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Not enough time. Life on Earth, as we know it, has less than a billion years left. Now, cockroaches might evolve impressively! More seriously, humans will soon escape this particular rock, and things will look a LOT different. Smart people are optimistic. There is a workable, brute-force solution to climate change if needed - orbital sunshades. We'll also have enough energy to supply the galaxy with diamond semiconductor substrates, carbon fiber, nanotubes, buckyballs, and the myriad other useful substances and items made from carbon extracted from the atmosphere. Again, if needed. Market forces, with a nudge from government, are moving things in the right direction (electric cars, renewables, nuclear power, natural gas). China and India are the main worries at this point, as they have a lot invested in coal at the moment. We'll have a better idea about negative feedback from existing natural systems over the next few years, there's some reason for optimism there. This is a highly nonlinear system. |