Ghostboy posted a comment in "Gorilla Glass"

"There is nothing that can be imagined that can't be accomplished. It might take a long time for some things to reach the point of viability, but it will happen. The only thing that worries me is there might not be enough time to do it all. One of the things that we seem to be failing at is maintaining the planet we depend on for survival. The big idea in that respect seems to be figuring out how to colonize other planets in time to save a few humans before the earth becomes unlivable. It's no fun imagining the earth as a big cemetery. Maybe, if people can pay attention long enough, we can still save our home. It's a thought. It's a dream. I hope it's a dream that comes true. "

As Ghostboy says, Earth is our home in the Solar System. If we fuck it up then we do likewise to ourselves as a species. But what does this mean? People use phrases like "we're wrecking the planet". Well, no we're not. Earth will still be around. What we are doing is changing the incredibly complex and interconnected systems - which we do not fully understand either individually, or how they interact with each other - that enable us to sustain our existence on this ball of rock. So when we change these systems, for example by making species go extinct by destroying their habitats, or by emitting halon gases into the atmosphere, we risk changing the physical and biological environment that is necessary for us to survive and prosper as a species. Earth has seen millions of species go extinct through no fault of their own - and we are no different. Except we could also be the first species to go extinct because of our own fault

Ghostboy raises an idea that some people hold that it's not so bad if we fuck up on Earth. If that happens - and some don't seem to care or be bothered - we just move somewhere else. What they probably mean is "we the privileged and very wealthy" can escape somewhere else.

Sorry to disillusion you, guys, but "we're all in it together". Yes, that includes you, the privileged rich and wealthy. There is no "escape" option, for several reasons. First, despite Elon Musk's ridiculous announcements, we are not going to other planets any time soon. We are still in the stone age as far as space travel goes, using the technology of Nazi Germany. Second, if we can't even manage our own planet's environment why would we be any better trying to manage another planet's environment? Never mind successfully achieving the "terraforming" beloved by sci-fi story writers.

Finally, even if we could overcome all those obstacles there's one we can't overcome, and that's gravity. Or rather lack or it. Gravity on the Moon is about one sixth Earth's, and on Mars it's about one third. Human bodies are not designed to live in low gravity, our bones dissolve and we would be literally crippled. Creating and maintaining gravity equal to the Earth's can only be done in one place - and that's here on Earth The only possible alternative planet in terms of gravity is Venus. And if you think global warming on Earth is a problem, turn your telescope to the lead-melting cauldron of Venus

So there is no alternative. We have to understand our physical and biological planetary environment mechanisms much better than we do, and we have to change our collective attitude to what we do on Earth and how we treat it. Ghostboy is right - Earth is our home, and you don't shit all over your own home. Not if you want to be able to keep on living there.