Anthropocene: A new geological era? A critical review

Anthropocene: A new geological era? A critical review | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Ecology and Evolution This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 12 May 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Anthropocene: A new geological era? A critical review Author : Miguel Contreras Natera 0000-0001-7032-9600 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/authorea.15003068/v1 21 views 12 downloads Contents Abstract Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract This article examines the impact of human activity on the changes, dynamics, and trajectories of planet Earth. The alterations introduced by globalized human actions in geological processes are evident in the stratigraphic records found in a multitude of structures on the Earth's surface. The central idea of the Anthropocene concept is that there is a conflictive intersection between geological history and human history that forces us to think critically about the catastrophic effects of this relationship. First, the critical review aims to contextualize the debate on climate change by addressing the agreements signed within the framework of the United Nations agenda, ranging from the 2015 Paris Climate Summit to COP29 in Baku in 2024. Secondly, the close relationship between climate change and the capitalist economy requires us to deepen the debate on the Anthropocene as one of the most relevant epochal designations in current scientific, multilateral, and political discussions. In short, the aim of this work is to explore alternatives in line with the urgencies and demands posed by the critical intersection between human agency and the functioning of natural and cultural ecosystems in the Anthropocene era. Keywords: fossil fuels; decarbonized economy; climate change; Anthropocene; Capitalocene; expulsions. Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 12 May 2026 Collection Ecology and Evolution Authors Affiliations Miguel Contreras Natera 0000-0001-7032-9600 [email protected] View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 21 views 12 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Miguel Contreras Natera. Anthropocene: A new geological era? A critical review. Authorea . 12 May 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/authorea.15003068/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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