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If you are capable, please help us to create good quality subtitles: https://c3subtitles.de/talk/683 Thanks! 1 00:00:13,830 --> 00:00:16,139 So welcome to the Anthropocene, 2 00:00:16,140 --> 00:00:18,389 or rather the talk about this possibly 3 00:00:18,390 --> 00:00:20,369 up and coming epoch that we humans 4 00:00:20,370 --> 00:00:23,099 created, started, initiated, 5 00:00:23,100 --> 00:00:24,779 might be useful verbs here. 6 00:00:24,780 --> 00:00:26,459 So I can thanks to the introduction, I 7 00:00:26,460 --> 00:00:27,989 can skip a little bit about this, but I 8 00:00:27,990 --> 00:00:29,699 do want to make it clear that I am not a 9 00:00:29,700 --> 00:00:31,379 geologist myself. 10 00:00:31,380 --> 00:00:32,999 I studied it a little bit during an 11 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,069 arrest semester, and if you're a student 12 00:00:35,070 --> 00:00:37,109 and you have the chance to go on this you 13 00:00:37,110 --> 00:00:39,299 program, I encourage you to absolutely 14 00:00:39,300 --> 00:00:41,279 do it. That's one of the few programs 15 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:43,439 that definitely works for you. 16 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:45,839 You might have to take care of some 17 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:47,459 credit points before you go at your home 18 00:00:47,460 --> 00:00:49,769 university, but do 19 00:00:49,770 --> 00:00:51,989 it. And even if they don't accept some 20 00:00:51,990 --> 00:00:54,209 thing from your guest university, it is 21 00:00:54,210 --> 00:00:55,199 worth it. 22 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,419 So now I think a little crash course is 23 00:00:57,420 --> 00:01:00,029 an order about Cronos stratigraphy. 24 00:01:00,030 --> 00:01:02,639 So this is the science of 25 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:05,159 analyzing rock layers, assigning 26 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:07,259 ages and events in her earth 27 00:01:07,260 --> 00:01:08,789 history to them. 28 00:01:08,790 --> 00:01:10,259 And in this example, you can see a 29 00:01:10,260 --> 00:01:12,509 so-called sea stack which is located 30 00:01:12,510 --> 00:01:13,739 off the Irish coast. 31 00:01:14,910 --> 00:01:17,040 And you notice that the rock layers, 32 00:01:18,180 --> 00:01:20,609 they are differentiated by color 33 00:01:20,610 --> 00:01:22,799 and by material, most 34 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:23,939 obviously. 35 00:01:23,940 --> 00:01:26,399 And in this example, 36 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:29,519 you have several hundred million years of 37 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:31,139 geologic history. 38 00:01:31,140 --> 00:01:32,669 If you've been lucky enough to visit the 39 00:01:32,670 --> 00:01:34,589 Grand Canyon, once you have several 40 00:01:34,590 --> 00:01:36,869 billion years of death 41 00:01:36,870 --> 00:01:38,669 of the geologic record. 42 00:01:38,670 --> 00:01:40,859 So as you walk down to the valley, 43 00:01:40,860 --> 00:01:43,499 you cross the different strata, 44 00:01:43,500 --> 00:01:45,569 these rock layers, and the deeper you go, 45 00:01:45,570 --> 00:01:47,879 the older of these strata will be. 46 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:49,230 Now, how do they form 47 00:01:51,300 --> 00:01:53,759 simplified they form 48 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:55,829 by any kind of material sinking 49 00:01:55,830 --> 00:01:58,049 down through a water body like an ocean 50 00:01:58,050 --> 00:02:00,179 or even just a lake to the 51 00:02:00,180 --> 00:02:02,309 seafloor where they form sediments 52 00:02:02,310 --> 00:02:04,439 and by a variety of processes 53 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:05,909 which essentially amount to 54 00:02:05,910 --> 00:02:08,189 crystallization, the sediments 55 00:02:08,190 --> 00:02:10,049 solidify into hard rock. 56 00:02:10,050 --> 00:02:12,359 And then we have a stratum or in pleural 57 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:13,360 strata, 58 00:02:14,910 --> 00:02:16,859 the type of material can be really 59 00:02:16,860 --> 00:02:19,019 anything from sand to the biomass 60 00:02:19,020 --> 00:02:21,179 of the organisms that 61 00:02:21,180 --> 00:02:22,799 live in the water body. 62 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:24,929 And whenever something changes in Earth's 63 00:02:24,930 --> 00:02:27,419 history, the sedimentation 64 00:02:27,420 --> 00:02:28,409 might also change. 