> in modern times we have an unprecedented ability to manipulate our environment unlike those previous civilizations. Not enough rainfall to water the crops? Fear not, we can pipe water in from other places, synthesize it from sea water or extract it from extreme depths.

Two of those approaches are about as old as agriculture. In the modern day you have people saying that (1) variable rainfall in California is an emergency, but also (2) we shouldn't build aqueducts because that would be expensive.