Can we really change the Earth? The Anthropocene may be coming

We live on a planet transformed by humans. From climate change to species extinction, from land use to water management, from fossil fuels to plastic pollution, human activities have had profound and lasting impacts on Earth systems. Are these impacts enough to constitute a new geological epoch? This is the question that the concept of the Anthropocene seeks to explore.

What is the Anthropocene?

The concept of "Anthropocene" was first proposed by Paul Crutzen, a Dutch atmospheric chemist and Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, in 2000. He believed that the global environment was affected by the rapid growth of population and economic development, and that the Earth had ended the "Holocene", a geological era that lasted 11,700 years. The changes brought about by human activities to the Earth were enough to open up a new geological era.

There is no exact start time for the Anthropocene, but some scholars believe that it can be counted from the end of the 18th century, because human activities have had a global impact on climate and ecosystems since James Watt improved the steam engine in 1782. Some scholars believe that the Anthropocene began in an earlier period, such as the initial period of the development of human agricultural civilization.

The most notable feature of the Anthropocene is the emergence of some phenomena that have not occurred in the past 400,000 years, such as the global increase of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere, as well as soil erosion, water resource consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, species extinction, ozone layer depletion, etc. These phenomena show that humans have become a geological force that affects the evolution of the Earth system.

The difference between the Anthropocene and other geological eras is that it is mainly caused by human activities rather than natural forces. At the same time, it is also related to other geological eras. It is differentiated from the Holocene. Like the Pleistocene, it is part of the Quaternary Period of the Cenozoic Era in the Phanerozoic Eon. The Anthropocene, Holocene, and Pleistocene have witnessed the history of biodiversity and climate change.

Research progress on the “Anthropocene”

The term "Anthropocene" is currently only used to describe the most recent geological period on Earth and is still a geological concept that has not yet been officially recognized. In order for the "Anthropocene" to become an official geological period, it needs to meet the standards and procedures of the International Stratigraphic Society (ICS). The most important thing is to find a geological marker or "golden spike" that can specifically identify the "Anthropocene", namely the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP), to indicate the boundary of the geological period. This marker must be global, persistent, clear and unique, and be able to reflect the changes in the Earth system caused by human activities in the stratigraphic record.

In 2009, 34 experts from different disciplines and countries formed an "Anthropocene Working Group" (AWG) in the Quaternary Stratigraphy Subcommittee of the International Stratigraphic Association to investigate and define the "Anthropocene". The working group has voted several times to determine the definition, starting time and candidate markers of the "Anthropocene".

In May 2019, the working group held an important vote, in which 29 members agreed to define the "Anthropocene" as a new geological era and set its starting time as the middle of the 20th century, around 1950. This time point is considered to be a turning point when human activities have a huge and lasting impact on the earth, such as the beginning of the nuclear energy era, population expansion, industrialization, fossil fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, etc. These activities have left obvious marks in the stratigraphic record, such as radionuclides, plastic particles, and synthetic compounds.

However, this voting result does not mean that the "Anthropocene" is officially confirmed. If the concept of "Anthropocene" is to be officially used, it still needs to be reviewed and approved by several other subcommittees and the executive committee of the International Stratigraphic Society. In addition, this voting result does not represent the consensus of all experts, and there are still some controversies and doubts.

On the one hand, some experts believe that the concept of "Anthropocene" lacks scientific basis and objective standards, and is more based on political, social or moral considerations. They believe that "Anthropocene" is an overly simplistic and vague concept, ignoring the impact of natural changes and regional differences, as well as the impact of human activities at different stages and to different degrees in history. These experts believe that "Anthropocene" is an unnecessary and inappropriate name.

On the other hand, some experts believe that the concept of the "Anthropocene" is not mature and complete enough, and needs more evidence and research to support and supplement it. They believe that there are no clear and consistent answers to the starting time, geological markers and geographical distribution of the "Anthropocene", and more stratigraphic records and analysis are needed to confirm and verify it. They believe that the naming of the "Anthropocene" should follow the standard procedures of the International Stratigraphic Association and should not be hasty or arbitrary.

Currently, the Anthropocene Working Group is looking for a suitable "golden spike" location, that is, a global, persistent, clear and unique geological marker that can represent the beginning of the Anthropocene. This location may be a sediment profile of a lake, river, glacier or ocean, or it may be a drill hole.

The concept of the "Anthropocene" is not only a geological issue, but also an issue involving human society, culture, ethics and responsibility. It reflects the impact and changes of human activities on the Earth system, and also raises challenges and opportunities for how humans respond to and adapt to these changes. It requires us to rethink the relationship between humans and nature, as well as our vision and actions for the future of the Earth.

The significance and implications of the “Anthropocene”

The "Anthropocene" is a concept that reflects the profound impact of human activities on the Earth. It means that humans have become the main driving force of the Earth system, and have had a significant impact on the Earth's climate, biology, geology, etc. This impact has both positive and negative aspects.

Human beings must face up to their impact on the earth system and realize that they and nature are a living community that cannot be separated or opposed. We must respect nature, adapt to nature, protect nature, and achieve harmonious coexistence between man and nature. We must adhere to the concept of sustainable development, balance the three major elements of economy, society and environment, and achieve the development goals of green, low-carbon, circular and innovative. In order to achieve this goal, the following points should be achieved:

First, we should strengthen international cooperation and jointly respond to global challenges. We should actively participate in multilateral environmental governance mechanisms, implement international treaties and agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity, and promote substantial progress in global climate governance and biodiversity conservation. We should strengthen South-South cooperation and development assistance to help developing countries improve their environmental governance capabilities and levels.

Secondly, we should promote green transformation and build a low-carbon circular development system. We should accelerate the adjustment of energy structure and the development of clean energy to achieve the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. We should promote energy-saving, water-saving and material-saving technologies and products to improve resource utilization and recycling rates. We should develop green finance and green industries to promote green consumption and green lifestyles.

Third, we should increase efforts in ecological protection and restoration to build a beautiful and livable home. We should adhere to the systematic management of "mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands, and sands" to create an ecological landscape with blue skies, green land, and clear waters. We should strengthen the construction and management of nature reserves to protect rare and endangered species and important ecosystems. We should plant trees to increase forest coverage and carbon sequestration capacity.

The concept of the "Anthropocene" was proposed because of human beings' transformation of the earth. We should make joint efforts to make this change move in the direction of sustainable development, rather than being full of negative impacts. Protect the environment and care for the earth. The "Anthropocene" will become a new era of the earth suitable for human survival.

Author: Gao Qie (Oil and Gas Resources Survey Center, China Geological Survey)