> Being technologists we tend to assume (hope?) that some solution will present itself before it is too late.

I have some bad news:

* The problem isn't pollution and CO2 release, at last not directly. The problem is the number of people doing the polluting and CO2 releasing.

* A solution would be to have a smaller worldwide birthrate. Easy to say.

* But any solution to the above point is very likely to collide with equality and fair play, as well as crashing into the "Population Paradox".

* The Population Paradox goes like this -- someone delivers a reasoned appeal to have fewer children, in the name of human survival and that of the earth. It's perfectly worded, and delivered to a huge audience.

* Sensitive, intelligent, compassionate listeners resolve to have fewer children.

* Insensitive, unintelligent, uncompassionate listeners don't -- they will have the usual number of children.

* That's the Population Paradox in a nutshell: because of evolution, over time people become less sensitive to the damage they cause. And history proves that political "solutions" aren't solutions at all, but disasters.

I hate to break this to you, but the biggest obstacle to a human solution to this problem is ... humans. Or nature, if you prefer, in the guise of natural selection.

EDIT: People, do try to avoid downvoting posts that are truthful but upsetting, solely on the ground that they're upsetting.