• Question: If human life disappeared, would the world be a better or worse place ?

    Asked by anon-224972 to Paul, Nawapat, Natalie, Katy on 21 Nov 2019.
    • Photo: Paul Laurance-Young

      Paul Laurance-Young answered on 21 Nov 2019:

      Let me answer that with a question: “Who would be there to find that out?”

      I suppose it really boils down to what you define as being a better or worse place? Less pollution? Then yes, human kind’s absence would be beneficial. Safe from natural disasters like bushfires in Australia? Then no, because they would rampage out of control.
      I think that humankind certainly needs to be more aware of our surroundings and environment: unrestricted fishing will devastate fish stocks causing mass starvation of humans; the consumption of “traditional” foods like shark fins and medicine like rhino horn have no scientific evidence for their benefit and simply lead to species extinctions. We have one world and we need to look after it. In my opinion: planet first; profit second.

    • Photo: Natalie Fowler

      Natalie Fowler answered on 21 Nov 2019:

      This is an unusual question. With my scientist hat on I’d want to ask you how you are going to measure this? An experiment or a question needs to be answered by measuring something specific. For example, I’m sure it would be a quieter world but is that worse?

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