The Debate Over The Anthropocene

The Earth's history is divided into Aeon, Eras, Periods and Epochs. We are currently in the Holocene Epoch, in the Quaternary Period, within the Cenozoic Era, inside the Phanerozoic Aeon. Scientists have recently discovered that we may be entering a new Epoch, the Anthropocene. This suggested Epoch is about how humans are transforming this planet. We have changed the planet so much in less than 70 years. Colin Waters states in the Vox youtube video, the only equivalent he could compare our effect to is the asteroid that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs.

I had never thought that all the damage we have done as humans could affect the Earth so profoundly. We have rapidly increased the rate of extinctions as well as creating warmer temperatures worldwide. The oceans are changing, we are drastically increasing the rate of natural disasters that we are not prepared for. Rising sea levels are swallowing of our beautiful islands and destroying the towns and civilizations on this land. We consume so much as human beings (American’s especially) and we produce so much waste that we don’t even know what to do with all of it anymore. We have affected our world so much that Colin Waters in the Vox Youtube video states, the only equivalent he could compare our human impact to is the asteroid that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs. 

But I don’t need to look underground to determine the effect we have had on the Earth. Trash piles are everywhere, the burning of fossil fuels is all around us and we are constantly breathing in these gases. On average, humans don’t think about the consequences of our actions, or maybe we do but choose to ignore them for short-term benefits. We must start thinking through our day to day decisions and how they could impact future generations and the world around us. Do you think naming a new epoch, the Anthropocene, will get people to start changing the way they shop/live to become more sustainable ? 

Thank you for reading :)

-AJ

2/23/25