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Independent scientist and futurist James Lovelock, originator of Gaia Theory, explores our future on the planet through two new, key ideas.  The first is that we are now subject to ‘accelerated evolution’, a process which is bringing about change on our planet roughly a million times faster than Darwinian evolution. The second is that as part of this process, humanity has the capacity to become the intelligent part of ‘Gaia’, the self-regulating Earth system. By our domination and our invention, we are changing the atmosphere. Instead of feeling guilty about it, we should recognise what is happening, prepare for change, and ensure that we survive as a species so we can contribute to – perhaps even guide – the next evolution of Gaia. We may, for example, have to make a transition from carbon-based wet chemistry to a future symbiosis with electronic life.  The road will be rough, but if we are smart enough life will continue on Earth in some form far into the future.

Lovelock is the originator of the Gaia Hypothesis (now Gaia Theory), which postulates that the biosphere is a self-regulating entity with the capacity to keep our planet healthy by controlling the chemical and physical environment. His many books on the subject include Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth, The Revenge of Gaia, and The Vanishing Face of Gaia.