Anthropocene

'The Anthropocene' is one of the most important scientific concepts of our time. It is also one of the most contested. This book offers the most advanced yet accessible introduction to the complex and often heated debates about the meaning, nature and implications of the Anthropocene.Drawing on the work of physical and human geographers, alongside geographically-informed contributions from natural and physical scientists, sociologists, historians, anthropologists, philosophers, and others, this book maps and critically evaluates the implications of the Anthropocene for the discipline of Geography and for geographical thinking across other fields. It asks: Does the Anthropocene mark the start of the greatest environmental crisis in history? Which humans are most responsible? What impacts is it having on human well-being and the natural world? What needs to be done to mitigate its threats, and who will bear the costs? How does ‘the Anthropocene’ challenge the conduct of research, policy and activism around issues like environmental justice, resilience, nature conservation, or decolonisation? Is 'the Anthropocene' even the best name for this new age?Essential reading for university students and researchers in Geography and beyond, this book also appeals to general readers interested in understanding how human actions are reshaping the Earth and what this means for the future of people and planet.

Martin Mahony is Associate Professor in Human Geography in the School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, UK. His background is in human geography and science & technology studies (STS), and his research concerns the co-production of space, knowledge and power in the history and politics of environmental change.Noel Castree is a Professor of Geography at Manchester University, UK; he is also an Honorary Professorial Fellow at UTS in Sydney. His main research interests are the political economy of environmental change and, most recently, the role of expertise in shaping human responses to Earth-wide changes to the biophysical world. He is author of What Future For The Earth? (2026).