Final answer:
The question relates to sustainable growth and the limits of cycles in renewable and non-renewable resource usage, with a focus on the long-term viability of human civilization within the confines of Earth's ecosystem and resources. It emphasizes the need for a transition to renewable energy and sustainable practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase “New cycles should not see us going over the same ground indefinitely” likely refers to the concept that, from a physical and environmental perspective, continuous growth based on finite resources is unsustainable. The notion of infinite growth collides with the limits physics imposes on energy and resource usage on Earth. The current trajectory of human civilization suggests that a transition to renewable resources is imperative to avoid the undesirable end of growth as we know it, characterized by overshoots, crashes, and depletion of natural resources.
Adopting a sustainable development model that relies on Earth's natural renewable flows rather than finite resources is crucial. Renewable energy infrastructure is necessary for longevity—at least on the order of 10,000 years, the benchmark for a viable long-term solution. Anything with a doubling or halving time less than this is unsustainable and should be approached with caution, as per the rule of 70.
The overarching theme is not just precaution for the immediate future but a radical rethinking for long-term sustainability. In planning for civilization's continuity over millennia, we must conform to practices that fall within the natural regenerative capacity of Earth, eschewing a dependence on one-time resources, according to the texts.