Why?
The problem is that our economy is a mega-machine that converts nature to waste.
We take natural resources and transform them with energy into goods that will end up as waste and pollution in the natural world, in the form of solid, liquid, and gases. Some greenhouse gases contribute to climate change, but the rest of the waste just contributes to ending life on Earth in one way or another.
From upstream to downstream, the pressure from human activities on the Earth system exceeds its capacity to bear it.
We will reach a point (soon) where nature cannot provide us with the resources we need to feed our economy. At this point, we won’t have time to adapt
๐ง๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ: ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐บ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ๐ (๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ถ๐).
It might seem obvious that we would choose the planet, but we are not. We have been trying to have both, but it just doesn’t work. We have already crossed 6 of the 9 planetary boundaries! These are: biodiversity loss, nitrogen & phosphorus flows to the biosphere and oceans, land system change, novel entities, freshwater cycle, and climate change.
It’s time to open a discussion around what the real problem is and offer solutions to it. We are intelligent and creative beings. We just need to stop being attached to our current lifestyle as if it’s the ultimate achievement. And be open to alternatives. It doesn’t mean we have to let go of all the progress we have made and all our comfort.
We only need to let go of arrogance and desire and lead with more love and humility.
I’m sure we can come up with the right path then.