So far we (the fluctuating segment of relevant humanity) seem to be responding late if at all. Late. Certainly true of attempts to stop the creation of CO2. Even the efforts that are made, such as wind and solar, are not in time to have a significant impact. Indeed we find that they add to instead of replacing current fossil fuel burning, increasingly adding to the existing burning of fossil fuels with the creation of yet more CO2. Timing? The runner is at the block, the gun goes off, and he stands there reading his iPhone. Worse, the rush to industrialize the green revolution is increasing the use of electricity made with coal and oil to get the profits out of the system. In the global south, the rush is on to "ïnvest” to repurpose the land and resources away from viable peasant farming and gardening into agribusiness. The profits from supporting infrastructure projects, especially energy, and finance will accrue to a minority, from Wall Street to local cooperating elites. The peasants of the south are good at building and farming flexibly but the development projects seeking investment will replace such viability with deadening soil erosion and mechanization. Time is running the wrong way for local indigenous farmers.
When we get to responses to future events we see that we are overtaken before we budge. Today it is airplane turbulence. Yesterday it was hurricane Beryl. We knew there was more energy in the atmosphere making all energy. dependent events more likely, more dangerous - and sooner. Floods, fires, and bankruptcy. Where has been the imagination to anticipate these? Leaders and owners are naturally conservative, wanting to reduce change because it threatens existing wealth and power.
The question we are probably considering though not very intensely yet, is when will the tsunami of bad consequences reach us? When will the food supply run short or out? When will energy be cut and how? By federal fiat? Or local utilities? Hey, wait a minute - local utilities will have their supplies cut by federal decisions. So imagination begins. Imagination is an essential activity, before significant felt, smelt, tasted, visible, and graspable actions can be planned.
I anticipate really bad events within weeks, or at the most months. The standard talk of the end of the Century or 2030 is as unrealistic as trying to hold the lid on a boiling kettle. Though in this case is trying to hold the lid on a boiling earth.