The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[OakesCS]

I don’t think climate change will be prevented - or even mitigated - partially because population will increase. The original reason for this board was that global standard of living would parallel that population growth and there are investment gains to be made. The trade off is increasing energy consumption and damages to the environment. It’s inevitable. That doesn’t mean I endorse waste - quite the opposite. I think much of which is forwarded as being ‘green’ is actually wasteful and environmentally harmful for the global system. Ultimately, I think people will figure out that adaptation in the form of not worrying about Miami being under water is the more pragmatic solution. It’s not like it would be a new discovery. Folks were doing it before they figured out the wheel. I ‘spose that could be viewed as optimism.

As for fatalism, it’s a fairly common phenomenon for organisms to eventually trash their homes to the unlivable state - think yeasties in a champagne bottle. Eventually their waste prevents further metabolism no matter how much food is thrown at them. Portlandites and ebola virii might also serve as examples unless you want to quibble about viruses being classified as organisms.

Then there is the ‘shit happens’ factor and some of that is completely beyond the ability of humans to control or affect, eg pick a geologic or astronomical process. Again, inevitable and not necessarily something that is gonna take 1 million years. I’m pretty sure that’s why Elon and Bezos are on top of things (that’s a joke). Just wish Elon would hurry up with my disk….