TY - CHAP
T1 - Global ecological risks
AU - Andersen, Anders Siig
AU - Hauggaard-Nielsen, Henrik
AU - Christensen, Thomas Budde
AU - Hulgård, Lars
PY - 2023/4/7
Y1 - 2023/4/7
N2 - This chapter aims to provide an overall scientific understanding of how human activities create risks to life on Earth. It explains the development and functions of the biosphere from the “Great Oxidation Event” to the present and the history of the human species from being hunters, fishers, and gatherers to the “Great Acceleration” during the last 70 years. According to some scientists, these years represent a transition from the geological period called the Holocene to the Anthropocene. The chapter describes major challenges to humanity, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion. At a more general level, it presents the planetary boundary framework that Earth-system scientists have developed to assess the most challenging global ecological risks to humanity. The chapter is primarily based on scientific reports from the UN that review and synthesize state-of-the-art scientific knowledge from all over the world and furthermore, on interdisciplinary scientific contributions in the tradition of Earth-system science. This body of scientific knowledge on climate change, biodiversity, and resources serves as an overall context for the other chapters in this book.
AB - This chapter aims to provide an overall scientific understanding of how human activities create risks to life on Earth. It explains the development and functions of the biosphere from the “Great Oxidation Event” to the present and the history of the human species from being hunters, fishers, and gatherers to the “Great Acceleration” during the last 70 years. According to some scientists, these years represent a transition from the geological period called the Holocene to the Anthropocene. The chapter describes major challenges to humanity, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion. At a more general level, it presents the planetary boundary framework that Earth-system scientists have developed to assess the most challenging global ecological risks to humanity. The chapter is primarily based on scientific reports from the UN that review and synthesize state-of-the-art scientific knowledge from all over the world and furthermore, on interdisciplinary scientific contributions in the tradition of Earth-system science. This body of scientific knowledge on climate change, biodiversity, and resources serves as an overall context for the other chapters in this book.
U2 - 10.4324/9781003319672-3
DO - 10.4324/9781003319672-3
M3 - Book chapter
SN - 9781032334387
SN - 9781032334370
T3 - Routledge Studies in Sustainable Development
SP - 16
EP - 32
BT - Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Socioecological Challenges
A2 - Andersen, Anders Siig
A2 - Hauggaard-Nielsen, Henrik
A2 - Christensen, Thomas Budde
A2 - Hulgaard, Lars
PB - Routledge
CY - London New York
ER -