--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only in the last few years did the…" description: "\"Only in the last few years did the science crystallize, revealing the urgency - our planet really is in peril. If we do not change course soon, we will..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/james-hansen-7143_children_only-in-the-last-few-years-did-the-scien_2105067.jpg" --- # Only in the last few years did the science crystallize… ![“Only in the last few years did the science crystallize, revealing the urgency - our planet really is in peril. If we do not change course soon, we will hand our children a situation that is out of their control.” quote by James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/james-hansen-7143_children_only-in-the-last-few-years-did-the-scien_2105067.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/james-hansen-7143_children_only-in-the-last-few-years-did-the-scien_2105067.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/james-hansen-7143_children_only-in-the-last-few-years-did-the-scien_2105067.jpg) > “Only in the last few years did the science crystallize, revealing the urgency - our planet really is in peril. If we do not change course soon, we will hand our children a situation that is out of their control.” [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientific consensus now shows climate change is urgent and threatens future generations unless immediate action is taken. **In simple terms:** Climate change is urgent and threatens kids. Key Takeaway Act now to protect future generations. Themes environment urgency future generations policy science Mood concerned motivated hopeful Type call to action warning inspirational When to use this quote - government policy - education curricula - family planning - community activism Key Concepts climate science risk assessment intergenerational justice Questions to Reflect On - What policies can you support to reduce emissions? - How can you influence others to act now? A Different Perspective If political will is lacking, scientific urgency may not translate into action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Our planet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-planet/) [Peril](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peril/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Urgency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urgency/) ## Related quotes > [I would never put children in a situation where I felt I was exploiting them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-frost/i-would-never-put-children-in-a-situation-where-i-felt-i-was/) [Jo Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-frost/) > [“Among children, the situation may be different. Some parents, especially those whose children had other OCD symptoms, have reported”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-o-frost/among-children-the-situation-may-be-different-some-parents-especially/) Randy O. Frost > [Coal is the single greatest threat to civilization and all life on our planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/coal-is-the-single-greatest-threat-to-civilization-and-all-life-on/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [A man who goes forth to take the life of another whom he does not know must believe only one thing: that by his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-shamir/a-man-who-goes-forth-to-take-the-life-of-another-whom-he-does-not/) [Yitzhak Shamir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-shamir/) > [I'm gonna try and change the course of hip hop again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/i-m-gonna-try-and-change-the-course-of-hip-hop-again/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [We can't go back and change decisions you took, but we can take decisions that can change the course of out future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isai-solis-garcia/we-can-t-go-back-and-change-decisions-you-took-but-we-can-take/) Isai Solis Garcia > [“You have a right to experiment with your life. You will make mistakes. And they are right too. No, I think there was too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/you-have-a-right-to-experiment-with-your-life-you-will-make-mistakes/) [Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [It is true that sometimes things may not happen as we expect them. We may have to change our course of action or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-joseph-benziger/it-is-true-that-sometimes-things-may-not-happen-as-we-expect-them-we/) [T Joseph Benziger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-joseph-benziger/) > [The middle class in America is at a tipping point. It will not last another generation if we don't boldly change course now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-middle-class-in-america-is-at-a-tipping-point-it-will-not-last/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [“Only a book is enough to change the course of your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aman-jassal/only-a-book-is-enough-to-change-the-course-of-your-life/) [Aman Jassal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aman-jassal/) > [You cannot change the course of events, but you can change your attitude, and what really matters is the attitude and not the mere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/you-cannot-change-the-course-of-events-but-you-can-change-your/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [“Over the years I’ve learned that a surefooted and confident mapmaker does not a swift traveler make. I stumble and fall, and I constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/over-the-years-i-ve-learned-that-a-surefooted-and-confident-mapmaker/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [There are times when I wish I could go back and change the course of my life. Make different choices...But the past cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/there-are-times-when-i-wish-i-could-go-back-and-change-the-course-of/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [If The World Does Not Change Course, We Risk Self-Destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/if-the-world-does-not-change-course-we-risk-self-destruction/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [There is no one who can change My course or affect My conduct to the slightest extent. I am the Master over all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/there-is-no-one-who-can-change-my-course-or-affect-my-conduct-to-the/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) ## More by James Hansen > [Talking nice about sun and wind and green jobs is just greenwash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/talking-nice-about-sun-and-wind-and-green-jobs-is-just-greenwash/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [What is frustrating people, me included, is that democratic action affects elections but what we get then from political leaders is greenwash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/what-is-frustrating-people-me-included-is-that-democratic-action/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The five-year mean global temperature has been flat for the last decade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-five-year-mean-global-temperature-has-been-flat-for-the-last/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [What makes tar sands particularly odious is that the energy you get out in the end, per unit carbon dioxide, is poor. It's equivalent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/what-makes-tar-sands-particularly-odious-is-that-the-energy-you-get/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [We are on the precipice of climate system tipping points beyond which there is no redemption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/we-are-on-the-precipice-of-climate-system-tipping-points-beyond-which/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [Jail threats did not dissuade Martin Luther King - and intergenerational justice is a moral issue of comparable magnitude to civil rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/jail-threats-did-not-dissuade-martin-luther-king-and/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The United States did not sign Kyoto, yet its emissions are not that different from the countries that did sign it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-united-states-did-not-sign-kyoto-yet-its-emissions-are-not-that/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The five-year mean global temperature has been flat for the last decade, which we interpret as a combination of natural variability and a slow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-five-year-mean-global-temperature-has-been-flat-for-the-last-2/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [Rising carbon price is essential to 'decarbonize' the economy - to remove the nation towards the era beyond fossil fuels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/rising-carbon-price-is-essential-to-decarbonize-the-economy-to-remove/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [Policy decisions on climate change are being deliberated every day by those without full knowledge of the science, and often with intentional misinformation spawned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/policy-decisions-on-climate-change-are-being-deliberated-every-day-by/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [ Imagine a giant asteroid on a direct collision course with Earth. That is the equivalent of what we face now \[with climate change\], yet… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/imagine-a-giant-asteroid-on-a-direct-collision-course-with-earth-that/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The most difficult task, phase-out over the next 20-25 years of coal use that does not capture COâ‚‚, is Herculean, yet feasible when compared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-most-difficult-task-phase-out-over-the-next-20-25-years-of-coal/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [As species are exterminated by shifting climate zones, ecosystems can collapse, destroying more species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/as-species-are-exterminated-by-shifting-climate-zones-ecosystems-can/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [I think we have a very brief window of opportunity to deal with climate change... no longer than a decade, at the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/i-think-we-have-a-very-brief-window-of-opportunity-to-deal-with/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The climate system is being pushed hard enough that change will become obvious to the man in the street in the next decade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-climate-system-is-being-pushed-hard-enough-that-change-will/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) [Explore all 94 James Hansen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only in the last few years did the science crystallize, revealing the urgency - our planet really is in peril. 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