What Else is Trending Upward?

If these graphs represented stock prices, we would all be billionaires by now! However, these 24 charts reflect a harsh reality: the economic system we've built in the past has accelerated the disruption of the Earth's natural systems.

Many of these graphs have skyrocketed since 1950, after the end of World War II, when the world focused on economic recovery and wealth accumulation. This period, known as the "Great Acceleration," triggered significant human impact on the planet's systems over the past century.

As cities and economies grew, transportation increased, leading to more car and plane travel, higher fuel consumption, more fossil fuel extraction, greater carbon dioxide emissions, and further depletion of the ozone layer. Oceans have absorbed more carbon dioxide, becoming more acidic, and global temperatures have risen.

With rising wealth and improved living standards, food demand has surged, leading to more deforestation for agriculture, increased fertilizer use, and nitrogen and phosphorus residues in water sources, degrading soil and water quality. Oxygen levels in water bodies have declined, and overfishing has diminished biodiversity on land and in the seas.

These graphs display data from 1750 to approximately 2010, but their trends extend to today. For instance, atmospheric carbon dioxide has already surpassed 400 ppm, setting a new record.

Reversing these upward trends will take time. However, with AI technology, we can now optimize energy use, reduce fertilizer dependency, and minimize waste generation. Hopefully, soon, we will see these graphs start to decline, allowing both the economy and the planet to sustain themselves and find a balance where we can coexist.

---

The graphic is from Our Future on Earth Report (2020), adapted from Steffen, W. et al., 2015. The Anthropocene Review, 2(1), 81–89. https://doi.org/10.1177/2053019614564785