Even before the first act of Live Earth began, critics were already declaring the worldwide series of concerts a "waste of time." Now that it's over, even more critics have signed on to that opinion.

They're wrong.

But maybe their lack of enthusiasm is due to our culture of instant gratification. Unlike a fundraiser, there was no tidy sum at the end to measure its success. No giant check presented to anyone for any particular cause. Nor were there politicians unveiling a set of international or domestic policy changes to combat our climate crisis.

What the 24-hour, seven-continent concert series did, however, was get the attention of more than 2 billion people. And it inspired millions to make a pledge to change their everyday actions and hold our leadership accountable.

These are actions that do not have overnight results. They are lifelong commitments — from shopping for energy-efficient electronics and appliances to riding public transit or carpooling — that, over time, will alleviate the burden that generations have imposed upon the planet.

One need only look at recent headlines highlighting record heat across the West to consider the consequences of inaction.

The concert is over. The pledges have been made. The only waste of time will be in failing to heed its crucial call for action.