65 00:02:28,410 --> 00:02:30,509 So stuff might sink faster, more 66 00:02:30,510 --> 00:02:32,519 stuff might sink down or different types 67 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:34,799 of material, and therefore you get a new 68 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:36,290 layer, which you can distinguish. 69 00:02:37,470 --> 00:02:39,929 And before I showed you some photos 70 00:02:39,930 --> 00:02:41,969 of how the geologic record looks in real 71 00:02:41,970 --> 00:02:43,919 life now we're going to have a look at 72 00:02:43,920 --> 00:02:45,359 the textbook example. 73 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,029 This is the average consensus 74 00:02:48,030 --> 00:02:49,859 international chronographs Crono 75 00:02:49,860 --> 00:02:51,959 stratigraphic chart. 76 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,629 It shows you all the rock layers from 77 00:02:54,630 --> 00:02:56,759 the past on the right hand to 78 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:58,139 basically now. 79 00:02:59,940 --> 00:03:02,069 So, um, and this is not 80 00:03:02,070 --> 00:03:03,809 the version number up here on in the 81 00:03:03,810 --> 00:03:04,859 right corner. 82 00:03:04,860 --> 00:03:07,109 When I submitted this talk in September, 83 00:03:07,110 --> 00:03:09,929 it was still 2016 09. 84 00:03:09,930 --> 00:03:12,089 So if you thought geologists are 85 00:03:12,090 --> 00:03:13,979 working at a glacial pace, you're 86 00:03:13,980 --> 00:03:15,569 actually right, because climate change 87 00:03:15,570 --> 00:03:17,489 makes the glaciers move much faster as 88 00:03:17,490 --> 00:03:18,490 well. 89 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,269 And we're going to focus now on the very 90 00:03:21,270 --> 00:03:22,469 recent past. 91 00:03:23,670 --> 00:03:25,439 You have here from left to right, the 92 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:27,809 hierarchy of geological time 93 00:03:27,810 --> 00:03:28,739 units. 94 00:03:28,740 --> 00:03:30,569 We are currently living in the period of 95 00:03:30,570 --> 00:03:32,729 the quarter century and the epoch of 96 00:03:32,730 --> 00:03:33,659 the Holocene. 97 00:03:33,660 --> 00:03:35,669 And that one, you can see it on the right 98 00:03:35,670 --> 00:03:37,859 there on the time scale started at 99 00:03:37,860 --> 00:03:39,719 about eleven thousand seven hundred years 100 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:41,969 ago, which is the end of the last Ice 101 00:03:41,970 --> 00:03:43,829 Age. And the epoch before that, the 102 00:03:43,830 --> 00:03:45,959 Pleistocene was the EPA of 103 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:48,089 the switches of ice and warm ages. 104 00:03:48,090 --> 00:03:50,339 And that's where we humans evolved. 105 00:03:50,340 --> 00:03:51,689 That's where we come from. 106 00:03:51,690 --> 00:03:53,879 And now we're living in the 107 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:54,880 Holocene. 108 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:57,809 The last important detail here in this 109 00:03:57,810 --> 00:04:00,449 crash course are the so-called Speace. 110 00:04:00,450 --> 00:04:01,739 Again, I'm simplifying a bit. 111 00:04:01,740 --> 00:04:03,149 Just keep in mind it's the so-called 112 00:04:03,150 --> 00:04:04,439 golden spikes. 113 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:06,689 And these are needed by the geologists 114 00:04:06,690 --> 00:04:09,239 to define the boundary 115 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:11,549 layers between the strata so 116 00:04:11,550 --> 00:04:13,439 they can, for example, in the case of the 117 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,749 Holocene, be a shift in deuterium 118 00:04:15,750 --> 00:04:18,359 concentration in a particular ice core 119 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,028 from the Greenland ice sheet. 120 00:04:21,029 --> 00:04:23,129 And there are different types of 121 00:04:23,130 --> 00:04:24,300 methods to define them. 122 00:04:26,230 --> 00:04:28,539 For example, chemical process, 123 00:04:28,540 --> 00:04:30,939 chemical properties, physics, 124 00:04:30,940 --> 00:04:33,459 physical properties, but also, as this 125 00:04:33,460 --> 00:04:35,949 comic shows, the fossil record, 126 00:04:35,950 --> 00:04:38,049 for example, here in the middle in the 127 00:04:38,050 --> 00:04:40,029 green Mesozoic, that was basically 128 00:04:40,030 --> 00:04:41,709 Jurassic Park. And, you know, that had to 129 00:04:41,710 --> 00:04:43,629 close because an asteroid hit it. 130 00:04:43,630 --> 00:04:45,789 And we find therefore, at the 131 00:04:45,790 --> 00:04:48,279 upper layer of the Cretaceous period, 132 00:04:48,280 --> 00:04:50,079 we find a lot of dinosaur fossils and 133 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,839 afterwards we find only mammal fossils. 