Is the Earth really doomed?

Every day, headlines warn us that the Earth is dying. Rising temperatures, melting glaciers, raging wildfires and disappearing forests paint a picture of a planet on the brink of collapse. Scientists warn that we may be living through a sixth mass extinction. Unlike previous events, however, this one is largely driven by a single species: humans. Does this mean the Earth itself will die? History suggests otherwise. Long after humans are gone, forests may reclaim abandoned cities, oceans may recover and evolution will continue to produce new forms of life. The real question is whether human civilisation will survive the environmental crisis we have created. The Earth has survived for billions of years. Whether we remain part of its future is a decision we are making today.

Ayesha Batool

Islamabad