One thing is for sure -- our grandchildren and great grandchildren are going to wonder what the hell we were thinking between 1990 and 2020, when we still could have made a difference.
This whole debate reminds me of the debates in the Northwest over the impact of dams on salmon. For many years, the Bonneville Power Administration and others insisted the science regarding the dam's impact on the salmon runs was too uncertain to warrant action. Now they concede that the science is solid, but argue that it's too late to do anything now for most of the salmon runs. Funny how it's easier to concede the problem once you think it's insoluble.
Mark my words: pretty soon (it's already beginning) the debate will totally shift to how we should adapt to climate change, not whether we can slow it down.