In anti-science fantasy worlds, climate change is a mere theory, an abstraction to be ignored for now. This view would be foolish under any circumstance.

But it has become more counterfactual than ever, as people come to grips with horrific heat waves blamed for hundreds of deaths recently in the Pacific Northwest and Canada, as well as dozens of deaths in Arizona.

Who can ignore the parching drought in the West, the 1 million-plus acres burning in 12 western states due to raging wildfires, record flooding in Europe (which has claimed more than 100 lives and left more than 1,000 missing) and torrential rains in China — not seen in 1,000 years and which have killed dozens and displaced more than 1 million?