Planet earth is a closed system and can only support a finite amount of activity. Unless exponential economic growth eventually ceases, one or all of these limits will be crossed and human beings will struggle with each other and the natural world to protect their lives and livelihoods. There are mountains of evidence suggesting some limits may have already been crossed. The good news is there are no limits to development. We can always find ways to make life better, more beautiful, more just, more creative, more efficient and more fulfilling.
Humans have an enormous capacity to learn, change and evolve.
We need to repair the damage, restore what is lost and reinvigorate the systems we depend upon. Since there is no limit on our capacity to evolve and adapt, qualitative change and development can go on forever. When we think of waste, we often think of car exhaust, sewage and rubbish containers outside our homes and businesses. Business reformer Paul Hawken estimates that 99 percent of the original materials used to produce goods become waste within six weeks of their sale. In fact, most waste and pollution is caused by our old linear belief that we can draw endlessly from the natural environment for materials and energy and nothing bad will happen.