[hotpotamus]

Most fossil fuel deposits formed during the carboniferous period which would have been quite ancient even to the dinosaurs. One of the clues that an intelligent civilization never arose before us is that those deposits are still here for us.

[brabel]

Or that we're the only ones dumb enough to use those resources instead of leaving them on the ground and utilize much more accessible and renewable resources instead.

[batshit_beaver]

We ARE using the most accessible and economically efficient resources (coal and oil). The only reason we even have the phrase "renewable energy" in our vocabulary is because we were able to advance our civilization thanks to coal and oil far enough, that we can worry about the consequences and their mitigation.

The only evolutionary leaps to suboptimal energy production that I'm aware of occurred in cases where a more efficient energy source simply doesn't exist (eg geothermal vent communities on the ocean floor).

[hotpotamus]

One would hope that fossil fuels are just a quick step in the technological bootstrap process on the way to clean/renewable energy, though I agree it's not looking too good at the moment. My guess is they are necessary though in order to go from pre-industrial to more advanced. Despite the negative externalities, the amount of energy they contain that is easily unlocked is remarkable.

[parineum]

Do you think humans have been at their current level of technology forever?

[brabel]

Why? We're only using all that fossil fuel for 100 years or so...