Since the agricultural revolution some 12,000 years ago (when we began to build cities and accumulate goods), human enterprise has continued to grow. However, our impact has exploded dramatically over the last two centuries. This explosion then turned into exponential growth, particularly since 1950.
The technosphere bears witness to how humans are increasingly emerging as a global force comparable to the natural systems that shape the world. The transformation required to reduce our impact is therefore just as considerable. And yet, despite growing awareness, there has been a lack of concrete action to remedy humanity’s impact on the planet.
What is clear is that our relentless quest for ever greater material production is overwhelming our planet.
