An analysis published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and reviewed by a dozen scientists found there’s reason to believe human-caused climate change could result in global catastrophe and even human extinction—a topic they warn is “dangerously underexplored.” (The Logic)

Talking point: Most climate risk assessments focus on scenarios in which global warming remains 2 C or less above pre-industrial levels. That’s in part based on globally agreed-upon climate goals, the report noted, as well as climate science’s tendency to “err on the side of least drama.” But hitting those targets isn’t a given. The planet is currently on track to warm between 2.1 to 3.9 C by 2100; by 2070, around two billion people are expected to live in areas with extreme heat, according to the report. The authors warned these conditions could trigger political and economic crises that “unravel societies across the globe.” The scientists called for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to produce a report on the topic. “Analyzing the mechanisms for these extreme consequences could help galvanize action, improve resilience, and inform policy, including emergency responses,” the authors wrote.