> An intelligent species like humans can and will react and adapt in that kind of time frame. We're already on that path; we can already at least detect and predict any object big enough to significantly disrupt the planetary ecosystem.
We've detected such a series of objects and have willingly not tried to prevent them from dramatically altering our ecosystem, but are encouraging and quickening the damage they do. Detecting and predicting is not nearly enough. Action is required and there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that humans will take that action. I strongly disagree that a species such as humans 'can and will react and adapt'. So far we have shown that we are the exact opposite: we are the ones causing global environmental catastrophe.
This is a really bad comparison imo. The difficulty of sustainability and non-pollution is that it requires everyone to work together to not consume. If even a few parties decide to not cooperate they can consume everything that's left and the other people will lose out on their "share." In the case of an asteroid it's in everyone's interest to prepare as best as he/she can and cooperation actually helps. There's really no downside to preparing as much you as can.
We've detected such a series of objects and have willingly not tried to prevent them from dramatically altering our ecosystem, but are encouraging and quickening the damage they do. Detecting and predicting is not nearly enough. Action is required and there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that humans will take that action. I strongly disagree that a species such as humans 'can and will react and adapt'. So far we have shown that we are the exact opposite: we are the ones causing global environmental catastrophe.