The (Felicitous) Future of Conservation
For the first time ever in the Anthropocene, there is a possible renaissance of nature. A hundred years from now, the Earth could be inhabited by fewer people, with little extreme poverty and most living in towns and cities. These trends require a historical perspective that is difficult to adopt if one is focused on immediate threats and captivated by apocalyptic futures. But there is hope. As in London during the Blitz, vigilance and exertion are required, but we need not panic or despair because the weight of history is on our side. The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Joseph Walston in conversation with Harold Varmus.
For the first time ever in the Anthropocene, there is a possible renaissance of nature. A hundred years from now, the Earth could be inhabited by fewer people, with little extreme poverty and most living in towns and cities. These trends require a historical perspective that is difficult to adopt if one is focused on immediate threats and captivated by apocalyptic futures. But there is hope. As in London during the Blitz, vigilance and exertion are required, but we need not panic or despair because the weight of history is on our side. The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Joseph Walston in conversation with Harold Varmus.