If statically speaking, preparing for the end is the sanest course of action because it does appear to be the most likely scenario within the next 50 years, why wouldn't it be the right mindset?
The world has ended 0 times so far. The world has a 100% record of not ending.
Makes more sense to prepare for the continuation of the world, since then I'd have to actually do something.
It just rings like all of the people claiming “end times” for hundreds of years.
But more specifically, is everybody on earth getting the same message? If not...why?
For those of us who don't have a particularly strong desire to have children this is very much a dealbreaker.
> It just rings like all of the people claiming “end times” for hundreds of years.
The only way that would be the case is if you ignore the evidence that makes the current situation untentable in a way that no other prior instance of history has been.
With a single scientific advance that would allow rapid carbon capture from the atmosphere, we could be having a totally different conversation.
... and reverse the laws of thermodynamics, too!
Recapturing atmospheric CO2 means working to transform from a high-entropy state to a lower-entropy state. That's not going to happen for free.
So you need to have:
1) A fast efficient carbon-capture mechanism.
2) A way to generate lots and lots of power that doesn't itself produce CO2.
You're not describing a "single scientific advance" as much as you're describing dozens or hundreds of major feats of engineering. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but I would not bet the planet on it.
As far as I can tell it’s more about having a working option and then paying for it.
But even if we aren’t betting the planet on it...this is akin to a poker game where all of your money is already in the middle. Folding the hand just means you lose.
There is literally nothing to gain by giving up. Nothing.