[sonicggg]

What a presumptuous article. What exactly have we "fixed"? We simply stopped destroying it, and nature took care of the rest.

If I stop causing a recurrent issue that is all my own fault anyway, should I go ahead and pat myself on the back?

This is almost akin to a murderer saying that he saved a person by practicing self-control.

[woodruffw]

On the scale of human civilization it probably makes sense to celebrate the small wins, even the ones that are effectively due to inaction (e.g., not emitting CFCs anymore). But I think even that undersells it slightly, given that the negative decision in this case occurred despite all economic incentives and the international community’s lack of enforcement power.

[afry1]

What a cynical and unhelpful view.

Yes, if a person manages to stop a cycle of recurrent bad behavior that is their fault, they should celebrate that.

They've recognized a problematic behavior for what it is, and curbed that behavior, even though their baser instincts are probably encouraging them to keep doing it. Even though continuing to do it is a lot easier in many cases than stopping it.

They've gained mastery over themselves, and that is something to celebrate. Hell, they've even managed to SEE the problematic behavior for what it is. They've managed to see it within themselves. That kind of introspective ability does not come for free, there are a lot of people in this world who never develop it at all.

I think that's something to pat yourself on the back for, no matter what it is.