Two decades ago, when NASA scientist James Hansen presciently announced his virtual certainty that people were heating up the planet, critics understandably emerged in force. After all, we knew relatively little about climate change in those days. But now, with information in abundance, there is no excuse for the naysayers’ stubborn opposition.

Whether one embraces Hansen’s entire analysis or not, the world is experiencing an undeniable transformation. Mere coincidence does not explain the disruptions that we are witnessing, from this month’s 500-year flood phenomenon in Iowa, which has caused death, destruction and devastation to crops, to May’s horrific cyclone in Myanmar, which has left more than 138,000 dead or missing.

I anticipate that skeptics will respond by pointing out the futility of unquestionably connecting a particular weather event to climate change. That is not my point, though. Rather, I am suggesting that we not shirk the obligation of investigating probable links between today’s extreme weather and climate change.

If they exist – and my instincts say that they often do – we cannot afford to ignore the problem or sink into despair. Instead, we should do all in our power to slow or reverse the suspected reasons for nature’s wild fury.

Actually, rays of hope in the form of ideas and initiatives shine from many directions; I have noticed three in recent days, all from Britain:

1. Online shopping’s green tag. According to The Retail Bulletin, a survey by market researcher GfK of 2,270 British households showed 69% of respondents indicating that online shopping helps the environment. Another 43% expressed the belief that online shopping assists in reducing their personal carbon footprints. Finally, multiple respondents frequently expressed interest in doing more. James Rudd, the Commercial Director at GfK, said that many shoppers would use services such as green delivery time slots and forego carrier bags.

2. Cities’ potential to step up. A new London-focused study sponsored by Siemens concluded that cities – despite their ranking among the world’s biggest polluters – have the solutions to most of their problems within reach. According to the United Nations, cities consume approximately three-fourths of global energy and produce most carbon emissions. That situation will only worsen as more people move to urban areas. With the right effort, however, the study projects that London could cut its emissions by nearly one-half in less than two decades. Most of the study’s proposed measures – better boilers, more-efficient appliances, increased building insulation and low-energy lighting – apparently would pay for themselves.

3. The Economist (www.economist.com) on energy’s future. “Since the industrial revolution 200 years ago,” noted the magazine’s latest issue, “mankind has depended on fossil fuel. The notion that this might change is hard to contemplate.” It goes on to consider the end of fossil-fuel use, stating that those who do not see the promise of serious alternatives suffer from a “failure of imagination.” The magazine then recommends that governments encourage alternatives by taxing carbon and letting competition do the rest. The rise and incredible potential of solar energy receive special emphasis.

As the preceding examples illustrate, enhanced individual and institutional efficiency, combined with innovative alternative-energy sources, offer a fighting chance of prevailing over the climate-change challenge.