In an ideal world, which we do not live in, everyone would be altruistic and benevolent.  People are not that way. Greed and avarice as a part of society.  However this is a best case scenario and while those bad traits are in society - democracy prevails and people have elected strong representatives with the necessary backbone and leadership to not only recognize the problem but to do something about it. 

Strange storm activity around the world was recognized.  In 2005 several very large storms struck the heartland of the United States.  At the end of 2004 an earthquake caused a tsunami that while wasn't caused by global warming, made people sit up and recognize just how inadequate rescue efforts can be if you are not prepared on a very large scale.  Not just in materials but in processes, skills and knowledge. 

News agencies and media outlets began to inform people and they paid attention.  People began to engage their elected representatives. 

In 2007 the President of the United States announced during that countries 'State of the Union' address as called for in its constitution: that " America is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that will enable us to live our lives less dependent on oil. And these technologies will help us be better stewards of the environment, and they will help us to confront the serious challenge of global climate change."   He did not mention what those technologies were.  Later in the address he asked that congress help reduce the consumption of gasoline by 20% because that amount is equal to the amount of oil imported from the Middle-East.   The constituents recognized however that as necessary as these steps might be to the larger picture at risk; they were highly insufficient in terms of positive impact to the biosphere.   These political actions were framed in the context of "dependence on foreign oil" - not in terms of correcting "Climate Change".  Constituents saw that.  A few thought that was the only issue.  They thought that because they did not understand the problems with the Oceans.  Their peers helped them understand what was at stake and what we needed to do in order to mitigate those risks.

These issues became part of the political communications messages for the 2008 Presidential Campaign and as a result it helped the general public understand the depth of the real problems needing to be solved.  They listened and understood.  So did others around the world and those others took those messages to their leaders.

People rallied to begin not only to pressure the administrations to acknowledge the carbon dioxide problem but to make these campaign issues for the subsequent political platforms.  The more people learned the more they integrated a strong stance to demand resolution to these problems.  Not band-aids - permanent solutions.  They demanded a strategy to shift energy production to 100% non-polluting sources.  Carbon Dioxide was classified as a pollutant.   No longer could energy companies claim to be 'clean' because they were dumping CO2 and that now was officially recognized as a pollutant.  The traditional 'free pass' was eliminated and people were able to see the problem in the light of day and collectively everyone began to work on the side of the solution.  It was not tolerated to be part of the problem.

The potential of the biosphere to actually fail was recognized, not just by a few but by an overwhelming majority of leaders.  They knew that the precious few resources we had needed to be dedicated to restoring carbon dioxide levels to preindustrial revolution levels.  They also knew that applying those same resources to simply 'reducing emission levels' was setting the global economy up for failure.  Not just because it perpetuated the old paradigm causing more damage to the ecosystem; but because it added unnecessary cost to the infrastructure of the economy.  Ultimately it made energy more expensive.  That latter approach wouldn't just delay the inevitable - it prevented us from attaining the solution.  Thankfully leaders around the world recognized this and did not allow it to happen.

Resources were applied to restoration to preindustrial revolution levels.  Green power production facilities replaced hydrocarbon consumption facilities.  The infrastructure was simpler.  It cost less to maintain over the long term.   Especially those facilities in space.   Space elevator technology came just in time for these projects.  The cost per pound to orbit was reduced to less than $10 per pound.  It would have been more than that except the technology was shared around the world and many space elevators were constructed.   The economics of building the solar power platforms was significantly improved.  So much so that it well out stripped the economics of a hydrocarbon facility, especially in light of the damage those caused the environment.

What really caught everyone's attention was all of the circumstances and events.  It wasn't this piece of evidence or that one.  It was the collection of them all, the preponderance of evidence that motivated people.  Innovative people.  Powerful leaders and average citizens.  The vision of success was articulated and they "got it".

People everywhere sat up and paid attention not just to the atmosphere but our oceans and to all the various habitat problems.  The more people "got it" the more motivated they became.  Leaders found new strength and stamina.   Education institutions significantly helped people everywhere understand what needed to be done.  Not just student but they accommodated adult learning programs to help anyone that had the will and desire to learn.

The really impressive event was that entrenched pundits and businesses that stood to loose everything they had worked for, also understood what was at stake.  They, and everyone else recognized that humanity was shifting from one era to another and that it was going to take everyone to make the shift occur.  Businesses and individuals on the 'old paradigm' side were supported into new positions by everyone else.  After all those people would need to support the change long enough to allow the rest of us to get the solution implemented in the first place.   There were few if any 'business battles'.  The only other historical comparison was the mobilization during WW II.   The difference here was that everything was peaceful and the energy was directed into building business opportunity that solved our collective problems.

Early in the cycle some oil companies spent large sums of money to confuse the public on the science because they believed they were in a business debate.  At the time they did not comprehend the ramifications of our biosphere failing.   When that comprehension did sink in - they immediately recanted their position and began to help reinvest in the programs, and initiatives necessary to maximize participation and partnership to attain the strategic vision.

Tyrants and militants still existed in society but they were handled as parallel efforts by the world's leaders.  They did not hold a singular focus of the world's attention.  The same was true at regional and even local levels.  Leaders stood their ground within the scope of their influence and exercised their power to the benefit of the biosphere.

A 100 year plan was put in place and supported by every nation on Earth.  The plan was not the Kyoto Protocol but was something that balanced the economies and people into the algorithm used. This plan did not simply ask people to cut back.  It demonstrated where future energy would come from that would support the growth everyone demanded.  100% green sustainable energy.  This was one plan that demonstrated orbital space could be used to solve the problem.  One that was welcomed and embraced by all concerned.

