From Domination to Stewardship? Living with the Biosphere in the Age of the Anthropocene.

Abstract:

The scientific community is now wrestling with the concept of the "Anthropocene" -- a new geologic era dominated by human activities. Regardless of the exact timing and nature of this new epoch, there is no doubt that human activities -- especially land use from agriculture, the loss of biodiversity from habitat destruction, changes in climate and ocean chemistry from greenhouse gas emissions, and changes to the hydrologic cycle from our water use -- are dominant forces in shaping the ecology of our planet. The question before us now is: How can we transition from an era of dominating the biosphere, as we do today, to learning how to be better stewards of our biosphere, helping to ensure a more sustainable and resilient future?

In this overview presentation, I will attempt to describe the many transitions we have seen in the Earth's biosphere during the Anthropocene transition, and discuss potential ways we can learn from natural systems to become better stewards of the biosphere. The lessons from Earth System Science will likely prove instrumental in informing the policies and practices society will ultimately need to build a more sustainable future.