I – Biology necessarily alters the systems it occupies to its own advantage.

II – As biological complexity increases, its impact on systems increases.

III – Humanity necessarily has a direct and measurable impact on its environment.

IV – Humanity cannot persist without altering its environment.

V – Conscious organisms such as humanity can perceive and understand their effects on the systems they occupy.

VI – Conscious organisms are therefore in a position to actively select the effects of their alterations, for their own benefit and for the benefit of other biology.

VII – To persist and advance, humanity must actively select changes that maximize benefits and minimize degradation.

VIII – Human selections have long‑lasting and serious consequences for the environment and all its components.

IX – Humanity’s impact on the environment will directly affect humanity itself