“The planet isn’t going anywhere; we are! We’re going away!”

As mentioned in my last blog, our planet has gone through several phases of mass extinctions during which 75-95% of living creatures have vanished from the face of the Earth. Each time our planet has rebuilt itself through mutations.

While the first two, viz., Ordovician-Silurian and Devonian Extinctions, were mainly about marine species, the Permian-Triassic extinction, often called the Great Dying, is regarded as the most significant mass extinction. The event about 252 million years ago wiped out about 96% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrates. But Planet Earth did not stop. Despite the catastrophic setback, life found a way to rebound.

The Triassic-Jurassic Extinction, which happened 210 million years ago, caused the extinction of other vertebrate species on land, allowing the dinosaurs to flourish. Fast forward to the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction approximately 66 million years ago, where a large-scale destructive event, possibly caused by an asteroid, led to the demise of dinosaurs and many other species. Planet Earth did not stop here, either.

The planet transformed the moment of crisis to pave the way for the rise of mammals and, eventually, humans.

I am going back in history to form an analogy that underscores the importance of embracing change. The demise of the outdated, like the extinction of dinosaurs, creates opportunities for newer species and their innovative approaches. Just as mammals seized the spotlight after the dinosaurs' departure, chances are that new species are waiting down the road.

While we all must agree that plugging off our digital lifestyle and business processes may be impossible if we are to believe that we have already started our journey towards the extinction of the Holocene, the only way we can stall the event is by creating an environment of relative stability and flourishing biodiversity, as that is what the Holocene epoch was supposed to establish. The Holocene spirit encourages a long-term perspective, emphasising the importance of sustainable practices in both the ecological and digital spheres.

Drawing inspiration from Planet Earth's history and staying motivated in the face of adversity involves becoming adaptable, embracing change, and fostering long-term sustainability. By recognising the parallels between historical extinctions and contemporary environmental disruptions, we can navigate uncertainties, stay motivated, and carve a path towards the ever-evolving landscape that balances the environment and the digital world.

Finding the balance is the only way to stall our goodbyes to this world.