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Comment by _heimdall | Hacker News Reader

I'm not sure that's an easy argument to hold up. Where would you draw the line on lifestyle that can and should reasonably change?

We've populated large portions of the planet that we really have no business living in without climate controlled indoor environments. HVAC is also a huge energy suck with all the externalities that come along with it. If we were to really want to cut energy use, for example, and climate control had to go we almost certainly couldn't continue to sustain as many people as we have today.

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People have lived all over the planet without these things, I don't think you can say we have no business living there.

Think of the aboriginals and nomads roaming the deserts and the inuit in the icy north. All before hvac.

And hvac isn't really as much of an energy problem as heating is. Because when hvac is needed it is during a time of abundance of sunlight.

Yes, people at a much smaller scale figured out how to make it work and through many generations both adapted physically to the environment and found clever ways to work with the environment.

I can't imagine Canada or Europe could support their current population sizes without HVAC, or refrigeration, or pesticides and herbicides.

The list goes on, but in my opinion and understanding there is too strong of a correlation to ignore between those types of modern inventions and population growth.

> Where would you draw the line on lifestyle that can and should reasonably change?

I'm with you, but let's just say it.

People, as a whole, don't want to make the changes we all know would make the world better.

People, as individuals? While there are exceptions, the reality is a classic tragedy of the commons. Individuals generally won't accept a short-term drop in their standard of living while watching their neighbors refuse to do the same.

It is what it is, frankly. We can and will change our lifestyles at the very last possible moment. Let's hope it's enough.

Yep, totally agree on the observations and concerns. Maybe I'm too pessimistic, but I don't expect major changes in lifestyle until its too late and we're forced with no other choice.

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