In one of his more intriguing
passages on biological systems, he notes that humanity has failed to realize that «operation of natural ecosystems is exemplary,» in that their processing of organic waste gives rise to a new generation of plants.
Then comes a
passage that speaks potently of how access to fossil fuels has been an incredible boon, and the source of the prosperity that has allowed us to build the capacity to observe and comprehend planet - scale changes, but also helped accelerate and intensify our impacts
on the planet's
biological and climate
systems: