Dr. Bill Rees coined the term “Ecological Footprint”, and has gained considerable respect in the field of ecology over a long career. Which is to say he is not a ‘fringe’ scientist. Yet Rees is one of the growing chorus of prominent scientists who are not at all optimistic about humanity’s prospects.

Simply stated, Rees believes that we are in overshoot of the ecological limits of the planet, and the economic systems that enslave us drive us to consume the Earth’s resources at an increasingly unsustainable rate. Such is the legacy of a dysfunctional economic model of infinite exponential growth on a limited planet.

Below Dr. Rees talks candidly about his research and the rapidly closing window to avoid the worst scenarios of collapse.