[tejohnso]

I think that's actually a rational position to take. We've already blown past 1.5 degrees C if you use the original 1750 baseline and 2 degrees C is already baked into the atmosphere. Short of some massively scaled up energy reflectance or capture / storage technology, implemented quickly, we're headed for extreme consequences. Note that we are already experiencing relatively mild consequences such as sudden human deaths in the dozens or hundreds, home loss, small species habitat loss, destruction of entire villages or small towns, etc. The mainstream is starting to accept attribution of these things to global warming now.

Interestingly, before the IPCC was formed their precursor had set the magic number at 1.0 degrees C. Then IPCC set it to 1.5 degrees C. Then they moved the goalpost by changing the baseline from pre-industrial 1750 to 1900 (or maybe 1850). Personally, I'm not a fan of arbitrary numbers anyway. I prefer to look at significant events. For me, the big slap in the face will come when we see an ice free arctic ocean.