Debating the Anthropocene

[Ritwick Ghosh]

Dear all,

As many of you know, earlier this year, the  International Commission on Stratigraphy rejected the proposal to formalize the Anthropocene. On the heels of the announcement, I wrote a piece for Issues in Science and Technology (IST) on the politics of naming the Anthropocene Epoch. Last week, IST published two invited responses to the piece from Erik Swyngedouw and Mark Maslin.

My article grappled with the following question: What does the endorsement or lack thereof of the Anthropocene label mean for climate action? As I see it, if the debate is primarily about technical issues around lakes, rock layers, and spikes, it may be an interesting scientific question but its bearing on climate action is unclear and potentially distractionary. The central debate is a political and social one, on how to advance and legitimize stronger and longer-lasting pro-environmental actions.

 

A Fond Farewell to the Anthropocene By Ritwick Ghosh

https://issues.org/farewell-anthropocene-ghosh/

Forum: The Anthropocene: Gone But Not Forgotten

Responses From
- Erik Swyngedouw
- Mark Maslin

https://issues.org/anthropocene-ghosh-forum/

I'm grateful to the commentators and the journal. 

Please do not hesitate to share your feedback - best through direct email or on twitter. 

Regards,

Ritwick Ghosh

Assistant Professor

Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

North Carolina State University

www.ritwickghosh.com