Varieties of humans (genus: homo) have walked this planet for at least two million years. We refer to past iterations of humans as Homo neanderthalensis, Homo erectus, Homo australopithecus, and others, but the current gaggle of humans is referred to as Homo sapiens which literally means “wise man”. That name might be oxymoronic.

Life of some sort has existed on our planet for more than four billion years. Yes…billion. However, Homo sapiens only emerged approximately 300,000 years ago and began creating societies about 6-7,000 years ago. Our species, which has thus inhabited Planet Earth for only a relatively brief period of time and which comprises only 0.01% of life on the planet (there are approximately twelve million other species), is now in a position to destroy it all.

OK. I know that sounds melodramatic. Just consider the following:

• You may have heard of the “Doomsday Clock”, a symbolic representation of the likelihood humans will cause a global nuclear catastrophe. The “clock” was created in 1947 when scientists began to worry (with just cause) that nuclear war was eminent. Thanks to the Ukraine War and Vladimir Putin’s wild threats, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has now moved the clock closer to midnight than ever before. We are now metaphorically 90 seconds from “doomsday”, ten seconds closer than a year ago.

• The coronavirus pandemic made it clear humans are not safe from rogue viruses, and the increased population of humans living in close proximity and traveling across the globe with relative ease almost guarantees that Covid 19 will not be the last pandemic. Just hang on to your hats because future viruses may be even more deadly.

• My favorite movie of all time, The Matrix, envisioned a world dominated by machines with artificial intelligence (AI). I know it sounds far-fetched, but AI could lead to human extinction. Stephen Hawking warned of this possibility prior to his death.

• The most immediate problem, however, is overpopulation; humans are living longer, mortality rates are dropping, and we are producing more offspring. In fact, there are more than twice as many humans on the planet than there were 55 years ago. Sure, there are plenty of open spaces yet to occupy, but consider the following:

  • Clear-cutting forest land to make room for farms needed to feed the larger population means fewer trees to filter carbon dioxide from the air. Our CO2 outputs increase every single year, and one consequence is that the planet’s temperature has already increased by about one degree. The science on climate change is imperfect, of course, but at current rates our oceans will likely rise 1-4 feet within the next 75 years.

  • Carbon dioxide also dissolves in the oceans and creates carbonic acid. This acid has changed the oceans’ acidity to levels unseen in twenty million years.

  • National Geographic estimates that our oceans now contain 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic. This plastic is deadly to seabirds and marine animals and the chemicals in the plastic leach into the water. Guess which species is 100% responsible for this trash?

  • Destroying natural habitats of plants and animals to make room for humans has led to an extinction rate that’s 10,000 times higher than “the natural, historic rate”.

  • Approximately 660 million people do not have access to clean drinking water.

  • Current herbicides such as glyphosate which eliminate weeds to promote increased agricultural output have led plants to develop a resistance to the chemicals. Consequently, large numbers of plants have developed resistance to 22 of 25 available herbicides.

  • In only the last fifty years about 1/3 of the oceans’ fishing areas have been pushed past their biological limit because we have too many mouths to feed.

  • Burning coal releases sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere where it begins hanging out with clouds. I’m sure you know by now that when those clouds produce rain the result is acid rain that pollutes lakes and streams. The acid also depletes soil of essential nutrients, and the result is dying forests. Acid rain has also killed off entire species of fish.

There are other ways humans are destroying and/or otherwise placing the planet and themselves in jeopardy, but I’m sure you have either stopped reading or are depressed by this point. However, I believe humans are intelligent enough to solve any problems if we are committed to doing so. Therein lies the problem.

Politicians and the media tell us what is important, and we tend to believe them. Consequently, we care about stuff that, in the greater scheme of things, really DOES NOT MATTER! In today’s news (3/14/2023) I am being told that what matters is who was snubbed at the Oscars, that Tucker Carlson hates Donald Trump, the success of Gwyneth Paltrow’s “rectal ozone therapy”, that Republicans are reviewing Hunter Biden’s financial records, the widening rift between House Republicans and Democrats, how Marjorie Taylor Greene is raising money on emoji t-shirts, the failure of Trump-era banking and train deregulation, that President Biden doesn’t start his work day until 9:00, that Biden has a plan to expand background checks for gun purchases, etc.

Sure, some of this is important, but NONE OF IT is as important as the fate of our species and of the planet.

Solutions are rather straightforward:

• Capitalism is based on a growth model; the more humans the more STUFF companies can sell. We must create an economic system that promotes creativity and innovation without adding to the population. In fact, we need fewer humans populating the planet. Stanford Professor Paul Ehrlich believes the planet can sustain about 1.5-2 billion people rather than the eight billion living today.

• Small steps matter. Reusing and recycling, for example, can have a significant impact. We need to move away from “convenience” items such as single-use plastic bags. We also need to think about other small changes we as individuals may make that would be significant on a larger scale.

• We need to be planting trees. Lots of trees. Trees help keep the air clean, and they provide oxygen and food.

• Use less water and other similar resources (remember national “Shower With a Friend Day”?).

• Get rid of your full-size RAM truck and trade is for a Prius. No…wait!!!

• Stop over-fishing the world’s oceans. According to one estimate, at the current rate 84% of the planet’s “fish stock will be in peril in our lifetime.”

• Explore sources of clean energy. We have unlimited solar energy for about the next five billion years when the Sun burns out (I’ll be an old man by then). If we focus our resources, the Sun can be a major solution. Rather than taking up new space in what might be fragile environments, The Nature Conservancy recommends placing large installations of solar panels on degraded mining sites. Other similarly creative ideas have been suggested.

• BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE!! Do you really want your body being used by machines to generate their energy a la The Matrix??! Come on, folks!

The major hurdle is convincing the planet’s citizens that this MUST be a priority. As I’ve said in previous posts, we currently live like there is no tomorrow, and we are leaving future generations a huge mess, both literally and figuratively. The future of the planet and twelve million species depends on changing attitudes.

Thanks for Reading.

David