I wish I could be as optimistic as this.
http://blog.longnow.org/02015/02/06/jesse-ausubel-seminar-media/
Why nature is rebounding – a summary by Stewart Brand
Over the last 40 years, in nearly every field, human productivity has decoupled from resource use, Ausubel began. Even though our prosperity and population continue to increase, the trends show decreasing use of energy, water, land, material resources, and impact on natural systems (except the ocean). As a result we are seeing the beginnings of a global restoration of nature.
Some of the examples are a little bizarre. eg 10,000 foxes in London is an example of nature returning? And it's repeating some of the old canards about increasing CO2 levels and temperate region temperatures is leading to greater plant growth. Mostly it feels like trying to say that if we can just put a few more sticking plasters on, we'll be able to mend the broken leg.
So what are we to make of the relentless optimism of the Long Now people? Or the relentless pessimism of the environmental people?
As for that bit about decoupling and trends in the first para, "Citation Needed", as the saying goes.
Even though our prosperity and population continue to increase, the trends show decreasing use of energy, water, land, material resources, and impact on natural systems (except the ocean)
I went looking for some citation for "Decoupling Resource Use" and found this. http://www.unep.org/resourcepanel/decoupling/files/pdf/Decoupling_Report_English.pdf
Iit shows the exact opposite. Resource use is happening faster than ever before. Decoupling hasn't happened yet. In the very few places where it looks like it might, local resource use may have gone down, but only because they've exported it. Thus some of the advanced countries are managing the problem of high resource intensity by “exporting” it elsewhere.
I recognise that there's some debate in all this that needs to be had. But I wish respected people in these fields wouldn't keep just making shit up to justify their arguments.