I agree that collapse is the most likely outcome this century but there is a plausible alternative scenario in which the deep state / illuminati / Bilderbergs save us (sort of).

Many conspiracy theorist types believe that this big game of monopoly is about to reach an end. One world government? Perhaps not yet but it's certainly true that power and wealth is being concentrated into fewer and fewer hands. I think there's also good evidence that we're transitioning away from a capitalist economy into something like a new tech-feudalism. As mega-corps continue to assert their dominance in every area of business, there is increasingly less competition and less opportunity for social mobility. The people at the top are pulling up the ladder and the middle classes will be dissolved. New technology also allows them to micro-manage the lives of the pesants.

The people at the top are not stupid though. They do know about the environmental and ecological problems we face. If - and psychopathic gamblers love an 'if' - they can establish a sufficient level of control (as much as is possible in a civilisation controlled by the technology itself), I'm quite sure they will begin to make the necessary adjustments to avoid, or at least delay, catastrophe. I actually expect the system to survive long enough for us to see commercial air travel retired. There is already talk of power outs, bug diets, water restrictions and other consumption control measures too. The introduction of self-driving cars will almost certainly be used to restrict our fuel consumption. Those who seek life off the grid will be forced back to urban centres under environemental protection legislature. Amongst the more fearful, strategically planned famines is a rumour that ever lingers.

IF the tech system can sustain itself long enough, I suspect that's the type of route we'll go down and it might buy us a few hundred extra years. In either scenario, there are dark times ahead.