Anthropocene, the challenge for "Homo sapiens" to set its own limits

F. Valladares; S. Magro; I. Martín-Forés

doi:10.18172/cig.3681

Autores/as

F. Valladares LINCGLobal. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
S. Magro LINCGLobal, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC Creando Redes NatCap S.L.
I. Martín-Forés LINCGLobal. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18172/cig.3681

Palabras clave:

Antropoceno, biodiversidad, cambio climático, sequina, impacto ambiental, erosion, ciclos biogeoquímicos, cambio global, especies invasoras, límites planetarios, desarrollo sostenible

Resumen

El Antropoceno como era geológica diferenciada ha sido objeto de discusión activa dentro de la comunidad científica. Esta era incluye la noción de que Homo sapiens ha tenido un gran impacto en los procesos globales planetarios. Aquí intentamos conectar la noción y naturaleza del Antropoceno con el éxito socioeconómico y los impactos no esperados ni planificados de la actividad antropogénica. Algunos de los principales logros a lo largo de la historia de la humanidad han sido pasos importantes para muchas civilizaciones humanas, pero también han dado lugar a consecuencias indeseadas que no se podían prever, incluyendo el incremento de gases de efecto invernadero, los cambios en las áreas de distribución de especies o la afección a los grandes ciclos biogeoquímicos. El aumento de las expectativas de vida humana y la salud han promovido un incremento exponencial de la población, que junto con la mayor huella ambiental per capita han llevado a muchas variables esenciales para el funcionamiento de la Tierra (por ejemplo, la biodiversidad, el ciclo del nitrógeno, el cambio climático) fuera de sus límites de seguridad. Ponemos ejemplos de muchos ecosistemas que han colapsado en el mundo debido a que han cruzado los límites de su explotación sostenible. Paradójicamente, es la propia humanidad la que está empujando al Planeta hacia condiciones en las que su supervivencia no será posible. La razón que está detrás de este fuerte impacto ecológico y funcional en el Planeta en un plazo relativamente corto es un sistema económico insostenible basado en la asunción de que un crecimiento económico permanente es no solo posible sino también deseable. Nuestro despertar debería descansar en un marco global dirigido a cambiar nuestras relaciones con el Planeta.

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