Discussion: We review an article by Eugine Linden that appeared in The New York Times. It examines the reasons why climate scientists consistently failed to underestimate the dangers associated with global warming. The article shows how events that were previously believed to be unimaginable are now accepted as imminent threats.  We discuss recent evidence that shows how dramatic climate change can happen in a matter of years, not millennia as previously thought, and the implications that this has for all of us over the next few years.