ARES Learning is dedicated to preparing students for humanity's rapidly approaching multi-planet future. This post by Frank White, author of The Overview Effect and President of The Human Space Program, does a good job illustrating one reason Humans must migrate off planet... and argues that environmentalism and space exploration should go hand-in-hand into the future.
The Overview Effect tells us that we are all in this together and we must work cooperatively to create a positive human future on Earth and in other parts of the solar system. The space movement and environmental movement must heal the breach between them and work together for the good of the planet and all life on it. Environmentalists: please expand your vision to include other parts of the solar system! We need your help to do this right.
We think the Limits to Growth conclusions mentioned in the post are a bit dated, and a focus on Factfulness prior to the pandemic suggested that world population growth was slowing and would soon stabalize, which is already being born out in recent census data. But, undoubtedly, humanity's expansion into the solar system will help relieve (and help solve) many environmental problems at home. Our knowledge and resources will be much greater, and only improve the more we explore and settle our neighboring worlds, especially if respect for the environment is key to our approach.
Learn more about the ARES Learning approach in the book Space Education: Preparing Students for Humanity's Multi-Planet Future by our co-founder Dr. Mark Wagner, and explore a complete Space Education Curriculum developed for high schools - it's a free and open education resource available to students, teachers, and enthusiasts everywhere.
Educators, sign up for online professional development based on the book and curriculum. And be sure to register for the FREE online Space Education Summit on April 21, 2023.