The era of the Anthropocene has come to an end. Let us embrace the new era ahead.
The article discusses the rejection of the proposal to officially declare the end of the Holocene and the beginning of the Anthropocene epoch by a panel of geologists. The Holocene is the current geologic time span that began approximately 11,700 years ago, while the Anthropocene would have marked a time when human influence on the planet became dominant, starting in the 1950s. The decision to reject the proposal was made after a vote by a panel of geologists, indicating that there are no outstanding issues to be resolved, officially closing the case.
The Anthropocene Working Group (AWG), which developed the proposal for consideration, is not ready to accept defeat yet. They highlight that the vote results were leaked without the chair's approval, raising concerns about the validity of the process. The proposal suggested using a layer of mud from Canada's Crawford Lake, representing the global impact of human activities such as fossil fuel burning, fertilizer use, and atomic bomb fallout since the 1950s. However, some opponents of the proposal argued that this marker was not definitive enough to signify the start of the Anthropocene epoch.
Critics questioned the feasibility of pinpointing a specific date to mark the beginning of human influence on the planet. Some suggested alternative starting points like the rise of agriculture or European colonization of the New World. They argued that the proposed Anthropocene epoch did not sufficiently capture the extensive transformations brought about by human activities. Some geologists felt that the AWG's focus on achieving an "epoch" categorization and their approach to publicity hindered the proposal's acceptance.
Despite the rejection by the geologists' panel, the concept of the Anthropocene remains prevalent in various fields, including art, journals, and literature. Some proponents of the Anthropocene suggest that it can exist as an informal geologic term denoted as the "Anthropocene event." This designation could serve to acknowledge the significant transition in Earth's history caused by human activities without a specific start date. They emphasize the irrevocable changes to the Earth system that characterize the Anthropocene and advocate for a broader and more inclusive understanding of this era.
The supporters of the Anthropocene will have to wait for at least a decade before their proposal can be reconsidered, in line with the International Commission on Stratigraphy's cooling-off period policy. Despite the setback, proponents like Colin Waters continue to advocate for the recognition of the Anthropocene in the geologic timescale, even if it has to be done informally. They argue that distinctive Anthropocene strata, such as the Crawford Lake mud layer, can be identified through various geochemical signals, highlighting the irreversible changes that have occurred in the Earth system over the past century.
In conclusion, while the formal recognition of the Anthropocene as a new epoch has been rejected, its significance and impact on the planet remain undeniable. The concept continues to spark debates and discussions among geologists, environmentalists, and scholars, shaping our understanding of humanity's profound influence on the Earth. The rejection of the proposal does not diminish the importance of recognizing and addressing the challenges posed by the Anthropocene era.
Source: https://www.science.org/content/article/anthropocene-dead-long-live-anthropocene
The Anthropocene Working Group (AWG), which developed the proposal for consideration, is not ready to accept defeat yet. They highlight that the vote results were leaked without the chair's approval, raising concerns about the validity of the process. The proposal suggested using a layer of mud from Canada's Crawford Lake, representing the global impact of human activities such as fossil fuel burning, fertilizer use, and atomic bomb fallout since the 1950s. However, some opponents of the proposal argued that this marker was not definitive enough to signify the start of the Anthropocene epoch.
Critics questioned the feasibility of pinpointing a specific date to mark the beginning of human influence on the planet. Some suggested alternative starting points like the rise of agriculture or European colonization of the New World. They argued that the proposed Anthropocene epoch did not sufficiently capture the extensive transformations brought about by human activities. Some geologists felt that the AWG's focus on achieving an "epoch" categorization and their approach to publicity hindered the proposal's acceptance.
Despite the rejection by the geologists' panel, the concept of the Anthropocene remains prevalent in various fields, including art, journals, and literature. Some proponents of the Anthropocene suggest that it can exist as an informal geologic term denoted as the "Anthropocene event." This designation could serve to acknowledge the significant transition in Earth's history caused by human activities without a specific start date. They emphasize the irrevocable changes to the Earth system that characterize the Anthropocene and advocate for a broader and more inclusive understanding of this era.
The supporters of the Anthropocene will have to wait for at least a decade before their proposal can be reconsidered, in line with the International Commission on Stratigraphy's cooling-off period policy. Despite the setback, proponents like Colin Waters continue to advocate for the recognition of the Anthropocene in the geologic timescale, even if it has to be done informally. They argue that distinctive Anthropocene strata, such as the Crawford Lake mud layer, can be identified through various geochemical signals, highlighting the irreversible changes that have occurred in the Earth system over the past century.
In conclusion, while the formal recognition of the Anthropocene as a new epoch has been rejected, its significance and impact on the planet remain undeniable. The concept continues to spark debates and discussions among geologists, environmentalists, and scholars, shaping our understanding of humanity's profound influence on the Earth. The rejection of the proposal does not diminish the importance of recognizing and addressing the challenges posed by the Anthropocene era.
Source: https://www.science.org/content/article/anthropocene-dead-long-live-anthropocene
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