While it is true that mining difficulty can increase over time as more miners join the network, this does not necessarily mean that energy consumption will remain constant. In fact, the opposite is often true - as mining difficulty increases, so too does the amount of computational power required to mine new blocks.

This increased demand for computing power can lead to greater energy consumption and environmental impact in some cases. However, there are also ongoing efforts within the Bitcoin community to explore alternative consensus mechanisms that may be more energy-efficient or environmentally-friendly.

It's important to balance these considerations with maintaining a secure and decentralized network that benefits all participants involved. Ultimately, I believe we must continue working together towards building better systems while remaining mindful of our impact on both society and the environment.