The plan did more than create thousands if not millions of jobs around the globe.  It did more than provide clean energy.  It gave people hope.   The world recognized that when peoples living in poorer regions were supported with "energy receivers" that their population could then join the global economy, everyone prospered. 

The Internet was leveraged in ways its creators never imagined.  The "100 Year Plan" was published in a manner consistent with the spirit of that network's origins.  It was the grandest project management and software engineering feat ever undertaken.  The Gaia Initiative established the IT infrastructure necessary to support the planning, sharing, and data integrity necessary for success.  Everyone could participate and know not only that they were helping but how what they were doing fit into the larger scale of things.  People did what they could do.

It was recognized that every terrestrial improvement increased the amount of time available to implement the needed solution.   It broadened our window of opportunity and improved our chances of success to attain the vision.  People became ambitious to find creative ways to help solve problems.  Innovation drove the human spirit to ever newer vistas.

Phase One - The Planning Stage. A master timeline was drawn up.  Planning to sequester the required amounts of carbon dioxide from the biosphere was a task that created thousands of jobs around the globe.  Atmospheric CO2 monitoring established as well as ocean acidification.  Temperature monitoring stations were established across the polar regions and known gas hydrate deposits.  Oceanographic surveys were undertaken to locate further deposits so everyone could keep an eye on them.  Engineering was undertaken to create artificial trees.  These are basically big machines through which air passes and they use chemicals to absorb CO2, like the machines inside submarines.

A master project dedicated to sequestration of carbon dioxide was begun using 'synthetic trees'.    Each of these removed 90,000 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere on an annual basis.  The CO2 was chemically converted into calcium carbonate and used in reef restoration projects around the world.  These and other ocean oriented projects increased biodiversity, reduced acidity, and stored the carbon dioxide all at the same time.  Two sets of ships were created that industrialized this process in an "at sea" scenario.   The raw materials could then be brought to a location where a reef was needed or needed to be restored.  Reef balls were manufactured right there on the site until the raw materials were gone.   Those carrying raw materials would move off to replenish their supplies and the others would move to the site of the next reef.

Over time the reef building ships installed hundreds of millions of reef balls.  Some in places where the currents were sure to wash over them helping to reduce the acidity of the water.

People smiled and the reefs began to rebuild.  The bottom of the food chain slowly improved.  Fish populations ceased to be threatened.   Better fish management programs were implemented and every nation understood and respected those policies.   Whales were no longer hunted.  Sharks were no longer needlessly slaughtered and returned to help restore the health of the ecosystem.  They regained their apex predator role in the ecosystems of the oceans.

Phase Two - International agreements were established and project management engaged the appropriate sectors of society.  The implementation plan drawn up was ratified by every nation.  It was unanimous.   Basically the agreement called for a three pronged approach.  1) Reduce CO2 levels to preindustrial revolution levels, 2) implement ONLY 100% green energy production facilities capable of meeting the needs of civilization and 3) to manage 1 & 2 along time lines that prevented irreversible damage to the biosphere and assured sustainability objectives.

The orbital facilities initially supplied incremental growth to the existing power grids.  Artificial trees continued to roll out of manufacturing facilities around the world.  They begin to collect atmospheric CO2 in increasing levels.  Sequestration becomes a big problem.  Calcium carbonate becomes one of the least expensive materials on the planet for use in all kinds of building projects.  Cities gleamed with artificial marble.  The Parthenon in Greece was completely restored with these materials since they were cheaper and easier than the quarry.  Archaeologist's were able to carefully control the colors needed to match the existing structure.  It was impossible to tell the new stone from the old stone.   Reefs grew in the thousands as the "at sea" restoration facilities performed their tasks.   The number of these facilities was managed at a level that would accommodate sequestration and managed against the master time line metrics developed from the biosphere.  Thusly preventing wholesale destruction of coral reefs around the world.  Threatened species were collected early by marine biologist and maintained in special tanks to preserve them until they could be restored to the oceans where they belonged.

Phase Three - Orbital capacity continued to increase to reduce and ultimately eliminate CO2 emissions from energy production.  Fuel cells, became predominant power sources for transportation across the planet.  These fuel cells replaced the HHO generators implemented early in the programs because any internal combustion ultimately combines with the inert portions of the atmosphere to cause pollution.  Fuel cells eliminate those problems.  Early though, the larger issue was the volume of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the HHO generators performed their role in eliminating carbon dioxide from transportation sources.  CO2 Sequestration balanced through geologic and artificial process means.   Worldwide temperatures started to return to sustainable levels.  Ice is no longer melting at the poles.  Humanity was more united in its common heritage like never before.

Phase Four - Lagrangian points are exploited.  Energy is abundant on the Earth and affordable to everyone.  In fact it was added as a basic right, that it be used in support of all life on Earth.  Those energy receivers provided power to drill wells, bring and filter water where none had ever existed.  For the first time peoples in arid lands had fresh, clean water.  Abundant energy provided irrigation for crops to grow where none grew before.  Those crops cooled those regions of the Earth and helped to cleanse the carbon dioxide from our air.   Feeding hungry people actually became one tactic used as a way of solving the Climate Change problem.  How ironic so many good things could come from solving one problem.

Disease, waste treatment, abundant food, were all addressed when humanity came together.   Peoples found common ground and new hope through the heritage that is the Earth.   International policies and practices forged new bonds and stronger relationships.  Global security became more certain as basic rights were assured.  The threat of nuclear weapons was reduced and almost eliminated because the reasons for having nuclear power in the first place vanished in the face of abundant energy from space.  Opportunity for peoples to participate in new endeavors was never higher than when humanity embraced enduring solutions eliminating the hydrocarbon economy.   A new economy emerged and reshaped the global economy forever.

Civilization flourished. 

The biosphere healed itself and mankind was firmly rooted not just on Earth but across the solar system...  and began looking at the stars.