The Anthropocene Is More Than a Time Interval

Matthew Edgeworth; Andrew M. Bauer; Erle C. Ellis; Stanley C. Finney; Jacqueline L. Gill; Philip L. Gibbard; Mark Maslin; Dorothy J. Merritts; Michael J.C. Walker

doi:10.1029/2024EF004831

The Anthropocene Is More Than a Time Interval

Matthew Edgeworth^*, Andrew M. Bauer, Erle C. Ellis, Stanley C. Finney, Jacqueline L. Gill, Philip L. Gibbard, Mark Maslin, Dorothy J. Merritts, Michael J.C. Walker

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Geography and Earth Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/Debate

Abstract

Following the recent rejection of a formal Anthropocene series/epoch by the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy (SQS) of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), and its subsequent confirmation by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), the opportunity arises to reset the definition of the Anthropocene. The case for informally recognizing the Anthropocene to be a major planetary event of Earth system transformation offers a promising way forward, but this has been criticized by proponents of an Anthropocene series/epoch. In order to move on from the assumption that it must be a time interval, and to foster a more transdisciplinary and inclusive approach, the main points of the critique must be directly addressed.

Original language	English
Article number	e2024EF004831
Journal	Earth's Future
Volume	12
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EF004831
Publication status	Published - 18 Jul 2024

Keywords

Anthropocene
event

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title = "The Anthropocene Is More Than a Time Interval",

abstract = "Following the recent rejection of a formal Anthropocene series/epoch by the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy (SQS) of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), and its subsequent confirmation by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), the opportunity arises to reset the definition of the Anthropocene. The case for informally recognizing the Anthropocene to be a major planetary event of Earth system transformation offers a promising way forward, but this has been criticized by proponents of an Anthropocene series/epoch. In order to move on from the assumption that it must be a time interval, and to foster a more transdisciplinary and inclusive approach, the main points of the critique must be directly addressed.",

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AU - Edgeworth, Matthew

AU - Bauer, Andrew M.

AU - Ellis, Erle C.

AU - Finney, Stanley C.

AU - Gill, Jacqueline L.

AU - Gibbard, Philip L.

AU - Maslin, Mark

AU - Merritts, Dorothy J.

AU - Walker, Michael J.C.

PY - 2024/7/18

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N2 - Following the recent rejection of a formal Anthropocene series/epoch by the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy (SQS) of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), and its subsequent confirmation by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), the opportunity arises to reset the definition of the Anthropocene. The case for informally recognizing the Anthropocene to be a major planetary event of Earth system transformation offers a promising way forward, but this has been criticized by proponents of an Anthropocene series/epoch. In order to move on from the assumption that it must be a time interval, and to foster a more transdisciplinary and inclusive approach, the main points of the critique must be directly addressed.

AB - Following the recent rejection of a formal Anthropocene series/epoch by the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy (SQS) of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), and its subsequent confirmation by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), the opportunity arises to reset the definition of the Anthropocene. The case for informally recognizing the Anthropocene to be a major planetary event of Earth system transformation offers a promising way forward, but this has been criticized by proponents of an Anthropocene series/epoch. In order to move on from the assumption that it must be a time interval, and to foster a more transdisciplinary and inclusive approach, the main points of the critique must be directly addressed.

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DO - 10.1029/2024EF004831

M3 - Comment/Debate

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SN - 2328-4277

VL - 12

JO - Earth's Future

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M1 - e2024EF004831

ER -

The Anthropocene Is More Than a Time Interval

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Keywords

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