Terminal Holocene: A Deep History of Human Systems and Planetary Thresholds

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Auteurs principaux: Revista, Zen, HISTORY, 10
Format: Recurso digital
Publié: Zenodo 2025
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author Revista, Zen
HISTORY, 10
author_facet Revista, Zen
HISTORY, 10
contents This paper explores the profound and accelerating impact of human activities on Earth's fundamental systems, arguing that the Holocene epoch, characterized by its remarkable climatic stability, is nearing its terminal phase. We propose a "Terminal Holocene" framework to analyze the deep history of human-environment interactions, from early agricultural societies to the "Great Acceleration" of the post-World War II era. By integrating insights from Earth System Science, environmental history, and the planetary boundaries framework, we trace how human systems have progressively evolved from being responsive to natural variability to becoming the dominant geomorphological and biogeochemical force. The paper highlights key inflection points in human history that have cumulatively pushed several critical planetary processes beyond their Holocene-era thresholds, thereby increasing the risk of irreversible changes and tipping points. We discuss the implications of these transgressions for future planetary states and emphasize the urgent need for a transformative paradigm shift in human-planet stewardship to navigate the emerging challenges of a post-Holocene world.
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publishDate 2025
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spellingShingle Terminal Holocene: A Deep History of Human Systems and Planetary Thresholds
Revista, Zen
HISTORY, 10
This paper explores the profound and accelerating impact of human activities on Earth's fundamental systems, arguing that the Holocene epoch, characterized by its remarkable climatic stability, is nearing its terminal phase. We propose a "Terminal Holocene" framework to analyze the deep history of human-environment interactions, from early agricultural societies to the "Great Acceleration" of the post-World War II era. By integrating insights from Earth System Science, environmental history, and the planetary boundaries framework, we trace how human systems have progressively evolved from being responsive to natural variability to becoming the dominant geomorphological and biogeochemical force. The paper highlights key inflection points in human history that have cumulatively pushed several critical planetary processes beyond their Holocene-era thresholds, thereby increasing the risk of irreversible changes and tipping points. We discuss the implications of these transgressions for future planetary states and emphasize the urgent need for a transformative paradigm shift in human-planet stewardship to navigate the emerging challenges of a post-Holocene world.
title Terminal Holocene: A Deep History of Human Systems and Planetary Thresholds
url https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17790909