Definition
The Anthropocene is a (contested) term used to describe a new era in Earth’s history that started when humans began having a major impact on the planet. This includes things like climate change caused by human activity, the extinction of many plants and animals, and big changes to the land, oceans, and atmosphere.
Example
The Great Acceleration
Post-World War II / mid twentieth century, this period of time is characterized by rapid increases in population, carbon dioxide emissions, and resource consumption, is often considered the starting point of the Anthropocene.
Ask yourself
Tools
- Systems Thinking: To understand the interconnected impacts of human activity on Earth systems.
- Environmental Impact Assessment: To measure and predict human effects on ecosystems.
- Life Cycle Analysis: To understand the full environmental impact of products and processes.
Wall-E
A cute yet cold analysis of what we have done to our planet and our bodies
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