed chance to chart a better course for humanity. Eloquent words and bold promises won’t matter. Only credible commitments anchored in enacted policy changes will matter. Examples include eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, permanently suspending the awarding of new oil and gas exploration and drilling leases, shutting down the coal industry, providing investments for rapidly building and scaling clean energy technologies, levying a fee on the greenhouse gas polluters for their pollution, and establishing binding deadlines for the transition toward achieving global net zero emissions.

There still remains time for a reasonable transition. However, each day of relative inaction only squanders the slender amount of time that now separates relatively painless transition from painful disruption.

The world’s leaders can still secure humanity’s future. At COP26, they should rise to the occasion. What course will they choose?