You mention several good points here, I also want to mention some points from my experience working in sustainable development in Latin America.

The areas we live in are experiencing increasing temperatures, and especially here in the tropics we can attribute much of this to decreasing shade (tree cover) and the urban heat island effect (concrete effect).

We advocate agroforestry systems and other design solutions to many local problems associated with development. People here are working hard to 'develop', they are not thinking the world is going to end, and if it does start to end let me tell you that these hardy people will find a way to make markets and keep living.