Geologists have suggested that the Anthropocene, the epoch of Earth’s history shaped by human activity, began in 1950. This determination was made by a working group of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), with a sediment sequence from Lake Crawford in Canada serving as the reference point. The primary factor that marks the beginning of the Anthropocene is the radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons tests that occurred after World War II. Plutonium isotopes from these tests have been detected worldwide.
The term “Anthropocene” was coined by Nobel Prize winner Paul Crutzen, derived from the Greek word “anthropos,” meaning human being. Various scientific disciplines have been discussing the concept of the Anthropocene for some time due to the significant greenhouse gas emissions and destruction of ecosystems caused by human activities. However, it has not yet been formally defined based on geological criteria. In 2009, the IUGS established a subdivision to address this issue, which included Crutzen until his passing. The key requirement was the identification of a reference sample, which has now been proposed by the Anthropocene Working Group.
The proposed start of the Anthropocene is comparatively late, as other potential events are not globally detectable in sediment records. Although the beginning of industrialization was considered, it is challenging to determine geologically in certain areas. The reference sample from Lake Crawford, a drill core with clearly visible year lines in seasonal deposits, was chosen as the basis for defining the starting point. Before this proposal becomes a universally applicable standard, it must be approved by three IUGS bodies. This approval process is expected to be completed by August 2024. If accepted, the Anthropocene will replace the Holocene, which began approximately 12,000 years ago and is the most recent geological era.
There has been significant debate regarding the precise beginning of the Anthropocene since Crutzen introduced the term in 2000. Crutzen himself suggested that it began in the late 18th century, with the start of the Industrial Revolution and the resulting emissions of CO₂ and methane. Some researchers have proposed even earlier dates, such as the Neolithic Revolution or the colonization of America. Others have highlighted the “Great Acceleration,” a period of rapid population growth, economic output, resource consumption, and other trends that began around 1950. Further discussions and deliberations are expected as the proposal for the beginning of the Anthropocene progresses.
