Globally wasting time

In the shadow of COP 17, comes the news that over the last fifteen years, we have seen the thirteen hottest years on record (since 1850). This is according to the United Nations World Meteorological Organization.
 It is contested by scientists that a sustained 2% Celsius rise in world temperatures would see the point from which we will not be able to pull back from.  An increase in temperature, would mean serious knock on effects, such as severe storms, prolonged droughts, flooding to touch on a few general effects. Furthermore, the well known weather phenomenon known as El Nino and it's sister, La Nino, would be intensified as the temperatures rise. This will further increase the severity of drought and also rainfall. (Although these two conditions do not effect global warming, they do intensify the weather associated with each due to the rise in temperatures). As the sea temperatures heat up, tropical storms and hurricanes will be much stronger and more frequent than they are right now. This is, of course, is a very general oversight on change.

Further serious signs include the sea ice in the Arctic, which is at it's thinnest in history and the area covered by ice the second lowest levels in history.
Without going into each region, we all have seen the flooding, the extreme storms and the severe droughts experienced by different places on earth.  There is no doubt that this is real.

It is obvious to me, and should be to those in charge of countries and industry, that we are facing an impending disaster. Numerous conferences are held by leaders, but sadly very little action comes from these meetings. There are loads of promises and haggling, but the best result they achieve is to apply measures in a certain amount time. As in COP17, 2020. Agreements mean nothing if not followed by action. And action is what is needed NOW, not in years to come. Action is also needed by everybody, not just a few worldwide.

I can understand the need to stoke industry and to pander the the economy as this basically is what keep a country afloat. Having said that, where do we draw the line between romancing the economy and saving the earth?

I do believe the global warming is part of a natural cycle of heating and cooling the earth goes through. I also have no doubt that human activity is speeding this process up. Logically we cannot pump millions of tons of pollution into the atmosphere, deforest large areas of woodland, turn wetlands into residential or industrial property and so on, without the planet feeling negative effect. For those who choose to think we are innocent, I feel sorry for their ignorance.

Many are alleging that global warming is a myth caused by those wanting to get rich off the 'green movement'. (And funny nothing mentioned by those raked the riches from oil and coal). These are the people who ignore the scientific facts- besides, they should also explain to us, how restoring wetlands, reducing deforestation, reducing pollution and so on, will have a negative effect on the planet.

Any positive move will help the planet, but we need to be honest- governments and industry are just not doing enough. Soon global warming will have crossed the point of no return and then it will be too late for those in charge to realize that there is no other home for us- once earth is cooked- so are we and all those we share earth with us.