Histories for Changing Times: Entering the Anthropocene?

Abstract

In 2000, Paul Crutzen proposed that the Earth had entered a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene, where humanity is changing planetary systems. Since this time, the Anthropocene has figured prominently (and controversially) in global change science, and increasingly in the humanities. The Anthropocene offers a new way to regard humanity, and provides a locus for a new planetary discourse of our times. This short reflective paper suggests a role for history in understanding the different expertise favoured to manage Earth's resources and global change. The discussion focuses on an anthology of historical documents about global change science, The Future of Nature, using this as a ‘worked example’ of history in action.

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