Counting the Cost of Fixing the Future

Global warming was said to be a rumor in earlier times, but it is also a scientific fact that temperature is raising with a surprising rate, especially after the expansion of industrialization. The involuntary damage from burning greenhouse gas has been irreplaceable. From the article above, calculation suggests that releasing an additional ton of carbon dioxide would cost an extra $65 in today’s money in 2015.

Nevertheless, not many individuals spend time and efforts in preventing global warming even after understanding the consequences. As the article says, spending $1 to reduce carbon dioxide today would prevent $139.56 worth of damage 200 years later. $1 is not really a big deal, but more people are concerned about the present than the future, and spending money for a better future is unrealistic. Is this an ethical act? The damage from global warming is exponential, yet we only perceive our self-interests. Perhaps it is not too late for us to start preventing the damage in order to create a better environment for later generations. After all, a little change now can cause great influence in the future, and all it takes is a first step.