A first step towards getting perspective is to dig up the actual numbers. Roger Pielke discusses the actual numbers gathered by The Economist for current, past, and predicted future concentrations of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere:
These last two numbers are speculative, of course. Pielke goes on to discuss the prospects for the low end of that range, 550 ppm. It turns out that 550 ppm is only "conceivable" if you are willing to make drastic changes to human life. Driving a hybrid and switching to energy-efficient light bulbs does nothing for a change of that magnitude.
Politicians are widely mischaracterizing this situation. First, no matter what anyone says, the CO2 concentration has already gone up, and is slated to go up a lot further. Second, even the most ambitious of efforts only holds us at a 50% increase by 2100. Thus, whatever else we do, we need to get ready for increased CO2.
Pielke's suggestion is the most reasonable I have read: change our focus. Specifically, they need to stop focussing exclusively on prevention of change, which appears to be impossible. Decreasing the change is worthwhile, but change is coming nonetheless.
Overall, it is actually a fascinating policy problem if you scratch beneath the surface. To do so, however, you have to be willing to step away from the public brawl over, e.g., the effect of CO2 on temperature.