In March 2023, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published yet another daunting report1 projecting a high likelihood that, unless drastic action is taken, our planet will cross the 1.5 °C warming threshold at some point before 2040, making it increasingly difficult to deter catastrophic climate changes. The report also stated that climate change is here, having already caused substantial damages across ecosystems leading to “increasingly irreversible losses.”1 Having left New York City a few days after skies became red with smoke from Canadian wildfires, today, on June 15, 2023, I write this introduction to our invited Viewpoint series from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Today is the 16th consecutive day with recorded temperatures above 90 °F (a new record), and we are keeping an eye on several storms forming in the Atlantic Ocean that may turn into hurricanes—months before we are used to seeing this kind of activity. My social media accounts are immediately inundated with images of lines forming at grocery stores and gas stations, mentions of anxiety and traumatic memories of hurricanes past, anger and indignation against local and global authorities for allowing the continued deterioration of our climate, and the occasional joke wishing folks happy holidays in case the storm becomes a hurricane and we again lose power until the December holidays. Our planet is undeniably changing, and so may be our mental health. [JAMA Network]
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