Are there any real compelling arguments on why humanity should spend so much effort into preserving nature and other life? other than shit like algae and trees that make our oxygen and stuff we like to eat.
it seems like mankind is shitting itself over CO2 levels and pollution for literally no reason other than "wow le elephants are dying"
>we need them more than they need us
not really, we can synthesise almost any compound and mass produce fertiliser. elephants going extinct in Africa won't stop Joe Bloggs from buying a loaf of bread in Tesco.
>we need to preserve nature because it's beautiful
beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it doesn't mean shit. it's just a neurological reaction to something visually pleasing, it's not an argument
>we need to preserve it for our kids
again, it's not an argument or a compelling reason.
>heatwaves and natural disasters will kill poor people
it would seem logical to stop building in deserts and flood plains... India has half of the GDP of Japan but none of the defenses they have against natural disasters.
>we will run out of water
ocean? desalination is not particularly complicated

think of it like this, the ultimate goal of all life is to self replicate as much as possible. humans are the ultimate replication machines. we got so good at it that we had to invent things to slow us down. we got so good at survival that we don't even have to think about it anymore. why do we need to make way for inferior lifeforms?