It’s Official: Earth Enters Anthropocene Epoch, Leaves Holocene

In the last 12,000 years, humans have been living in the Holocene Epoch, the period that ended the last ice age. However, there has been a movement to change the epoch's name to Anthropocene due to the vast influence of mankind to the planet; and for this, the term has been used widely for many years already, although not official. But the situation is different now because experts are suggesting to officially declare the beginning of Anthropocene Epoch and mark and end to Holocene.

According to The Guardian, experts stress that the impact of humanity on the Earth has become more profound; hence a new epoch must be declared. Changes have become greater and the Earth is not the same as it used to be when Holocene Epoch began. Holocene was the period of stable climate since the last ice age. It was also when the development of all human civilization took place.

Experts believe that the new epoch should actually begin in 1950. According to them, it should be defined by plastic pollution, deforestation, emission of carbon dioxide, radioactive elements brought about by nuclear bomb tests, concrete, soot of power stations and a wide array of signals.

In connection to this, The Independent reported that scientists are still thinking about which date to declare as the "Golden Spike" or the line marking the boundary between Holocene and Anthropocene. They believe the date should be in the mid-20^th century.

Meanwhile, the announcement of the official recommendation for a new epoch was made in South Africa during the 35^th International Geological Congress. The International Union of Geological Sciences should first agree with the recommendation so that the formal declaration could be made and the new epoch would be written in textbooks.

"The Anthropocene concept ... is geologically real." This is according to a statement made by Leicester University regarding the recommendation. Indeed, the Earth has changed greatly. Humans have been doing things that could lead to a permanent change.