Climate change denial is a big obstacle to overcome before major changes can be made. Climate change deniers are those who say that climate change isn’t happening (and try to convince others of this viewpoint) even though there is definite scientific evidence that global warming is happening, and is a problem. Often, climate change deniers are associated with (surprise, surprise) fossil fuel companies. Fossil fuel companies that are not being restricted nearly enough by the American government.
The international Kyoto Protocol was passed in 1997 to tighten control over industrialized countries. While the rest of the world signed and ratified this, the United States did not. They only signed the act but have not enforced or made any further progress with it. Instead, the government is blaming other countries like China and India to cover up their own faults. The U.S. is the largest contributor to carbon emissions, producing a whopping 25% of the entire world's. Many of the industries in the U.S. intend to keep burning fossil fuels because it is profitable. They do not care about the future of the planet, just the money in their hands. Self-interest is not allowing progress to be made, because companies are resisting change which is not being strongly enforced by the government. The competition for profits, both within the U.S. and worldwide, is causing the overproduction of carbon dioxide. All these companies are chasing the green, but not the right kind of green. Therefore, it is a vicious cycle because the government isn't doing what it should and the companies have no concern or consideration for the planet.
Another huge obstacle is the amount of change that would be needed to stop global warming. A lot of people (Americans especially) are used to living in a way that is detrimental to the environment. Human beings don’t always like to change how they live, especially if it would inconvenience them to do so. Therefore, it is very difficult to convince everyone to do even the small things which make big differences. For example: taking short showers, unplugging appliances when they’re not being used, recycling paper rather than throwing it in the trash, conserving water, etc. It is human instinct to fear change and fear the future, but we aren’t looking far enough into the future. It we keep living the way we currently are, we definitely have a lot to fear in time.
As it stand today, a lot more consideration and thought needs to be put into the future of the human race and their beloved planet: Earth.