We might take many, or even most of the current lifeforms down with us, especially the animal kingdom, but things will evolve to suit the new environments.

How can you not feel anything for what's being lost; disappearing? For all the other ceatures who shared this Paradise with us. But I guess that's why we're willing to piss it all away. We're too callous and stupid to give a shit.

There is *nothing* that conclusively indicates that we have passed a mythical "point of no return&quot with the sole possible exception of summertime Arctic ice cover).....and there is certainly nothing that indicates that we're at risk for a dead planet.

And yes, I realize this is one of the most important issues facing modern humanity. No need to overblow it......

As I understand it, that collapse is self-sustaining and stands to add six to ten feet to sea level.

Yes, I do realize that it may be too late for summertime Arctic ice.....and perhaps even part or whole of the ice shelf in the West Antarctic.

But in a general sense, though? No, it's not too late. We can do this. We must.

end it as we know it and enjoy it.

Sea rise will cause dislocations, global strife, and climatic realignments, but as awful events go, I'm more afraid of acidifying the seas...a return to something like the late Permian dead tropical seas would be ecopocalyptic.

Atmospheric CO² has gone beyond the tipping point. Here's your indication that we have passed a point of no return that is anything but "mythical"...

http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/

May 2014: 401.85 ppm <--- We officially passed the point of no return!
May 2013: 399.76 ppm

Are CO2 levels artificially high? Yes.
If we did nothing, will this kill off our civilization? Probably.

Contrary to what a lot of people believe, humans have the capability to solve problems. Yes, currently, we do not have the technology to economically remove those pesky carbon atoms from all that wonderful oxygen up there. But that does not mean that at some point before we kill ourselves, some brilliant scientist will accomplish what is currently impossible.

I mean, scientists sent us to the moon, and that was just to beat the Russians. Can you imagine what they'll do to stave off extinction?

As Neil deGrasse Tyson said, we're currently in the denial phase. Pretty soon we'll all come to terms with what we've been doing and begin to look for solutions to heal our planet.

Some very good points here; and yes, I agree with Dr. Tyson as well; we, as a collective(even if not at all as individuals!) are still somewhat in a sense of denial, that is definitely coming to an end.

some hoped-for scientific genius.

And even right wingers will eventually see the light. There's no real foundational reason for conservatives to be against believing in climate change. For the time being, the right money is in the right hands to prevent the truth from becoming the platform. I saw a stat recently where some significant minority of the republican party believed in climate change anyway.

In 10 years, the repubs will be all for saving the environment. And they'll have 1/2 of the country believing it was their idea in the first place.

This news tends to make me think yes, it's too late for billions this century.

WASHINGTON, June 16 (UPI) --As world leaders try to generate momentum for an international agreement on and solution to climate change, large amounts of coal continue to be produced and burned. In fact, coal consumption now accounts for more than 30 percent of the world's energy market -- its highest share in 44 years.

According to a recently released report, the "BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2014," coal consumption grew three percent in 2013 -- more than any other energy source.

That's a dip from coal's ten year average; consumption of the fuel has grown nearly 4 percent per year over the last decade.

It's bad news for those who had hoped alternative and renewable energy sources would cut into the dominance of dirtier, more traditional sources like coal. Although renewables continue to grow, especially wind and solar, they can't keep up with cheaper and more popular competitors like coal.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2014/06/16/Worldwide-coal-consumption-reaches-44-year-high/1341402950352/#ixzz34qs6RZfZ