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OF NINE planetary “boundaries” for maintaining Earth’s life-support systems, a 2009 analysis by Johan Rockström found we have clearly crossed three, those being climate change, nitrogen pollution and loss of biodiversity. But the good news is that for others, such as land and water use, the analysis concluded there is still some “safe operating space for humanity”.

In The God Species, environment writer Mark Lynas packages this with his new-found technological optimism to create a redemptive manifesto for humanity – how we can play God and win.

Many greens will hate it: Lynas is pro-nuclear, pro-genetically modified food and pro-capitalism.…

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