134 00:04:52,840 --> 00:04:54,699 And in between, we also find a chemical 135 00:04:54,700 --> 00:04:56,949 signature that is iridium from 136 00:04:56,950 --> 00:04:57,950 the asteroid. 137 00:05:00,150 --> 00:05:02,369 So to summarize, please read this 138 00:05:02,370 --> 00:05:03,659 yourself, I'm going to have a little 139 00:05:03,660 --> 00:05:04,660 break. 140 00:05:08,490 --> 00:05:10,079 It started out with a bit of stress for 141 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:11,080 me, so. 142 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:19,809 I think we're good. 143 00:05:24,250 --> 00:05:26,409 So just please keep these three points 144 00:05:26,410 --> 00:05:29,349 in mind for the next part of the 145 00:05:29,350 --> 00:05:30,249 talk. 146 00:05:30,250 --> 00:05:31,899 Now, we dove into the Anthropocene 147 00:05:31,900 --> 00:05:34,059 discussion with the currently 148 00:05:34,060 --> 00:05:36,159 running definition, and that is 149 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,049 that the Anthropocene is the present time 150 00:05:38,050 --> 00:05:40,509 interval in which many geologically 151 00:05:40,510 --> 00:05:42,759 significant conditions and processes 152 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:45,099 are profoundly altered by human 153 00:05:45,100 --> 00:05:47,379 activities, which have a decisive 154 00:05:47,380 --> 00:05:49,419 influence on the state dynamic and future 155 00:05:49,420 --> 00:05:51,549 of the earth system conditions 156 00:05:51,550 --> 00:05:53,559 and processes. We just covered a little 157 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:55,539 bit the human activities. 158 00:05:55,540 --> 00:05:57,189 Well, you can guess what they are and I'm 159 00:05:57,190 --> 00:05:58,809 going to talk about them a bit more. 160 00:05:58,810 --> 00:06:00,939 And the state of mind dynamics, that is 161 00:06:00,940 --> 00:06:02,469 the stuff you hear about in the news. 162 00:06:02,470 --> 00:06:04,419 So climate change, the ice caps are 163 00:06:04,420 --> 00:06:07,359 melting, the oceans are acidifying, 164 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:08,679 species going extinct. 165 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:10,689 And quite importantly, they are changes 166 00:06:10,690 --> 00:06:12,819 in the global cycling of nutrients 167 00:06:12,820 --> 00:06:15,279 for our plants, such as a phosphorus, 168 00:06:15,280 --> 00:06:17,289 nitrogen and obviously carbon in the form 169 00:06:17,290 --> 00:06:18,819 of carbon dioxide. 170 00:06:20,250 --> 00:06:22,329 Um, what I do want to 171 00:06:22,330 --> 00:06:24,489 argue is that these forces 172 00:06:24,490 --> 00:06:26,589 are also what will shape the Anthropocene 173 00:06:26,590 --> 00:06:28,659 and not, as you sometimes hear in 174 00:06:28,660 --> 00:06:30,429 the popular press, that this is like our 175 00:06:30,430 --> 00:06:32,619 age, we are in control of this planet 176 00:06:32,620 --> 00:06:34,569 and so on, because influence is 177 00:06:34,570 --> 00:06:36,789 definitely not the same thing as control. 178 00:06:36,790 --> 00:06:38,889 I mean, we are quite influential on many 179 00:06:38,890 --> 00:06:41,769 of the processes on this planet, 180 00:06:41,770 --> 00:06:43,569 but we don't understand them completely. 181 00:06:43,570 --> 00:06:45,879 And some of them will behave in ways 182 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:47,779 that we cannot predict on most of them. 183 00:06:47,780 --> 00:06:49,869 Maybe also the Anthropocene is 184 00:06:49,870 --> 00:06:51,939 currently just a concept that has been 185 00:06:51,940 --> 00:06:54,069 popularized in 2000 186 00:06:54,070 --> 00:06:55,629 and has been floating around a little bit 187 00:06:55,630 --> 00:06:57,099 before that. 188 00:06:57,100 --> 00:06:59,019 The guy here on the left, Mr. Crewdson, 189 00:06:59,020 --> 00:07:01,119 he's a Nobel Prize winner 190 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:03,279 for his work on the ozone hole, which is 191 00:07:03,280 --> 00:07:05,529 actually a very positive example that the 192 00:07:05,530 --> 00:07:07,749 international community can get together 193 00:07:07,750 --> 00:07:09,939 and solve an environmental problem 194 00:07:09,940 --> 00:07:12,369 with an economical component 195 00:07:12,370 --> 00:07:14,469 quite quickly, quite quickly, if it 196 00:07:14,470 --> 00:07:15,699 is necessary. 