The Anthropocene Explained: How Humans Became an Earth-System Force
Discover what the Anthropocene means, why humans became an Earth-system force, the Great Acceleration, scientific debate, and its implications for humanity.
Evidence library
Research, explainers and solution analysis for understanding change across a living planet.
201 resourcesDiscover what the Anthropocene means, why humans became an Earth-system force, the Great Acceleration, scientific debate, and its implications for humanity.
Explore the status, scientific thresholds and interactions of the nine planetary boundaries defining Earth’s safe operating space.
Human civilization depends on more than economic growth, technological innovation, and political stability. It also depends on a functioning planet. Reliable rainfall supports agriculture.…
Nature-based solutions (NBS) are actions that protect, restore, or manage ecosystems to address societal challenges such as climate change, water security, and disaster risk.…
The “safe operating space for humanity” is the central concept of the planetary boundaries framework, defining a Holocene-like state in which human societies can…
The planetary boundaries framework identifies nine Earth-system processes and proposes quantitative limits to maintain a safe operating space for humanity. While influential in science…
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming and grazing that focuses on restoring soil health, increasing biodiversity, and enhancing ecosystem services. It goes…
The background extinction rate is the natural, long-term rate at which species disappear due to normal evolutionary and environmental processes, excluding mass extinction events.…
The planetary boundaries framework defines a safe operating space for humanity, but not all boundaries are global in scale. Some, like climate change and…
Industrial symbiosis is a collaborative approach where waste or by-products of one company become valuable inputs for another, mimicking natural ecosystems. It offers a…