a way to make energy out of waste
all of that is already happening, and all of that is taken into account. We also assume the goodness in people and stable benevolent government :) :) I mean the best case social hypothesis is assumed and yet it is very hard to see beyond say 2070 :)
Mind you, extinction for a natural historian like me is like turning a page of a book.
In fact a proper mass extinction, where 95% of the planet's life goes dead is a great scenario for a long term sustainability of the planet. It is the best case scenario from a point of view of a geologist :) but I didn't want to say it earlier.
You do know mass extinctions are common in the geologic past. Those are the 'magic bullet' you talk about.
I guess it's sort of like our own death. We know about it every day of our lives, and yet, we get up in the morning.
yes, we call it natural instinct, or survival :)
That Darwin guy knew something! :)