197 00:07:15,700 --> 00:07:17,829 And in the coming years, 198 00:07:17,830 --> 00:07:20,169 this EPA will 199 00:07:20,170 --> 00:07:22,149 be proposed. So, again, it is just a 200 00:07:22,150 --> 00:07:23,529 discussion currently. 201 00:07:23,530 --> 00:07:25,689 And if you're a version control fan like 202 00:07:25,690 --> 00:07:27,849 me, this would be the equivalent to it 203 00:07:27,850 --> 00:07:28,959 is not even staged yet. 204 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:31,299 So keep down, everyone. 205 00:07:31,300 --> 00:07:33,099 It will be super interesting, but it's 206 00:07:33,100 --> 00:07:34,300 nothing to 207 00:07:35,500 --> 00:07:36,759 boil up too much now. 208 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,179 And one important piece of 209 00:07:40,180 --> 00:07:42,279 our point that I want to make is that 210 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:44,469 this concept collects a lot 211 00:07:44,470 --> 00:07:46,179 of lot of different parts of the 212 00:07:46,180 --> 00:07:47,169 discussion we have. 213 00:07:47,170 --> 00:07:48,429 On the one hand, the geological 214 00:07:48,430 --> 00:07:50,499 discussion like how do we define this in 215 00:07:50,500 --> 00:07:51,849 the geological record? 216 00:07:51,850 --> 00:07:53,349 But we also, of course, have all of these 217 00:07:53,350 --> 00:07:55,599 environmental problems mixed into it and 218 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:57,249 they are related, but sometimes it's 219 00:07:57,250 --> 00:07:59,529 necessary to focus just on one of them, 220 00:07:59,530 --> 00:08:01,149 but still keep the big picture. 221 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:03,879 The people who are keeping the big 222 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:05,469 picture are definitely the so-called 223 00:08:05,470 --> 00:08:07,569 Anthropocene Working Group or 224 00:08:07,570 --> 00:08:09,399 working group on the Anthropocene. 225 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:12,129 They are located at the University of 226 00:08:12,130 --> 00:08:14,409 Leicester and 227 00:08:14,410 --> 00:08:15,429 that's their secretariat. 228 00:08:15,430 --> 00:08:17,289 But of course, it's a global consortium 229 00:08:17,290 --> 00:08:19,389 of scientists from a range 230 00:08:19,390 --> 00:08:20,589 of different disciplines. 231 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:24,759 And maybe you noticed the summer. 232 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:26,559 The discussion did boil up a little bit 233 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:28,719 because there was a vote and like 234 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:31,239 an intermediary report 235 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:33,038 about how this working group wants to 236 00:08:33,039 --> 00:08:35,279 continue preparing a a 237 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:36,789 formalization proposal. 238 00:08:38,770 --> 00:08:40,449 And what I want to do now in the next 239 00:08:40,450 --> 00:08:42,158 part is to walk you through of these 240 00:08:42,159 --> 00:08:44,289 voting options and explain a little 241 00:08:44,290 --> 00:08:46,059 bit what they mean, what their background 242 00:08:46,060 --> 00:08:48,399 is and how they were received. 243 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,099 And the two core points are 244 00:08:51,100 --> 00:08:53,349 that they are discussing what which 245 00:08:53,350 --> 00:08:55,299 golden spike do we want to use, which 246 00:08:55,300 --> 00:08:57,609 chemical signal in the geologic record. 247 00:08:57,610 --> 00:08:59,769 And of course, closely tied to that 248 00:08:59,770 --> 00:09:01,719 is the question, when did the 249 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:03,909 Anthropocene start or when will the start 250 00:09:03,910 --> 00:09:05,229 be defined? 251 00:09:05,230 --> 00:09:07,179 And to do that, we're going to use this 252 00:09:07,180 --> 00:09:09,489 awesome chart. 