Climate Change and Time

Climate change is a very real problem for our future.  Going off of McKibben's article, projections for the century estimate it being a five to ten degree jump, which he contrasts very neatly to the only one degree jump of the past since the Ice Age.  The problem with this is that nothing is immediate.  Everything with climate change happens over such an extended period of time that the cause and effect relationship of issues isn't as apparent as most.  I view this as the primary problem with actually accomplishing anything concerning climate change. 

Take clear-cutting from the lumber industry.  A plot of land in this situation is in a dichotomy of two states.  It's either cleared or full of trees.  The difference is obvious, jarring, and enough to mobilize any sort of concerned person.  Climate change, on the other hand, is a bit more subtle.  Most of what McKibben mentions is a slow change of tree species over a long period of time.  Of course, products are affected, and this is why I can see a lot of business owners flexing to help protect their interests and subsequently try to help on raising awareness and legislature.  But this happens on a similarly large timeframe.  If we were to suddenly jump to 2100, the ski/winter recreation industry, maple industry, tourism, etc. would be absolutely devastated, but for now the slight temperature creep is not as pressing of an issue, especially when there are still real and immediate problems businesses deal with everyday.  Unfortunately, climate change is not even universally agreed upon yet, and one political party in particular is very inconsistent on its stance towards it.  Because of these complications, climate change is a difficult and pervasive issue.