Remember we have only one world. The nearest life may be on a planet over a few million light years away! Assuming that advanced life does exist on that planet, it will be almost impossible to communicate with it, let alone visit, within the next few hundred or so years.
In the years following the industrial revolution, there can be no doubt that human kind has been responsible for the current global warming. We have changed the world's climate and have brought it to a point where it action is critical. If we do not do something soon, our future will be bleak indeed. Entire species of animals are disappearing faster than we ever thought possible, and as time goes by, flooding and drought will affect vast areas of the world. Fossil fuel prices, especially those of petroleum products are constantly rising, with dire economic consequences for many industries.
However, with the levels of science and advanced technologies available today, we are capable of making a significant difference. Our sun provides us with light, and we have learned to harness the power of the sun and convert it into energy. The technology to do this has existed for more than 40 years but we still rely on other sources of energy.
Sun energy is clean, it is effective and cool! It has been powering satellites orbiting in space for many years. Why is this technology being used in outer space when we still are unable to manage commercial solar-powered vehicles that would eliminate our dependency on oil? Companies that exploit solar energy have existed for many years and virtually the only appliance that has gained widespread and worldwide acceptance is the solar water heater. The same companies that created these heaters are now advertising massively worldwide to eliminate household dependencies on the power grid. Even governments are offering incentives and discounts to acquire solar energy panels for homes. There is still a great deal of work to be done, but it is a start.