Cycles have been alternating between Ice ages and warmer periods
Eemian (120,000 years back)
- Temperatures 2^C higher than Holocene
- Incredible sea level rise (4 to 6 meters higher)
Last Ice age
- Really high temperature variability
- Humans almost went extinct
Holocene (10,000 years)
- Stable period, great for human flourishing
- Great for rainforests and agriculture
- Beginning of agriculture at the start of Holocene in four different locations
Anthropocene
- the period in which humans are the dominant force of geological change on Earth
- We’re heading to 3C increase in temperature by the end of the century
What would make a good anthropocene?
- Fairness
- No matter who your parents are, you’ll have the same opportunities as everyone else
- Prosperity
- Sustainability
We need to research to see how we can integrate these three and how they can support one another
Created on: 2020-12-20 Inspired by: Course - Planetary Boundaries Related: biosphere stewardship