how can they continue to get better when at the moment they're getting worse?

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It will continue to change.

Better/worse is a social construct and will differ depending on who is on the receiving end of that change.

It's getting better? I must have missed something.

I doubt we will see things get better in our life time. If, we had more people care about the planet and less religious fools. Then it might get better.

it's not getting better

Continue to get better? What part of this Global mess going on right now makes you feel that it is getting better

Is this a scientific question, or a philosophical one?

Depends on your perspective.

How do you define "things" and "better?"

If you define "things" as our increased technology that allows increased mining and burning of fossil fuels producing higher green house gas levels triggering environmental positive feedback loops including methane hydrate, frozen methane, ice melting (albedo effect) causing warming temperatures (LOOP repeat). If you desired outcome is a rapidly warming world with probable catastrophic results causing increased environmental refugees, Yes, looks like things will continue to get better.

?? It's getting better now? What criteria are you using..apparently not the environment, the government, the treatment of other races, the near extinction of most of our iconic animals..rhino, elephants, tigers, etc., most people not being able to make a living or afford housing on current salaries, despite college degrees.

If you mean, there is faster technology, we also need to start making new devices sustainable because of the vastly increasing piles of toxic tech waste polluting the environment.

Of course, there are plenty of solutions, including making the chassis hemp or plant based, making new devices upgradeable with interchangeable parts, making everything green, sustainable, people choosing sustainable housing that can be used off-grid, tiny houses, etc.

During the 21st century and before technology has produced answers to the world problems. However the problems we are beginning to face may not be as easy to rectify in the future.This is due largely to an ignorance regarding the basic scientific facts. This can be seen in a rejection of GMO's,the use of alternative medicine and general distrust of anything with the word chemical in it.The educated just lack the basic principles of science.
We have environmental threats such as climate change ,dwindling energy supplies,pollution of our oceans and water supplies and religious wars,nationalistic wars,the threat of a nuclear war. These problems can not be totally resolved by technology and have global impact.