Progress is not read with consequences that it causes to the environment

Of course it is.
The only "progress" of any species is the evolution of consciousness.

The more we rise in consciousness the less resources we use.

There are beings who create zero pollution.....

But it would seem as though you wouldn't understand such things.

You probably could not even imagine it

I wonder, how many things that there are in existence that you couldn't possibly imagine?

Such is the Achilles heel of the scientific mind.