ENVIRONMENT

STATEMENT

>  As human society grows faster, the amount of noticeable impacts on the environment will dramatically increase

As stated on this site, Math Wins.  Expect to see a lot of impacts coming into human perception that were not noticed before. We will cover that here to give you examples.  

The exponential way humans have grown over the last few hundred years has been positive to the standard of living, life spans, and the ability to enjoy more of the day than previous generations.  A disadvantage to humans was the speed at which it all happened.  When the world seemed bigger and economic theory was being further developed, there was an error made that our society is now having to confront.  This error was not including the impacts on the environment within economic models and on the balance sheets.  Instead, it was sent out to the common without acknowledging the true costs.  At that time, it would have been difficult to foresee the Big Picture and the Exponential.  Even today, there is still a large misunderstanding of this equation and its impact.  Detached Observation lowers bias and emotions and relies on what has advanced human society - math and the scientific method helps human society understand the world beyond individual perceptions.  

Reflect on todays society.  Many people will go through their lives and not have within their perception the gathering of food and water from the environment.  It is all done through retail box store, a grocery store, and online ordering.  The limited human perception also plays a role as environmental events are taking place throughout the world but it does not come within much of human perception.  Human society is advancing as knowledge is spreading to help people learn and seek out more information.  

RISK

Along with environmental impacts on organizations, customers, and employees, there will also continue to be an organizational brand perception challenge.  The increased stress of change and the continued inability of individuals to have control over their world will have individuals approach inputs that help them survive (feel in control - reduce uncertainty).  People will seek to have this control in the places they shop and work for.  With so many various worldviews and the personal survival within them, brands will be challenged to feed this need.

STATEMENT

>  Since the environment is lower on the hierarchy, expect more backlash against it and the people who raise the concerns

As mentioned in previous categories, extraction costs are on the rise.  The financial system is leveraged.  And damages to the environment are not on balance sheets.  Until survival is front and center, what can be put off will be put off.  Wealth, self-esteem, physical and cultural survival... these will take priority in the near term.

Imagine an equation where you have 10,000 of the most powerful and influential people in the world.  Within that equation includes each person worlds view and the variable of influence.  Multiply that out and where would the focus be?  Wealth, self-esteem, physical and cultural survival.  The brain focuses on what is useful along with the Here and Now.  When the environment impacts the top of society on a physical and cultural survival way, more will be done within this area.

RISK

As mentioned in the previous statement, customers and employees want control of their world.  With more power going to fewer individuals, this lack of personal power will increase.  Brands will continue to have to balance both the needs of customers and employees along with centers of power - all with conflicting views of the current situation and how to deal with it.

STATEMENT

>  Human knowledge continues to advance in our understanding of the earth.  However, it is complex so there will be situations beyond human prediction and even understanding.

As with all the categories listed, human society is entering into unchartered territory.  Those within the fields will gain increased knowledge of the earth and test multiple scenarios.  However, there will be events beyond knowledge that will impact human civilization.  Also, information flow to the general public is scattered at best.  So even though their will be professionals who do have good understanding of earth and environmental changes, they do not have the kind of platform to share their knowledge to the public. 

RISK

Humans have had great knowledge of the earth and in many cases, this knowledge is over a century.  However, humans push for what is useful in the moment (here and now) and are limited with brain energy to understand so many inputs.  Add to this limited perception along with linear thinking and you have huge risk in tail events and events that are not that far off in terms of possibilities.  With math winning, expect more outliers to come into customer and employee perceptions and also provide unexpected risk to organizations over the next decade.

We are already witnessing this in that design (railroad tracks, city infrastructure, city coastlines, etc.) are not built for this environmental change.  

Advice from a Universe Detached Observer:

What would be some possible advice from a detached observer giving good tips to human society.  Here are a few possibilities:

-  You live in a vary narrow band that makes life possible.  Learn more about it so you do not jeopardize your existence.

-  Make the previous statement a larger part of your overall human education system.

-  You live with limited perception to understand the world and the universe.  Use math as your guide and heir on the side of caution if unsure about the results of your actions (this one can be added to the AI section)

There are a lot of good people in the world who spend a lifetime understanding parts of the earth and the human livable planet.  These voices will be added in the sections below or within our other content.  

Areas of the environment that will be on our radar here at ApproachAvoid.com:

Temperature Anomalies

Human built infrastructure

Impacts to personal survival - food, water, shelter

Species change

Insurance price and risk

Droughts, fires, and multiple large events

Breathable Air

How people and other species adapt to changes

Permafrost melt

Ice melt

Fish movements away from warmer waters

Earths carbon sink

Ocean changes

AMOC

Biodiversity

Microplastics

and more...

ENVIRONMENT

There is a reason the Environment is lower on the list.  It is not because of it's importance - as it should be front and center.  In a world that is Exponential AND nearing/hitting important tipping points, forward thinking on the Environment is vital.  However, the human brain focuses on the 'here and now' and how to survive In the Moment.  Thus, the Environment will remain lower on the hierarchy for the time being.  In 2025, we will be watching:

     - The Speed of Change in Global Temperatures and Environmental Impacts

     - Innovations that can slow the coming changes

     - Major Tipping Point Changes

     - Ongoing Research

Important>  Since we think in a linear fashion, there will be constant surprises in all of these categories in the years ahead.   Research that is published in areas of the Environment is already in the PAST (In an exponential world, it is important to reflect on this).  Also, science is conservative (which generally means things can be Understated - especially for policy) and since the Environment is lower on the hierarchy and does not make money, the research can/will be downplayed.

Websites to consider if you would like to learn more:

Probable Futures.org

This site allows you to see the impacts of changing temperatures and other impacts on a local scale.  

2025 US and World Environment Watch

WMO confirms 2024 as warmest year on record at about 1.55C above pre-industrial level

After Millenia as carbon dioxide sink, more than one-third of Arctic-boreal region is now a source

Humans Have Crossed 7 of 9 ‘Planetary Boundaries