Threadjack:
The reason to be optimistic is that things can change. Else things can't not change.
Current estimation of how far in the past our demise was, presume stagnant technology.
Bucky Fuller's favorite example of Synergy was metal alloys, more than the summation of their parts.
As it turns out, Terran Space Academy is a thorough, informative (dare I say serioous?) source for emergent technology. This episode would be 1/2 hour of your time at 1x.
Introduction invokes metal hydrides and Appollo 13, but the second half gets really interesting. Nanoscale 3D printed metamaterials. Beyond Inconel to GRX-810. Structured alloys enable 50-60% efficient use of the hydrocarbons you despise.
Fuller always said that if we could improve the overall efficiency of everything taken as a whole (he put it at 8 to 12%) everyone could live better than kings. 25 to 60% efficiency in what we are already doing would get us there.
Also,
New CPU Technology just Arrived �� IBM, Imec, Intel -- Anastasi In Tech. CPU will get 20% smaller and 24% more efficient. ....Real Soon Now...