Erllich's Article Can A Collapse Of The Earth Be Avoided?

Ehrlich and Ehrlich’s 2013 article ‘Can a collapse of the Earth be avoided?’ discusses human society’s choices in the twenty-first century regarding sustainable means of living and the implications this has on future generations (Ehrlich and Ehrlich, 2013). Figure one examines the prediction that the Earth is in grave danger of an environmental and economic collapse due to the irrational and rapid use of valuable resources, over population and consumption and poor technology choices. Evidence has shown that the current population of approximately seven billion people, is above the long term carrying capacity of the Earth, and humans are therefore using more resources than are available, potentially jeopardising the survival of future generations (Ehrlich, Kareiva & Daily, 2012).

The evidence in support of a global collapse is frightening. According to Smith (2010), a collapse is inevitable in an era of shrinking resources, expanding population, a widening gap between the wealthy and the poor, security threats and environmental instability. It has been identified that the addition of one thing, leads to the depletion of another (Ehrlich & Ehrlich, 2013). This can be described as The Human Predicament, whereby the planet is tested to its limits to attempt to hold an unmanageable sum of people, as shown in figure one. The article ‘Can a collapse of the Earth be avoided?’ (Ehrlich & Ehrlich, 2013) identifies that if the entire world used as many resources as the United States did currently, the human race would require an additional four to five more Earth’s to support growing consumption rates.

Global toxication is a major issue in relation to the survival of the planet. Through the increased misuse of antibiotics, exposure to sy...

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...and degradation influences greatly ocean acidification which increases susceptibility to infectious diseases. The depletion of scarce resources may in turn lead to resource wars and these wars may very well be the end of the world as human society knows it today (Ehrlich & Ehrlich, 2013). Climate disruption and environmental problems may be the trigger that causes a major global collapse that society will not be able to ‘bounce back’ from.

Earth was previously rich in valuable resources and environmental and economic variability. However, hedonistic values of consumption and self-progression in society in the twenty first century have led to the very real possibility of a global collapse. Through education about sustainable means of living, it is possible to prevent the oncoming breakdown of the planet. However, the question remains – how long can this be prevented?