Wow, this thread is evidence that we are all religious. The "sustainable" zealots live in denial of the fact that nothing in this universe is sustainable. Entropy will have its fancy.
One idea I find interesting is that resisting change seems to be in human DNA despite the fact that change is the only constant thing in this world, and that adaptation is the requirement of survival. How is it that humans evolved to be so intolerant of change when it isn't evolutionary advantageous?
I'll contribute my graph to the discussion since there are so many others festering here:
...and concerning the Google article, the authors said that RE is a failure because even if all humans disappeared from earth, the global temperature would continue to rise in the future due to the already elevated CO2 levels. They predict disaster regardless of how efficient we become, short of sequestering more CO2 than we produce.
Humans aren't content for Earth to be their only habitable place, and
this news proves it. One thing is certain; life isn't getting off this planet with a human population of only 500 million.