For almost 15 years, scientists have debated whether the Anthropocene should be an official geological epoch marking the profound influence of humans on the planet. Then in March, an international panel of scientists formally rejected the proposal for a new Anthropocene epoch.

In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, two scientists give us their different opinions on whether that was the right decision and what it means for the future use of the word Anthropocene.

The term Anthropocene was coined in 2001 by the Nobel-winning atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen to describe the huge impact that humans are having on the planet and its environment.

“It is collectively the effects of all the things we do that are changing the atmosphere, the oceans, the biosphere,” explained Jan Zalasiewicz, a professor of palaeobiology at the University of Leicester in the UK. He says the change has been “extraordinarily rapid”, particularly since the mid-20th century, a time known as the great acceleration.

An Anthropocene Working Group was established........

© The Conversation