Chapter 1: The Breath of the Earth

In a notable publication from 2015, Dr. Binocs and Mr. Tree noted, “Plants are often referred to as the ‘lungs of the world’ since they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.” However, with the onset of industrialization, which can be likened to a harmful smoking habit, plants are struggling to purify the atmosphere, leading to a suffocating planet. The solution may seem straightforward—halt growth, cease development, and eliminate harmful practices. What we often label as growth is, in reality, akin to a cancer that the Earth desperately needs to eradicate. This notion is not one many wish to confront, especially as we face dire consequences; people tend to think, “enjoy it while it lasts.”

When we consider the escalating levels of CO₂ (a mere fragment of our challenges), the answer is evident: let nature do the cleansing as intended. We must relinquish our attachment to private property and embrace a more humble inheritance of the Earth. Otherwise, we risk facing severe repercussions, as echoed in religious texts. The Quran states, “How many generations have We destroyed since Noah’s time? Your Lord is well aware of the sins of His servants and observes them all.” The truth resonates here.

The Quran warns of the signs of civilization's demise, yet we dismiss it, believing we are exempt. Having walked through the ruins of Polonnaruwa, once a remarkable irrigation society now overtaken by monkeys, I can attest to the decline of once-great civilizations. We see remnants of these fallen cities globally, yet we remain in denial about their relevance to our interconnected world. Every city ultimately depletes its environment, and a global city merely depletes the entire planet.

Tyson Yunkaporta aptly stated, “Civilizations are cultures that create cities, communities that consume everything around them and then themselves.” Until we abandon our city-centric culture, true indigeneity remains elusive—a lesson passed down by the Elders of Zimbabwe through the ages.

A city represents a community on an upward trajectory, fueled by the demand for continuous growth. This growth is the very lifeblood of urban centers; if it ceases, the city collapses. Consequently, local resources deplete rapidly, leading to ecological degradation. The ruins of ancient civilizations are predominantly found in arid regions today, a stark reminder of past environmental exhaustion.

What rises must eventually fall. The larger the entity, the more significant the downfall. Instead of merely disrupting one city-state, we have transformed into a global civilization, harming the entire planet. Our futile attempts at bargaining with fate often ignore the basic principle of “stop digging.” Transitioning to electric machinery does not resolve the core issue; it merely alters the method of destruction. GDP merely quantifies the depth of the hole we are creating, while we take pride in its size. The economy produces little of lasting value for ecosystems, offering fleeting enjoyment to humans but ultimately resulting in waste and pollution.

While civilization may be celebrated by us, to the natural world, it is merely a burden. GDP, from the perspective of most life forms, is just a gauge of ever-increasing waste. The majority of consumer products are discarded within a year, and nearly all are discarded within a lifetime—useless and often toxic to wildlife. The resources we consume merely divert land and water from more vital ecological functions, resulting in death masquerading as progress.

The remedy for climate change is, in essence, straightforward, as suggested by Binocs and Tree; however, we often complicate matters. When we advocate for “saving the Earth,” it is often more about self-preservation. Thus, we create technologies to combat climate change, akin to trying to restore virginity through violation. Switching to electric vehicles resembles a shift from one addiction to another. We attempt to address issues with additional problems, while the simplest solution might be to do nothing at all, yet our overconfidence leads us to complicate matters.

As I have previously mentioned, the answer lies in surrendering—surrendering to a higher power, to grief, or to something beyond ourselves. This does not imply inaction; rather, it means fulfilling our purpose, which is often elusive unless guided by a true mentor. If you seek counsel, I suggest turning to a higher power (after ensuring you are respectful, of course). If humanity were to relinquish its grip on modern civilization, nature would inevitably rebound. As Midnight Oil poignantly expressed in 1987, advocating for returning Australia to its Indigenous peoples:

The time has come

A fact’s a fact

It belongs to them

Let’s give it back

How can we dance

When our earth is turning

How do we sleep

While our beds are burning

How can we dance

When our earth is turning

This notion remains largely theoretical because humanity does not truly govern modern civilization. Since the establishment of the Dutch East India Company in 1602, corporate entities have orchestrated the world, a trend that has persisted. Artificial systems—crafted from paper and bureaucracy as much as from technology—have dominated global structures since colonial times, evolving into capitalism. This global corporate entity has been operating for centuries, with humans relegated to mere participants in its bureaucratic machinery. We are not even the primary agents in our downfall.

The idea of “giving it back” is a fallacy, as we surrendered control to corporate entities long ago. The collective human identity is fragmented; corporations, now considered legal entities, wield more political influence than individuals. The only solace is the inevitability of mortality; everything that exists will eventually cease to be, whether it be living beings or artificial constructs. Existence and non-existence are intertwined, akin to matter and antimatter. All that lives must perish, including expansive, artificial entities. Economies that consume ecosystems will ultimately reach their peak, collapse, and recede.

Thus, one day, the harmful habits will be extinguished—not due to a conscious decision by industrial civilization, but as a consequence of self-destruction through unsustainable practices. Ultimately, the Earth’s lungs will recover, transforming CO₂ back into O₂ over millions of years. This is not a novel occurrence; history shows that life forms have repeatedly disrupted the climate (a reminder of the Great Oxygen Catastrophe). There is nothing new under the sun; we merely unearth ancient photosynthetic organisms, repurposing their energy cycle. Once, they cooled the planet with excess oxygen; now, we are heating it with excess carbon. It is a simple equation, yet we gravitate towards complexity.

Chapter 2: Embracing Simplicity