Not the Earth exactly, but this round of evolution is in trouble. Climate change has already caused the extinction of many species. 50% of coral reefs have died - and these are the spawning grounds for 90% of the world's oceanic fish and other animals. The remainder are on track to die out completely in the next few years - meaning less food for humans and other life. Deserts are growing larger. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. Islands, deltas and low lying cities are threatened by rising sea levels. The snow and glaciers of the Himalayas are melting and not being replaced. Soon there will be no water in the Ganges, no water for the rice paddies and grain fields of India. Starving refugees will be on the move in search of places to live where there is food... These are only a minute fraction of the changes happening now.
These are just the beginning. Because climate change occurs via a systems feedback loop, the rate of change will increase exponentially. If the world does not make radical changes over the next twelve years, starting today, it will soon become impossible to halt the worst effects. We need to put pressure on our politicians to make radical changes to legislation. And if some of us are not already living green lives, we need to be proactive in learning how. Every individual's behaviour contributes to the whole.
However, if this round of evolution dies, another round of evolution will slowly begin - starting with species which thrive on excess CO2 and emit lots of oxygen. It may take several million years for life to re-evolve to the present levels of complexity.
