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> The carrying capacity of the planet is not fixed, but a function of technology; and side effects such as pollution or climate change are just more problems to
by nielsbot 3y ago
> The carrying capacity of the planet is not fixed, but a function of technology; and side effects such as pollution or climate change are just more problems to be solved. As long as we can keep coming up with new ideas, growth can continue.
There are a lot of big ifs in this statement.
- usrusr 3y agoIn defense of that statement, it says "not fixed", not "unlimited". But that's of course what he meant... Carrying capacity can also be temporarily distorted. How much effective carrying capacity would we see if tomorrow there suddenly were not any hydrocarbons from the past? Yeah, I'm old enough to remember "peak oil", that time when we knew full well about the greenhouse effect, but enjoyed distracting us with doomsday scenarios about not enough "new" oil getting prospected.