We extrapolate exploding population numbers and panic that they will never stop growing. At least, until they crash. We see rising CO2 emissions and assume that they’ll just keep rising. Fertilisers, coal, pesticides, air pollution: we’ll just produce more and more. If you’re sceptical that things can change, then this is a natural position to fall into. But there’s no scientific basis for this assumption. In fact, for most of our environmental problems, there are clear signs that it isn’t that way any more. We can, and are, course-correcting.
