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We produce more resources than we could ever consume in the least sustainable ways possible.
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this post was submitted on 24 May 2026
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This is a much less cool post when you realize that the Earth can only sustainably support 10 billion people if we never fly, give up a lot of our modern tech, and have rice make up 50% of our diet. Basically any meat is completely off the table, as with personal cars, and probably standalone houses. If I'm given the choice between not having kids and not flying to see my family for holidays, I'll take the no-kids option.
Your thesis doesn't match up with this chart:
https://ourworldindata.org/emissions-by-sector
We're working to decarbonize the highest categories on that list, with rapid adoption of solar/wind, some potential for more nuclear and geothermal in the medium term, and maybe even fusion in the long term.
Then, while decarbonizing electricity, we're electrifying heating for homes, water, cooking, and we're electrifying transportation.
US carbon emissions per capita peaked in the 70's, and peaked as a whole in the 2000's. US carbon emissions per capita still greatly exceed those of other rich nations.
It's very much possible to have modern first world living standards, even with significant reductions in our resource use and net emissions. We just need to line up the incentives (aka pricing) with what is good for the Earth. And we're already doing that in many of the heaviest polluting sectors.
So let's build lots of highspeed rail? We went to the moon on less compute than your cell phone and modern tech could be way more sustainable if we properly optimized. Rice is fantastic and works for a significant chunk of the current population just fine. Meat? Just gotta grow that protein in other more sustainable/efficient ways. Cars are useless in a dense urban environments and make everything worse. Fuck cars. Standalone houses are a giant waste of space and when you design your neighborhoods around this idea, everything is too spread out to actually have proper density and utility.
This is a very cool post that does point out that all of these things are in such excess. You should give StrongTowns and NotJustBikes a watch on youtube for much more on the topic of urban design.
Aviation is about 2.5% of global emissions.
In the long run then yes, we need carbon neutral fuels, but it should be possible for people to fly a little and not destroy the planet.
The reason why aviation emissions are so bad is not so much the amount but where exactly they are emitted.
https://ourworldindata.org/global-aviation-emissions
4% of global warming to date. Flying will still be possible (and not uncommon) in a net zero world. Maybe americans will have to take the train to see their relatives, but they could just DACCS if they love TSA controls so much.
Like I said, it counts almost double. Aviation makes up 4% of the impact when 90% of the global population isn't even flying in a year. Traveler numbers are tiny compared to other modes yet it causes a 4% chunk.
Aviation is outright terrible in its impact compared to rail, on corridors where both are an option. Of course, for many travels, only aviation is in option. That is a reality but doesn't make aviation any better.
Agreed on all points.
Which gives me huge misgivings about the current space push.
Or you could just take a train
So basically it's perfectly fine? But for some reason you made it sound horrible?
"I don't see what's the problem with everyone living like a desperate Indian untouchable!"
These takes are why socialism is a dirty word, all because you can't just admit there needs to be some form of democratically agreed on population control and it doesn't have to be fascist by design.