The environment in most rich countries, especially in Europe (and especially ex-Warsaw Pact Europe), is in a lot better shape today than eg most of the 20th century.
(Of course, you can argue it's still in a worse shape than two thousand years ago.)
As other countries get richer, they also tend to start cleaning up their act. Have a look at the great strides China made in the last two decades.
> Also, the 99+% of the other species on the planet would probably have a dim view of our 'progress', as would people who respect them.
Most of the life on the rest of the planet are bacteria and archaea etc and the phages that prey on them. They are doing just fine. Of course, exactly how you divide them into species is a bit of a matter of debate. But no matter how you slice them up, they represent the vast majority of biodiversity on the planet.
Also, the 99+% of the other species on the planet would probably have a dim view of our 'progress', as would people who respect them.