Good article and timely as well!

Stephen Hawking said this just a week ago
"Humanity will have to head for the stars in the next 200 to 500 years if it is to survive, Professor Stephen Hawking has said.
The top physicist repeated his warning that the human race is doomed unless it can find a new home beyond the Earth."
His full comments can be found here https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/06/21/stephen-hawking-calls-for-a-return-to-the-moon-as-earths-clock-runs-out/
and in many other news outlets. He feels we can reach Mars within 15 years and has mentioned before that we should return to the moon and set up workbases and colonies there as soon as possible. 

Having watched governments look backwards instead of forwards for many years, I suspect we will have to rely on private enterprise to drive this exploration and eventual exodus.