Humanity is on the verge of escalating its generation of waste that destroys or makes useless the natural habitat we most depend upon for our survival, a process that could result in our own extinction. Alternatively, we could avoid it and attempt to grow back habitat both directly and by reducing the waste we already produced.
These options are illustrated below with two simulations over time of total resources and its components (in units of habitat consumed for basic human needs). Simulation Green displays our current course. Simulation Green’ (Green Prime) displays one version of the alternative that attempts to reduce global warming, a consequence of waste, as much as possible without destroying civilization and resulting in loss of life. Needs and waste comprise our total consumption, while habitat is what other life consumes.
If we were to choose Green’ or a variant where we halt collapse after it starts, what would the result look like? Based on the amounts of resources over time, it appears that is might be like how the world was between 2000 and 2010, with the main difference being that the population size is about 40% higher.
The following graphs show the population distributions of resources and values for 2024 and 2035, illustrating how big a change in people’s lives would be required.
