I think that the burden of proof on the relative quality of life now, as opposed to the quality of life at some time in the past rests on those arguing for the past. GDP per capita? Life expectancy? Infant mortality? Percent of world population that is free, or partly free? Literacy rates? Poverty rates? Access to knowledge? All of these are at unprecedented, and rising levels. Are there any other measures worth considering?

Until the environmental movement decisively purges from it ranks the humanity loathing anarchists who only want to see fewer humans, living meaner lives - and who would be more than happy to construct and get their hands on the power that would bring their nihilistic fantasies to fruition - the rest of us are more than justified in ignoring their nanny-shrill bleating. (They have such a massive contempt for their fellow man that the only tactic for persuasion that they can conceive of is crude scare mongering....just like every other psychically crippled priestly caste in the history of humanity).