Global Warming as a Moral Issue

This is a portion of a letter composed by Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family and other voices from the conservative corner of the evangelical movement, addressed to the National Association of Evangelicals.

More importantly, we have observed that Cizik (NAE Vice PResident of Government Relations) and others are using the global warming controversy to shift the emphasis away from the great moral issues of our time, notably the sanctity of human life, the integrity of marriage and the teaching of sexual abstinence and morality to our children. In their place has come a preoccupation with climate concerns that extend beyond the NAE’s mandate and its own statement of purpose.

The line that bothers me within this paragraph is "are using the global warming controversy to shift the emphasis away from the great moral issues of our time,"
Now, I understand that issues relating to abortion, marriage, and sexuality are all important. However, if the preservation of our earth isn't an important moral issue, I'm not sure what is. The Earth and its resources sustain life, and from the beginning (see Genesis 1), care for the earth has been a primary mandate for mankind.

Whether global warming is a reality or not is hotly debated, but care for the earth should always be a moral issue that we have a pulse on. We should at the least, be actively particpating in the conversation. If Christians aren't a prophetic voice in this area we miss caring for the very earth God created for our enjoyment and his glory. Oh yeah, he looked down on it and and called his creation good.

I wonder if this kind of thinking stems from a thin eschatology that supposes we will all be wisked away to another place high in the sky? Christians realize that Jesus will be returning to earth right? And that for a season he is going to rule here? Personally, I'd like to present him with an earth that has been cared well for.