The Romans did, after a fashion, for many centuries. However, they did it on the back of their forests, which in the lifetime of a human being is more or less fossil fuel.

A global elite will still be able to function well after "peak oil" and "peak forest" and the rest -- and they may continue to have the power to enslave the rest of us, though that is the stuff of science fiction.

But will anyone survive "peak air?"

I've no doubt other empires will arise. Temporarily, at least. But the kind of globalism we have now...I really doubt it.