Technological economies reach a diminishing returns limit, with more benefit required from less technology. Human economic growth is powered primarily by the presence of fossil fuels, but that absent fossil fuels, we do not necessarily have to collapse, simply stop growing. Absent fossil fuels, the next most powerful energy source is ecosystem potential. Human economy is improved by exploiting ecosystem productivity, reducing species diversity and polluting, that is disrupting environmental stability. We also compromise leaf area with the growth ideal, no matter where it is.
Fossil fuels are a short-term, finite resource.
This is what causes so many gaping holes in the urban landscape.