As with most things, the truth is somewhere in the middle.
Is the climate changing? The available data says yes, it is changing.
Have we experienced all extremes of weather that would occur with an unchanged climate since accurate records began? Almost certainly no, bearing in mind that for many areas the period of accurate recordkeeping is rather short.
Does recycling help? Well that depends what you're recycling and how you're recycling it. What can be said though is that of itself it's nowhere near a total solution despite having some benefits as such (noting that depending on what's being recycled, the primary benefit isn't necessarily about the climate since there's also other benefits from it).
All of this comes down to detail. Take plastic for example. Depending on circumstances it's anywhere between pure evil and the best thing invented thus far. Totally depends on the detail - what sort of plastic and what's being done with it. From a human safety perspective well as an electrical insulator and moulded structural material it sure as hell beats asbestos. As a food for birds and fish though well it's pure evil. Detail.....
I have never doubted that the climate is changing, history shows it is always happening, no reason for it to ever stop.
If you go to Mungo NP you can see what it was like for thousands of years, what is now desert was a lush chain of lakes.
They say that the weather pattern that now blows along the Oz bight used to blow across Rockhampton, over the last 12000 years it has moved that far as the Earth warmed after the last big Ice Age.
With so many people on the planet we are always going to effect it, millions of people in India burn cow dung instead of turning on a light or hot plate.
Is it better to burn coal and make electricity or burn cow dung and timber ? We need to include the making of the posts and wires as well as the light bulbs and appliances when we discuss the pros and cons.
Adani are adamant that it is better to make electricity in their modern power plant than burn things which produce smoke.
Often the younger set, (15 to 35 years) are avid greens yet they happily throw out perfectly good clothes and devices so that they stay in fashion and to expect them to turn out a light after leaving a room is just nagging.
I like the slogan "think globally but act locally" but it does not appeal to everyone, we regularly pick up Maccas wrapping and empty cans and bottles from our footpath.
We live about 5k from Maccas so not sure what happens in between, maybe it takes them that long to eat a burger
