Understanding the Need for "Planet-Fixing" Humans

How many individuals are required to mend a deteriorating planet? The answer hinges on two factors: the number of people contributing to the problem and those dedicated to resolving it. To tackle the complexities of human-induced climate change, it’s crucial to assess how many individuals are needed for effective, long-term sustainability. This necessitates a comprehensive analysis of the global workforce.

It's not sufficient to merely recognize the various ways humans are causing harm. We must also pinpoint the necessary solutions and assemble the teams needed to implement these solutions consistently. Simply urging people to stop harmful behaviors won’t suffice.

Imagine constructing a road. A specific number of skilled workers is needed for its construction, but once completed, the road begins to deteriorate. Thus, regular maintenance and rehabilitation are essential, requiring additional qualified personnel.

Now, envision a thoughtfully designed society that encompasses sustainable infrastructure, a thriving human population, and robust social systems to support both the populace and the infrastructure.

What does this vision entail?

The societal systems that uphold the population—such as education and healthcare—along with the physical infrastructures that support these systems, will greatly influence our sustainability strategies. For instance, if we opt for a nuclear-powered society, we must educate and train a large number of nuclear engineers. Conversely, if we rely on fossil fuels, our public health systems must be equipped to handle the effects of poor air quality and the resultant health issues, particularly in urban areas facing climate change challenges.

In any scenario, our sustainability strategy must encompass a global workforce analysis that evaluates various economic sectors and determines the personnel required to operate and sustain the infrastructures and social systems aligned with our sustainability goals.

Challenges such as an aging workforce in certain industries, scientifically uninformed populations in specific regions, or solutions that demand unrealistic human resources may arise. Moreover, we might create advanced technological solutions that demand minimal human intervention. However, as time progresses, these technologies may fail, and the pool of individuals capable of repairing them could diminish, leading to unsustainable dependencies and critical failures.

General statements from politicians about promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education are no longer adequate. We need targeted, long-term educational and training initiatives aimed at achieving global sustainability.

We must ascertain how many "planet-fixing" individuals are required across various industries and precisely what their roles entail. Subsequently, we should invest in developing a robust education and training system to meet these needs. This analysis will depend on the size of the human population and the living conditions of those individuals.

The paradox is clear: as the population of Earth increases, so too does the demand for more individuals dedicated to fixing our planet. Furthermore, a less sustainable global population necessitates a greater number of human resources to support it. Addressing anthropogenic climate change would be more manageable with a population of merely a billion, but with over 7 or 8 billion people, a larger segment of the population must become "planet-fixers."

We must significantly enhance the number of individuals trained to operate and maintain our planet, ensuring this workforce expands in tandem with the challenges posed by human-caused climate change and a growing global population.

The first video, "The Uncertainty Paradox: Can Science Make Uncertainty Optimistic?" delves into the complex relationship between uncertainty and scientific advancement. This thought-provoking discussion explores how embracing uncertainty can lead to innovative solutions for our global challenges.

The second video, "The Environmental Paradox" by Lauren Rigal at TEDxSaintAndrewsSchool, examines the intricate balance between human activity and environmental sustainability. Rigal shares insights on how we can navigate this paradox to foster a healthier planet.