253 00:09:09,490 --> 00:09:10,490 No, not yet. 254 00:09:11,860 --> 00:09:12,879 Well, there we are, 255 00:09:14,930 --> 00:09:17,019 OK, and we start at the end of the 256 00:09:17,020 --> 00:09:18,969 last ice age, you see in the middle of 257 00:09:18,970 --> 00:09:21,339 this white part is basically the 258 00:09:21,340 --> 00:09:23,739 minus one degree, plus one degree 259 00:09:23,740 --> 00:09:25,299 range that our civilization has 260 00:09:25,300 --> 00:09:27,399 experienced, because that's after the 261 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:29,499 last ice age. We started settling 262 00:09:29,500 --> 00:09:30,419 down. 263 00:09:30,420 --> 00:09:32,739 We started developing agriculture and 264 00:09:32,740 --> 00:09:34,839 also one clearly negative 265 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:36,939 impact already, maybe not in the case of 266 00:09:36,940 --> 00:09:39,039 this predator, but we did have 267 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:41,439 a hand in the extinction of many large 268 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,209 mammals. So wherever we went on this 269 00:09:43,210 --> 00:09:45,009 planet, on every continent, we find 270 00:09:45,010 --> 00:09:46,749 evidence that very quickly after humans 271 00:09:46,750 --> 00:09:48,999 arrive, the big mammals 272 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:50,859 start to vanish. In some cases, there's a 273 00:09:50,860 --> 00:09:52,210 climate change component in it, 274 00:09:53,290 --> 00:09:55,070 but sometimes we just hunted them down. 275 00:09:56,490 --> 00:09:58,359 Now, the key words here are megafauna 276 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:00,369 extinction and deformation in case you're 277 00:10:00,370 --> 00:10:02,739 interested. And these 278 00:10:02,740 --> 00:10:05,589 three parts, for example, are these three 279 00:10:05,590 --> 00:10:07,209 such discussions. 280 00:10:07,210 --> 00:10:09,039 They are visible in the archeological 281 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,799 record and also in the chemical record, 282 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:12,729 in the geology. 283 00:10:12,730 --> 00:10:13,929 And therefore, there has been the 284 00:10:13,930 --> 00:10:15,969 suggestion that basically the whole 285 00:10:15,970 --> 00:10:17,889 Holocene should be replaced with the 286 00:10:17,890 --> 00:10:19,359 so-called Anthropocene. 287 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,189 However, this has received little 288 00:10:21,190 --> 00:10:23,769 attention by the working group. 289 00:10:23,770 --> 00:10:25,929 So we move on a few thousand years and 290 00:10:25,930 --> 00:10:28,029 now we have all over the world 291 00:10:28,030 --> 00:10:30,189 cultures and civilizations rising. 292 00:10:30,190 --> 00:10:32,289 And with that, of course, you can 293 00:10:32,290 --> 00:10:34,179 imagine you need some level of intensive 294 00:10:34,180 --> 00:10:35,319 agriculture. 295 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,539 So, for example, converting 296 00:10:37,540 --> 00:10:40,029 forest land into farmland, mechanically 297 00:10:40,030 --> 00:10:42,549 tilling the farmland, fertilizing 298 00:10:42,550 --> 00:10:44,949 it, and in some cases even changing 299 00:10:44,950 --> 00:10:46,929 the morphology of the landscape to suit 300 00:10:46,930 --> 00:10:49,209 the particular crop that is 301 00:10:49,210 --> 00:10:51,639 grown in some regions. 302 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:53,679 So because we find these signals all over 303 00:10:53,680 --> 00:10:55,569 the world and still after hundreds and 304 00:10:55,570 --> 00:10:57,879 thousands of years, you can still detect 305 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,069 chemically that a particular soil 306 00:11:00,070 --> 00:11:02,769 was created by humans. 307 00:11:02,770 --> 00:11:05,379 This is called anthropogenic soils. 308 00:11:05,380 --> 00:11:07,749 And yeah, there were a few more votes, 309 00:11:07,750 --> 00:11:08,750 but essentially 310 00:11:10,750 --> 00:11:11,679 it's a delay. 311 00:11:11,680 --> 00:11:12,680 I'm sorry. 312 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:22,499 OK, it was rejected. 313 00:11:22,500 --> 00:11:23,500 Let's leave it at that. 314 00:11:25,610 --> 00:11:26,610 Then we move on 315 00:11:28,580 --> 00:11:29,840 now, are you going to see the replay? 316 00:11:34,310 --> 00:11:35,749 I'm already on the next slide. 317 00:11:35,750 --> 00:11:36,859 Is there anything we can do? 318 00:11:37,970 --> 00:11:40,399 OK, well, we go to one obvious 319 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,829 candidate, the industrial revolution. 320 00:11:42,830 --> 00:11:44,929 As you know, the coal, 321 00:11:44,930 --> 00:11:46,549 the fossil fuel coal was 322 00:11:47,690 --> 00:11:49,349 became the major energy source. 