Introduzione

Abstract

In 2002, scientists Paul Crutzen and Eugene Stoermer coinedthe concept of the Anthropocene, arguing that human impact onEarth’s ecosystems had become so pervasive and destabilising as tojustify the introduction of a new chronostratigraphic epoch intothe official geological time scale of the Earth.In just over two decades, the concept of the Anthropocene has gainedextraordinary significance both within the scientific community and in theinternational public debate on human-induced climate change.The term has frequently been invoked to reinforce ethical and politicalcalls for urgent action against the increasingly evident and, to a verylarge extent, destructive consequences of human activitieson the planet.Despite its widespread use and enormous culturalimpact, the Anthropocene has remained, from a scientific point of view, aninformal concept. The official recognition of this new geological epochdepended, in fact, on the outcome of an academic debate that wouldlast more than fifteen years.