On a cosmic scale, humanity’s existence is fleeting. However, our impact on Earth has been profound, prompting discussions about the need for a new geological epoch known as the Anthropocene to capture the significant global changes initiated by human activity. While we are not officially recognized as being in the Anthropocene yet, the debate over its starting point continues among experts.
Most geologists agree that we remain in the Holocene epoch, which began approximately 11,700 years ago and marked a stable period that supported the rise of human civilization. However, the significant alterations we have made to Earth’s systems have led a growing number of scientists to advocate for the recognition of the Anthropocene epoch.
While the exact origin of the term remains debated, it gained traction in 2000 through the efforts of notable scientists who linked its emergence to the late eighteenth century, coinciding with the Industrial Revolution and the subsequent rise in global greenhouse gas emissions. The Anthropocene Working Group (AWG), formed in 2009 with the goal of defining this new epoch, argued that human impacts were too inconsistent prior to this time frame. They ultimately proposed 1952 as the starting point for the Anthropocene.
As discussions evolve, the mid-20th century is increasingly viewed as a more viable candidate for marking the transition into this new geological era.
