3 ms·
I would argue that roads obviously make our lives more sustainable in ways that actually matter. An obvious example is that humanity would not be able to sustai
by xyzelement 3y ago
I would argue that roads obviously make our lives more sustainable in ways that actually matter. An obvious example is that humanity would not be able to sustain its current size and quality of life without roads.
- AlecSchueler 3y agoBut our current lifestyle and population is unsustainable.
- xyzelement 3y agoThat’s an oft repeated thing, but far from accepted as rigorous. Malthusian anxiety is always a thing for some percentage of population and they will find something to worry about.
- paulryanrogers 3y agoMalthus being wrong about the exact tipping point and timing doesn't mean that the limits of fundamental physics somehow don't exist. Innovations are unpredictable and likely easier when discovering the lower hanging fruit. So if we are increasingly unlikely to invent our way out of mounting problems they are likely to get worse. Based on current pollution and resource consumption alone we already know our time is running out. At best we've got a century or two before there is massive upheaval. And the resulting world is very likely to be a hellscape of microplastics, ubiquitius forever chemicals, depleted soils, and unexploded munitions. Then again, it's far easier to stick ones head in the sand and carry on like nothing is wrong. Yet don't worry about such folks, they'll continue on until we all suffer or they're constrained.
- AlecSchueler 3y agoBut we're already seeing ecosystems collapse and infrastructure be overwhelmed across the globe.