323 00:11:49,350 --> 00:11:51,619 And with it came the pollution from 324 00:11:51,620 --> 00:11:53,239 coal dust, from coal soot. 325 00:11:57,260 --> 00:11:58,999 And now, because especially the European 326 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,219 nations, they have basically conquered 327 00:12:01,220 --> 00:12:02,659 the world. They brought this pollution 328 00:12:02,660 --> 00:12:04,759 with them. So finally now we also have a 329 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,039 global signal of anthropogenic 330 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:09,559 pollution. However, for some reason, 331 00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:11,659 this option was also rejected. 332 00:12:12,980 --> 00:12:14,509 So and now the question becomes 333 00:12:14,510 --> 00:12:16,579 political, because up to now, all of this 334 00:12:16,580 --> 00:12:19,189 has happened in the very 335 00:12:19,190 --> 00:12:21,619 far away past and nobody alive 336 00:12:21,620 --> 00:12:23,719 was basically at fault. 337 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:26,149 But now we're entering the 20th 338 00:12:26,150 --> 00:12:29,059 century. And for the geologists, 339 00:12:29,060 --> 00:12:31,729 fortunately, a lot of candidates 340 00:12:31,730 --> 00:12:33,319 can be used here in the geological 341 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:34,320 record. 342 00:12:35,090 --> 00:12:36,849 Not so fortunately for us. 343 00:12:41,060 --> 00:12:42,809 There's also a third one, which is not in 344 00:12:42,810 --> 00:12:45,469 the chart, and that is the plastics 345 00:12:45,470 --> 00:12:47,359 from convenience products that, of 346 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,879 course, rises rise with a 347 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:51,139 consumer culture. 348 00:12:51,140 --> 00:12:52,789 And there is already evidence that this 349 00:12:52,790 --> 00:12:55,069 is entering the geological record, 350 00:12:55,070 --> 00:12:57,139 for example, in this case from Hawaii, 351 00:12:57,140 --> 00:12:58,759 where, of course, volcanic activity 352 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:00,589 creates new rock all the time. 353 00:13:00,590 --> 00:13:02,989 Plastic trash is simply incorporated. 354 00:13:02,990 --> 00:13:05,179 And additionally, micro plastic particles 355 00:13:05,180 --> 00:13:07,249 are in all of the oceans and they 356 00:13:07,250 --> 00:13:09,019 also sink down into the sediments. 357 00:13:10,790 --> 00:13:12,949 So now we have a show sorry, the 358 00:13:12,950 --> 00:13:15,199 plastic part was also rejected, although 359 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,629 quite an interesting stratigraphic 360 00:13:17,630 --> 00:13:19,519 evidence in my opinion. 361 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:20,839 And now we basically have a little 362 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,089 showdown between the nuclear weapons 363 00:13:23,090 --> 00:13:25,459 here and the fossil fuel emissions. 364 00:13:25,460 --> 00:13:27,859 But before we resolve 365 00:13:27,860 --> 00:13:30,139 this showdown, I'm a bit lucky 366 00:13:30,140 --> 00:13:31,609 that both of these topics have been 367 00:13:31,610 --> 00:13:33,349 featured at this conference before. 368 00:13:33,350 --> 00:13:36,109 So I encourage you to watch these talks 369 00:13:36,110 --> 00:13:38,029 in January as early as possible before 370 00:13:38,030 --> 00:13:40,189 you have a big tsunami of all of these 371 00:13:40,190 --> 00:13:41,190 talks here. 372 00:13:42,140 --> 00:13:43,909 There is, interestingly, a connection 373 00:13:43,910 --> 00:13:44,899 between these topics. 374 00:13:44,900 --> 00:13:46,579 On the one hand, we have this engineering 375 00:13:46,580 --> 00:13:48,169 and physical and, of course, political 376 00:13:48,170 --> 00:13:49,429 topic of the nuclear weapons. 377 00:13:49,430 --> 00:13:52,219 And on the other hand, geology, 378 00:13:52,220 --> 00:13:54,349 chemistry and climate science and 379 00:13:54,350 --> 00:13:56,959 archeology plays into this as well. 380 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:58,789 You maybe know the so-called radiocarbon 381 00:13:58,790 --> 00:14:01,039 method that is used to determine 382 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,410 the age of biological samples. 383 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:06,409 So you know that in the atmosphere 384 00:14:06,410 --> 00:14:08,149 there's a certain amount of radioactive 385 00:14:08,150 --> 00:14:10,459 carbon, 14, that filters down 386 00:14:10,460 --> 00:14:13,189 to CO2, to the plants, the animals. 