Hmm, I feel like that distinction might blur a lot if one considers human society as part of the greater surrounding ecosystem. The focus on short term thinking

Hmm, I feel like that distinction might blur a lot if one considers human society as part of the greater surrounding ecosystem. The focus on short term thinking probably just shows how little we differ from bacteria growing to fill a petri dish. Climate change and microplastics, in particular, went unnoticed for a long time. Now that we know about them, fossil fuels and plastics are too entrenched in our lifestyles for us to be able to do much. And we still don't know what their ultimate consequences will be, but it's generally assumed it won't be good. That said, it probably makes more sense to think of modified genomes spreading in terms of invasive species. A relatively small act or change can upset a delicate balance in a very unpredictable way. And once that happens it doesn't matter if you stop. The damage is done and will continue on its own, you'll just have to wait (several human lifespans) for the system to right itself. And hope it doesn't stumble right onto you in the process.