How long left for humans?
Discussion
This post got me thinking:
It's a presumption that suits those who would pretend that we are more relevant, to the Planet, than those species previously dominant.
We, as a species, will disappear.
It's of no importance, to the Planet, or the Universe.
Only, it would appear, to some of us.
Can those tell us for how much longer we, as a species, will survive by following their edicts?We as a species are massively dependant of fossil fuels and are told we're running out but I also hear there's more oil shail in Canada now than there was ever oil in the middle east. So with this in mind surely we have several hundred years left of the black stuff. Then we should have got over our fear of nuclear energy and that'd power us unless we've harnessed proper renewable energy (no white elephants).
I'm going to guess at 10,000 years max left for humans, all things considered even if we're all killed to death by climate change and displaced polar bears in the mean time.
Personally I think the biggest threat to our species is ourselves and not climate change. Politics & religion has a lot to answer for.
WhoseGeneration said:
Rusty Arches said:
It's not called "MMGW" anymore, it's called "Climate Change" ohhh wait, the official buzz word is:
"anthropogenic climate change"
Just because we are more "conscious" than previous dominant species doesn't mean that we are any more capable of influencing the pattern of the Global climate than they were."anthropogenic climate change"
It's a presumption that suits those who would pretend that we are more relevant, to the Planet, than those species previously dominant.
We, as a species, will disappear.
It's of no importance, to the Planet, or the Universe.
Only, it would appear, to some of us.
Can those tell us for how much longer we, as a species, will survive by following their edicts?
I'm going to guess at 10,000 years max left for humans, all things considered even if we're all killed to death by climate change and displaced polar bears in the mean time.
Personally I think the biggest threat to our species is ourselves and not climate change. Politics & religion has a lot to answer for.
Isnt necessity the mother of invention? All well and good saying "we have a couple hundred years before we run out, im sure someone will have thought of something by then" but what if they havent? Itll be madness, and if we're honest right now there isnt really anything to replace fossil fuels on the scale required.
We either need to find new more efficient ways of producing energy, or the method i think is most sensible, scale back the number of people on this planet. Theres like 6+ billion people, and its going to keep increasing. Instead of trying to find enough resources to keep the hole planet happy, which is getting harder as more and more contrys develop, why not just try and say half the worlds population?
We either need to find new more efficient ways of producing energy, or the method i think is most sensible, scale back the number of people on this planet. Theres like 6+ billion people, and its going to keep increasing. Instead of trying to find enough resources to keep the hole planet happy, which is getting harder as more and more contrys develop, why not just try and say half the worlds population?
[/quote]
I'm going to guess at 10,000 years max left for humans, all things considered even if we're all killed to death by climate change and displaced polar bears in the mean time.
Personally I think the biggest threat to our species is ourselves and not climate change. Politics & religion has a lot to answer for.
[/quote]
So how exactly did you come up with 10000 years and what information was this number based on, you might as well have said 100000 or 1 million as it appears to be a random number you have picked out the air. It impossible to predict this as there are far to many variables involved, including evolution. There is also no historical data to base any estimate on.
So basically its a stupid question, although the replies should be a laugh
Puggit said:
But in such an event what would we do beforehand assuming we had a bit of notice?Hundreds of years ago before something really bad was to happen didn't they just resort to their primitive urges?
I'd recommend a track day, a banquet and a big orgy!
Puggit said:
Well given that it is still some 3500 light years from us the radiation particles would still take 100000 years to get here. Frankeh said:
Everyone knows the answer is in just under 3 years.
December 2012.
Ah, yes. December 2012.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_phenomenon
[quote]We as a species are massively dependant of fossil fuels and are told we're running out but I also hear there's more oil shail in Canada now than there was ever oil in the middle east. So with this in mind surely we have several hundred years left of the black stuff. Then we should have got over our fear of nuclear energy and that'd power us unless we've harnessed proper renewable energy (no white elephants).
[/quote]
Not entirely correct if you consider the measure of EROEI (Energy Return on Energy Invested).
Tar sands EROEI is really really poor and it will get to a point where it is uneconomic in energy terms to extract the oil from the sands.
Ref: Nuclear, lead time on new power stations is significant, handling of material is volatile and expensive, building the plants is also significantly energy intensive (EROEI).
Right now, there is no alternative energy source to fossil fuels and we are running out fast. The next 50 years will see a significant change in the population (decline), and the way we produce food (local, fewer imports).
[/quote]
Not entirely correct if you consider the measure of EROEI (Energy Return on Energy Invested).
Tar sands EROEI is really really poor and it will get to a point where it is uneconomic in energy terms to extract the oil from the sands.
Ref: Nuclear, lead time on new power stations is significant, handling of material is volatile and expensive, building the plants is also significantly energy intensive (EROEI).
Right now, there is no alternative energy source to fossil fuels and we are running out fast. The next 50 years will see a significant change in the population (decline), and the way we produce food (local, fewer imports).
I think there's a difference between life as we know it and the species surviving. Humans are a very dominant species on the planet due to our intelligence and adaptability. I believe we'll be here as long as the earth is able to support life. Life as we know it is a different question, and obviously we're in for some changes. I don't trust human civilisation as it is now with its arguing, wars etc to maintain our current standard of living if the earth changes dramatically. I do expect humans to exist for a very long time though.
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