But ... Which era? Before the Sahara was a desert? Then the Amazon rain forests would lack wind borne nutrients. Early earth had an ultra rich oxygen content in the air, allowing huge insects to flourish - and amazing fires to spread, thanks to grasses.
Perhaps he means the state it was in 250 years ago, when the industrial revolution was in its infancy.
Bill Maher covered this well, the eve of Earth day this past April. it was so good I've saved it...
The Lyrics to the Eagles song...brilliant;
The Last Resort
Eagles
She came from Providence, the one in Rhode Island
Where the old world shadows hang heavy in the air
She packed her hopes and dreams like a refugee,
Just as her father came across the sea
She heard about a place people were smilin',
They spoke about the red man's way, how they loved the land
And they came from everywhere to the Great Divide
Seeking a place to stand or a place to hide
Down in the crowded bars out for a good time,
Can't wait to tell you all what it's like up there
And they called it paradise, I don't know why
Somebody laid the mountains low while the town got high
Then the chilly winds blew down across the desert,
Through the canyons of the coast to the Malibu
Where the pretty people play hungry for power
To light their neon way and give them things to do
Some rich man came and raped the land, nobody caught 'em,
Put up a bunch of ugly boxes and, Jesus, people bought 'em
And they called it paradise, the place to be,
They watched the hazy sun sinking in the sea
You can leave it all behind and sail to Lahaina
Just like the missionaries did so many years ago
They even brought a neon sign 'Jesus is Coming',
Brought the white man's burden down, brought the white man's reign
Who will provide the grand design, what is yours and what is mine?
'Cause there is no more new frontier, we have got to make it here
We satisfy our endless needs and justify our bloody deeds
In the name of destiny and in the name of God
And you can see them there on Sunday morning
Stand up and sing about what it's like up there
They called it paradise, I don't know why
You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Glenn Frey / Don Henley
The Last Resort lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc
And an equally profound and touching video by the Eagles...
I always think we can science our way out of anything but it may be too late.
I think if we were a planet-wide, homogeneous society, with the WILL to do it, we could. But that won't happen in time.
@bigpawbullets ooo, ooo... Just make Trump leader of the planet.. I can see it now.. M O P G A... Make Our Planet Gre.... well, you know..
@Captain_Feelgood
World dictatorship!!!!! No need for a border wall!!
@bigpawbullets There you go...
@MissKathleen
My plan exactly Kathleen. And, I've a strong belief in the abilities of our species to adapt. I think we'll go on. Probably not as many of us, but we're a very difficult group to exterminate. Like roaches & bed bugs.