In the 160 years since the first oil well was drilled, we’ve extracted ~1.5 trillion barrels of oil. For perspective, that means we’ve used close to half of all currently known oil in about .0001% of the time it took to for Earth to make it. 

In just a few generations, our industries have grown to produce more waste and pollution than Earth can absorb, and more demand for its materials than Earth can keep up with. But while earth may have limited resources, when used wisely, they have limitless possibilities. 

People across perspectives like engineering, Indigenous science, and biophysics are seeking solutions inspired by and compatible with the planet. With dangerous amounts of carbon in the atmosphere, for example, energy scientists are developing ways to capture and store it in rocks. And chemical engineers are leveraging unique crystals to turn nearly any surface into energy-producing solar panels.

Making the shift from a culture of exploitation to creative collaboration means overhauling deeply rooted economic and political industries. The greatest forces and pressures we have to overcome aren’t Earth’s – they’re our own.