Hoping for a ‘new normal’ climate is pointless. We must learn to adapt

Key points

• Climate change is worsening, with no chance of holding temperature rise to 1.5°C. The future will bring worsening floods, glacial melt, megafires and lethal heat.
• The phrase 'new normal' is misleading, as global emissions have not peaked and further heat and climate uncertainty are expected.
• Historically rare weather extremes will become more likely and intense, making adaptation necessary alongside emission reduction efforts.