Welcome to the Anthropocene Epoch!

[Smivs]

A worldwide hunt for a “line in the rock” that shows the beginning of a new geological epoch defined by humanity’s extraordinary impact on planet Earth is expected to get underway in the next few weeks.
The idea that we are now living in the Anthropocene epoch has been gaining ground in recent years.
The surge in global temperatures by an average of one degree Celsius in little over a century, the burning of vast amounts of fossil fuels, the extinction of many animal species, the widespread use of nitrogen fertilisers, the deluge of plastic rubbish and a number of other factors have all caused changes that will remain visible in rocks for millions of years.

Blimey, those annoying little bipeds have done all this?!

[Cody]

When I were a lad, back in the Pleistocene Epoch, all this was grass - and ice, lots of ice!

[Malacandra]

When I were a lad, back in the Pleistocene Epoch, all this was grass - and ice, lots of ice!

And we liked it that way!

[Cody]

Colonisation of the Americas at the end of the 15th Century killed so many people, it disturbed Earth's climate.

[Disembodied]

Colonisation of the Americas at the end of the 15th Century killed so many people, it disturbed Earth's climate.

A genocide-induced drop in CO2, caused by the rapid reforestation of previously cleared agricultural land, sucking carbon dioxide out of the air …

[Cody]

So to save the world from global warming, what we need is a good genocide. How many do we need to lose - a billion?

[Disembodied]

So to save the world from global warming, what we need is a good genocide. How many do we need to lose - a billion?

A voluntary die-off would be preferable, with the majority of members of a generation or two making a conscious decision not to reproduce! But the actual numbers are unclear … estimates of the planet's maximum human carrying capacity vary enormously. Personally, I suspect that the ideal - as opposed to the theoretical maximum - human population is probably somewhere around 1 billion. The aim would be to allow for a high general standard of living - food, sanitation, electricity, etc. for all - without overconsumption of non-renewable resources, while also keeping large areas of wilderness for all the other species to live in, too (and, indeed, to support the kind of complex biosphere which I suspect is probably required for a functioning ecosystem).

[Cody]

A world population of one billion, eh? Sounds idyllic!

... with the majority of members of a generation or two making a conscious decision not to reproduce!

Well I've done my bit!

[Cody]

The two did, however, agree on one topic: that one of the biggest problems the world is facing is population collapse.

[Disembodied]

Capitalism is a pyramid scheme: it depends on constant growth. It's not surprising that a couple of billionaires are worried about a fall in the number of potential consumers - even though it should be obvious that constant growth is not possible within a finite system.

[Cody]

<nods sagely>

Still no agreement on the start date of the proposed Anthropocene Epoch.

[ffutures]

In a few million years whatever still lives here will probably decide that the thick strata of plastic marks the epoch...

[Cody]

The boffins aren't having it...