The Anthropocene Rejection: Implications for Climate Discourse

Sustainable Development Goals and the Rejection of the Anthropocene

A Long-Awaited Decision

After 15 years of academic debate, the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) rejected the official proposal to formalize the Anthropocene as Earth’s new geological epoch. The Anthropocene refers to the dominant and destabilizing human influences on our planetary ecosystems. Despite its global popularity, the term’s scientific usage has remained informal, pending confirmation of its validity.

In March 2024, the IUGS voted to officially reject the Anthropocene proposal. This decision has significant implications for the discourse around anthropogenic climate change and how we understand our role in the global environmental reality.

The Rejection and Its Implications

The rejection does not deny the monumental impact of human activities on the planet or the reality of anthropogenic climate change. Scientific evidence from leading global organizations has shown the significance of human influences on the environment. The rejection highlights that the Anthropocene is a fundamentally political term, transcending scientific semantics to become a battleground for understanding our global environmental reality and the need for sustainable action.

Some argue that the rejection hinders the political discourse on climate change by lacking a widely accepted scientific definition. However, others view it as an opportunity to explore alternative narratives. The rejection has sparked discussions on defining the Anthropocene as an event in geological history rather than an epoch, allowing for a broader understanding of human impact on the environment.

Understanding the Anthropocene as a geohistorical event helps us recognize the historical complexities of our relationship with the environment. It reveals the origins of our destructive practices in Western capitalism and European colonialism. Critics argue that the dominance of Western male geoscientists in the debate undermines the investigation’s global reach.

Now Is the Anthropocene

The rejection of the Anthropocene term does not diminish the reality of anthropogenic climate change. Instead, it calls for a deeper and more nuanced understanding of our relationship with the environment. By considering a broader view of the Anthropocene, we can better comprehend the historical complexity and take sustainable actions to address the environmental crisis.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
   • Target 13.a: Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible.

The article discusses the rejection of the term “Anthropocene” as Earth’s new geological epoch, which is closely connected to the issue of anthropogenic climate change. SDG 13, which focuses on climate action, is directly relevant to this issue. The targets under SDG 13 mentioned in the article include strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards, integrating climate change measures into policies and planning, improving education and awareness on climate change, and mobilizing financial resources for developing countries.

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

The article mentions the importance of education and awareness-raising on climate change. SDG 4, which focuses on quality education, includes a target to ensure that learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. This target aligns with the need for education on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and impact reduction mentioned in the article.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels.

The article briefly mentions the procedural irregularities surrounding the vote on the Anthropocene proposal. SDG 16, which focuses on peace, justice, and strong institutions, includes a target to ensure responsive and inclusive decision-making at all levels. This target relates to the need for fair and transparent decision-making processes in scientific debates and governance bodies like the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: earth.org

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