NORTHERN PLANNER

Following on from that ‘the world will be fine’ post, something else struck me on history teaching us about the future. Made me optimistic too.

There have been some wonderful innovations in human history, but the real leaps in the development of our species have pretty much been forced by necessity. Like the way we had to develop agriculture when we ran out of large animals we could catch. We’re good at getting ourselves out of tight spots. We survived the ice age, we got through the last Yellowstone volcano eruption when humans we’re reduced to pitifully small number.

That makes me feel a bit better about global warming. We’re finally realising we’re in a sticky situation, and like people you work with who leave it until they’re on deadline and pull through, we’ll suddenly fine we’re able to act. Things like the combustion engine, which has largely stayed the same for decades, will suddenly be innovated out of all recognition.

Lets hope so.