387 00:14:13,190 --> 00:14:15,049 And when we are some kind of living 388 00:14:15,050 --> 00:14:17,239 organism stops breathing, the 389 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,729 decay starts both on the biological side 390 00:14:19,730 --> 00:14:22,459 and also in terms of radioactive carbon. 391 00:14:22,460 --> 00:14:24,859 And when you find a biological sample, 392 00:14:24,860 --> 00:14:27,049 you can measure how much a radiocarbon is 393 00:14:27,050 --> 00:14:29,359 left and thereby calculate backwards 394 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:31,549 with the help of the half life, which 395 00:14:31,550 --> 00:14:33,709 is five thousand three hundred seventy 396 00:14:33,710 --> 00:14:35,899 years, how old 397 00:14:35,900 --> 00:14:36,900 the sample is. 398 00:14:37,850 --> 00:14:40,129 But because we because of the 399 00:14:40,130 --> 00:14:42,139 nuclear weapons testing we have added, a 400 00:14:42,140 --> 00:14:44,929 lot of it is 401 00:14:44,930 --> 00:14:46,309 delayed again, a bit. 402 00:14:46,310 --> 00:14:48,590 Not going to use the slides dotcom again. 403 00:14:49,940 --> 00:14:52,159 Yeah. Or only whether the land cable 404 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:53,160 network. 405 00:14:55,010 --> 00:14:57,199 Now we said, OK, this 406 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,389 is the so-called radiocarbon bomb spike. 407 00:14:59,390 --> 00:15:01,549 So we added a lot of carbon 14 into the 408 00:15:01,550 --> 00:15:04,099 atmosphere. So biological samples 409 00:15:04,100 --> 00:15:06,499 that were generated in this time start 410 00:15:06,500 --> 00:15:08,899 out with a lot more radioactive carbon. 411 00:15:08,900 --> 00:15:10,969 So in the future archeological record, 412 00:15:10,970 --> 00:15:12,799 they will appear much younger than they 413 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:13,800 actually are. 414 00:15:15,100 --> 00:15:17,049 However, in the near future, we will 415 00:15:17,050 --> 00:15:19,449 reach the equilibrium point basically 416 00:15:19,450 --> 00:15:21,579 on the baseline again and 417 00:15:21,580 --> 00:15:23,739 then depending on which 418 00:15:23,740 --> 00:15:26,379 of this representative 419 00:15:26,380 --> 00:15:28,509 concentration pathways we 420 00:15:28,510 --> 00:15:31,029 take, future samples 421 00:15:31,030 --> 00:15:33,069 will appear much older because we have 422 00:15:33,070 --> 00:15:35,289 diluted the radioactive carbon 423 00:15:35,290 --> 00:15:37,839 from the nuclear weapons testing 424 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:40,689 with fossil fuel emissions from 425 00:15:40,690 --> 00:15:42,789 the coal and 426 00:15:42,790 --> 00:15:43,989 the oil we are burning. 427 00:15:43,990 --> 00:15:45,609 And you can easily imagine with five 428 00:15:45,610 --> 00:15:47,679 thousand three hundred seventy 429 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:49,809 years life, the fossil fuels are 430 00:15:49,810 --> 00:15:51,249 millions and millions of years old. 431 00:15:51,250 --> 00:15:53,259 They do not contain any radioactive 432 00:15:53,260 --> 00:15:54,429 carbon anymore. 433 00:15:54,430 --> 00:15:56,559 So we are in effect, 434 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:58,269 polluting both the present and the 435 00:15:58,270 --> 00:16:00,429 future, but also the past or 436 00:16:00,430 --> 00:16:01,430 the future past. 437 00:16:03,390 --> 00:16:05,820 So now this is quite an interesting 438 00:16:07,350 --> 00:16:09,539 golden spike, but 439 00:16:09,540 --> 00:16:10,540 also rejected. 440 00:16:11,900 --> 00:16:14,029 So and now we basically have the end 441 00:16:14,030 --> 00:16:15,649 of this showdown, we have on the one 442 00:16:15,650 --> 00:16:18,289 hand, the plutonium fallout and 443 00:16:18,290 --> 00:16:20,059 the fossil fuels, they produce two 444 00:16:20,060 --> 00:16:21,739 possible golden spikes. 445 00:16:21,740 --> 00:16:22,850 That is, of course, the 446 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:26,569 the fuel ashes and also the CO2 447 00:16:26,570 --> 00:16:27,989 concentration in the atmosphere. 448 00:16:29,180 --> 00:16:31,429 Yeah, and the final vote was 10 449 00:16:31,430 --> 00:16:33,649 to five, basically 450 00:16:33,650 --> 00:16:35,779 for the nuclear weapons. 