Myth: We have to save the earth. Frankly, the earth doesn’t need to be saved. Nature doesn’t give a hoot if human beings are here or not. The planet has survived cataclysmic and catastrophic changes for millions upon millions of years. Over that time, it is widely believed, 99 percent of all species have come and gone while the planet has remained. Saving the environment is really about saving our environment—making it safe for ourselves, our children, and the world as we know it. If more people saw the issue as one of saving themselves, we would probably see increased motivation and commitment to actually do so.”
Robert M. Lilienfeld, management consultant and author (b. 1953) and William L. Rathje, American archaeologist and author (1945-2012)
When I worry about climate change, I remind myself of tectonic plates that will keep crashing against each other while the planet doesn’t care. Species come and species go and so will we. Perhaps a better focus would be to concentrate on the legacy we leave our children.