- David Dodwell: "Efforts to combat climate change and biodiversity loss are inseparable as new mass extinction looms”, South China Morning Post, 16 January 2023
- Michael Shellenberger: No, Humans Are NOT Causing A "Sixth Mass Extinction”, Public, 3 January 2023
These are opposite takes, drawing on some of the same data; but conclusions diametrically opposite. One view is more correct than the other. By definition: because they can’t both be true.
But which one is more correct? I know my views. You do yours.
A highlight from Shellenberger, a map of how Europe has re-forested in the last century. Because increased agricultural yields have allowed land to be given back to “rewilding”. IOW, increased yields are a key to providing more habitat for endangered species. And increased yields are achieved by modern farming methods, not by reverting to traditional or organic farming.
I also have a question about Paul Ehrlich, quoted in the Shellenberger article. Why is the man who has been so wrong, so often, so dramatically, so profoundly, so catastrophically, over fifty years, still on shows like “60 Minutes”? I don’t get it. He has precisely zero credibility.
ADDED: Our World in Data on countries which have reversed de-forestation (ie. “re-forested”). Note China and India in there:
