>>You simply have to ask yourself two questions:<<
Baloney. I work in risk assessment and risk management.
You ask three questions and even that is oversimplifying. But it will suffice for here:
1. What is the impact of the thing happening.
2. What is the likelyhood of the thing happening.
3. What is the cost of mitigating the risk of it happening.
Apply these three questions to hardening your home against being struck by a large meteorite. They all point to the same conclusion: you do nothing. Number three is the killer in this case.
Apply the questions to global warming. But let me add a piece: Let’s say the earth suddenly went up in average temperature by ten full degrees and stayed there. How long do you think it would take to fully melt the poles? The answer is SEVERAL THOUSAND YEARS.
And even then, would it be bad? Flooding in florida may be offset by surfing in northern Canada, and Russia FINALLY getting a warm water port. ;)
People know just enough here to be dangerous.
OK, so answer the first one for yourself? What do you think would be the impact of ice caps melting? Lets see your answer.