Robin van Spaandonk wrote:
> If we continued to use fossil fuels as our energy source, at the current > rate of energy consumption, until all the oxygen in the atmosphere had been > used up (assuming none of it were recycled by nature), then it would take > 40000 years to use it up. In the blink of an eye, in other words. And long before we use it up the effects would be catastrophic. > Humans can live with Oxygen levels at least 10% lower than current levels > and I think at least 20% lower. 10% implies 4000 years, and 20% - 8000 > years, so Oxygen consumption per se is not really an issue. For humans, that is. What about all the other species? Such a radical change in the environment would have wide ranging deleterious effects on millions of species. Of course, that would, in turn, affect us too. Really, I find that statement incredibly anthropocentric. That kind of thinking went out fashion in biology 50 years ago, fortunately. - Jed
