SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Jan Zalasiewicz, chair of the Anthropocene Working Group, said that while we are still technically in the Holocene, "in reality many important geological conditions of Earth are now outside the envelope of conditions that have characterized the great bulk of the Holocene." (Photo: Friends of the Earth)
From Nuclear Debris to Dying Coral, Scientific Panel Votes to Recognize the Destructive Impact of the 'Anthropocene'
Most members of the Anthropocene Working Group believe the "age of man" began around the mid-twentieth century, when industrialization accelerated and nuclear weapons were used by the United States
May 28, 2019
In a step toward formally recognizing that humankind--with its incessant burning of fossil fuels, use of nuclear weapons, and more--has dramatically altered the state of planet Earth, a panel of prominent scientists voted last week to designate a new geological epoch titled the "Anthropocene."
The 34-member Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) is expected to submit a proposal to the International Commission on Stratigraphy to officially recognize the Anthropocene--which means "age of man"--by 2021.
According to Nature's Meera Subramanian, 29 members of the AWG voted "in favor of starting the new epoch in the mid-twentieth century, when a rapidly rising human population accelerated the pace of industrial production, the use of agricultural chemicals, and other human activities."
"At the same time," Subramanian reported, "the first atomic-bomb blasts littered the globe with radioactive debris that became embedded in sediments and glacial ice, becoming part of the geologic record."
Last week's vote, which was over a decade in the making, was just the first step in the process of formally recognizing the Anthropocene epoch.
The AWG is now tasked with identifying a "golden spike," a geological marker that best identifies the dawn of the "age of man."
As Subramanian reported, the AWG
is considering ten candidate sites from around the globe, including a cave in northern Italy, corals in the Great Barrier Reef and a lake in China. Next week, many of the scientists involved will gather in Berlin to coordinate the next two years of research. They hope to identify a single site to include in their formal proposal. They must also define the type of physical evidence in the sedimentary record that represents the start of the epoch. The group is considering whether to choose the radionuclides that came from atomic-bomb detonations from 1945 until the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963.
Jan Zalasiewicz, geologist at the University of Leicester and chair of the AWG, told Inverse that while we are still technically in the Holocene--an epoch which began around 12,000 years ago--"in reality many important geological conditions of Earth are now outside the envelope of conditions that have characterized the great bulk of the Holocene."
"Getting an official designation of the Anthropocene would reflect this new reality," said Zalasiewicz, "and help us analyze it more effectively."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
In a step toward formally recognizing that humankind--with its incessant burning of fossil fuels, use of nuclear weapons, and more--has dramatically altered the state of planet Earth, a panel of prominent scientists voted last week to designate a new geological epoch titled the "Anthropocene."
The 34-member Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) is expected to submit a proposal to the International Commission on Stratigraphy to officially recognize the Anthropocene--which means "age of man"--by 2021.
According to Nature's Meera Subramanian, 29 members of the AWG voted "in favor of starting the new epoch in the mid-twentieth century, when a rapidly rising human population accelerated the pace of industrial production, the use of agricultural chemicals, and other human activities."
"At the same time," Subramanian reported, "the first atomic-bomb blasts littered the globe with radioactive debris that became embedded in sediments and glacial ice, becoming part of the geologic record."
Last week's vote, which was over a decade in the making, was just the first step in the process of formally recognizing the Anthropocene epoch.
The AWG is now tasked with identifying a "golden spike," a geological marker that best identifies the dawn of the "age of man."
As Subramanian reported, the AWG
is considering ten candidate sites from around the globe, including a cave in northern Italy, corals in the Great Barrier Reef and a lake in China. Next week, many of the scientists involved will gather in Berlin to coordinate the next two years of research. They hope to identify a single site to include in their formal proposal. They must also define the type of physical evidence in the sedimentary record that represents the start of the epoch. The group is considering whether to choose the radionuclides that came from atomic-bomb detonations from 1945 until the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963.
Jan Zalasiewicz, geologist at the University of Leicester and chair of the AWG, told Inverse that while we are still technically in the Holocene--an epoch which began around 12,000 years ago--"in reality many important geological conditions of Earth are now outside the envelope of conditions that have characterized the great bulk of the Holocene."
"Getting an official designation of the Anthropocene would reflect this new reality," said Zalasiewicz, "and help us analyze it more effectively."
In a step toward formally recognizing that humankind--with its incessant burning of fossil fuels, use of nuclear weapons, and more--has dramatically altered the state of planet Earth, a panel of prominent scientists voted last week to designate a new geological epoch titled the "Anthropocene."
The 34-member Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) is expected to submit a proposal to the International Commission on Stratigraphy to officially recognize the Anthropocene--which means "age of man"--by 2021.
According to Nature's Meera Subramanian, 29 members of the AWG voted "in favor of starting the new epoch in the mid-twentieth century, when a rapidly rising human population accelerated the pace of industrial production, the use of agricultural chemicals, and other human activities."
"At the same time," Subramanian reported, "the first atomic-bomb blasts littered the globe with radioactive debris that became embedded in sediments and glacial ice, becoming part of the geologic record."
Last week's vote, which was over a decade in the making, was just the first step in the process of formally recognizing the Anthropocene epoch.
The AWG is now tasked with identifying a "golden spike," a geological marker that best identifies the dawn of the "age of man."
As Subramanian reported, the AWG
is considering ten candidate sites from around the globe, including a cave in northern Italy, corals in the Great Barrier Reef and a lake in China. Next week, many of the scientists involved will gather in Berlin to coordinate the next two years of research. They hope to identify a single site to include in their formal proposal. They must also define the type of physical evidence in the sedimentary record that represents the start of the epoch. The group is considering whether to choose the radionuclides that came from atomic-bomb detonations from 1945 until the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963.
Jan Zalasiewicz, geologist at the University of Leicester and chair of the AWG, told Inverse that while we are still technically in the Holocene--an epoch which began around 12,000 years ago--"in reality many important geological conditions of Earth are now outside the envelope of conditions that have characterized the great bulk of the Holocene."
"Getting an official designation of the Anthropocene would reflect this new reality," said Zalasiewicz, "and help us analyze it more effectively."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.