How can we protect the envoronment when our economy is based on consumption with no limits?

China will shadow us as its population grows and its use autos will cripple air quality.

How can we protect the envoronment when our economy is based on consumption with no limits?norton 2008

Anthropologist/Sociologist/etc Jared Diamond argues that one of the downfalls of most civilizations includes environmental degradation.

An anthropologist/economist in the 80s (whose name escapes me) stated empires and great civilizations fall because of diminishing returns.

When resources like the environment are in trouble or may be depleted, enough people will see that is a finite resource. It is suicidal for a people to use something up until its end with no plan. We see people reacting to this 'great' knowledge of finiteness. Compact lightbulbs are all the rage, people are building green, and being environmental becomes a talking point for advertisers (greenwash).

My point is people know there are limits, and society will address this fact and make some corrections. Because if we don't, we're doomed.

How can we protect the envoronment when our economy is based on consumption with no limits?pop up blocker

Technological advancement resulting from economic growth. Better smoke stack scrubbers, hydrogen cars, more efficient solar etc... China will undergo an internal green movement as a natural result of it's industrial revolution.
Justin is largely correct. I would merely add that people willl begin to care about the environment when it costs them as individuals more to pollute than it does to live green.