34 | New Scientist | 20 February 2021
If a far-off future generation writes a
complete history of human civilisation, the
century from 1950 to 2050 will loom large.
This was the era of the Great Acceleration,
a rapacious, unrestrained plundering
of Earth’s natural support systems. But it
was also the era of the Great Restoration,
when humanity learned again how to live
sustainably and in harmony with nature.
That second part hasn’t happened yet.
Whether this history is ever written
depends on what happens now: on
decisions to be made this year as the world
emerges from the covid-19 pandemic,
and on our actions in the coming decade.
Graham Lawton kicks off a special report
on Earth’s ecosystems and biodiversity
at a critical juncture by asking: how can
we deliver a rescue plan for nature that
is also a rescue plan for us?