451 00:16:35,780 --> 00:16:37,459 And remember, I mean, we're talking about 452 00:16:37,460 --> 00:16:39,499 geologists here. They need to have stuff 453 00:16:39,500 --> 00:16:41,039 in the sediments in the rock. 454 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:42,919 So something that actually falls out of 455 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:45,199 the sky and then even is radioactive 456 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,149 in the rock is a much more interesting 457 00:16:47,150 --> 00:16:49,039 signal to look for than something that 458 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:50,149 stays in the sky. 459 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:52,969 And now I want to make two important 460 00:16:52,970 --> 00:16:54,949 points here. I mean, I was talking about 461 00:16:54,950 --> 00:16:57,379 this a bit nonchalantly, but 462 00:16:57,380 --> 00:16:59,359 this, of course, quite problematic and 463 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:00,360 horrible topics. 464 00:17:01,490 --> 00:17:04,009 But now the chat goes on. 465 00:17:04,010 --> 00:17:05,010 We have 466 00:17:06,170 --> 00:17:07,848 the the problem here that science 467 00:17:07,849 --> 00:17:10,159 sometimes needs to be a bit now 468 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:12,739 devoid of emotions to keep a clear head, 469 00:17:12,740 --> 00:17:14,189 because that's how it works. 470 00:17:14,190 --> 00:17:15,529 Now we have to stick to the science, but 471 00:17:15,530 --> 00:17:17,809 we don't we shouldn't forget that these 472 00:17:17,810 --> 00:17:20,059 are quite horrible topics in some cases. 473 00:17:20,060 --> 00:17:22,129 And also we have a mixture here. 474 00:17:22,130 --> 00:17:23,779 Now, again, as I mentioned before, 475 00:17:23,780 --> 00:17:24,828 between the. 476 00:17:24,829 --> 00:17:27,169 Yeah. Geological part of the discussion, 477 00:17:27,170 --> 00:17:29,419 which is purely on the nuclear 478 00:17:29,420 --> 00:17:31,639 weapons side of the discussion 479 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:33,409 and all the ecological problems that 480 00:17:33,410 --> 00:17:35,030 arise from fossil fuel emissions. 481 00:17:36,380 --> 00:17:37,549 And the chart goes on. 482 00:17:37,550 --> 00:17:39,679 As you know, Robin, 483 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:41,089 Frank talked about this 484 00:17:42,290 --> 00:17:43,729 last year. 485 00:17:43,730 --> 00:17:45,799 So I encourage you to also watch this 486 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:46,939 talk again. 487 00:17:46,940 --> 00:17:49,579 And now the geologists 488 00:17:49,580 --> 00:17:51,469 have basically everything they need. 489 00:17:51,470 --> 00:17:53,839 They have a clear goal, what to search 490 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:56,089 for in the stratigraphic records. 491 00:17:56,090 --> 00:17:58,369 This will take the regular amount 492 00:17:58,370 --> 00:18:00,259 of time and science like projects are 493 00:18:00,260 --> 00:18:02,779 going on, expeditions are mounted, 494 00:18:02,780 --> 00:18:04,459 drill course will be drilled. 495 00:18:04,460 --> 00:18:06,259 And in a few years, there will most 496 00:18:06,260 --> 00:18:08,629 likely be a formally a formal proposal 497 00:18:08,630 --> 00:18:11,179 to have the Anthropocene accepted 498 00:18:11,180 --> 00:18:13,549 as an epoch in the geological record. 499 00:18:13,550 --> 00:18:15,409 And then the International Commission on 500 00:18:15,410 --> 00:18:17,539 Stratigraphy will vote on it. 501 00:18:17,540 --> 00:18:19,369 That part, I don't know how long it will 502 00:18:19,370 --> 00:18:20,749 take and I have not read any good 503 00:18:20,750 --> 00:18:23,149 estimates. In some cases this has taken 504 00:18:23,150 --> 00:18:25,309 many, many decades and those 505 00:18:25,310 --> 00:18:27,769 are not influenced by the glaciers. 506 00:18:27,770 --> 00:18:29,479 But when they do, we can be pretty sure 507 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:31,519 that this nice international Cronos 508 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:33,649 stratigraphic chart will 509 00:18:33,650 --> 00:18:34,969 be updated quite quickly. 510 00:18:36,740 --> 00:18:38,989 So sticking to the theme 511 00:18:38,990 --> 00:18:40,969 of this Congress, I mean, does it still 512 00:18:40,970 --> 00:18:42,319 work right now? 513 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:43,519 It does not really. 514 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:45,869 I mean, you saw this the 515 00:18:45,870 --> 00:18:47,719 representative concentration pathway's 516 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:49,460 here, there from the IPCC. 517 00:18:50,500 --> 00:18:52,639 We are on this path currently. 518 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:54,799 And just from a few days ago, 519 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:57,169 the CO2 reading in the atmosphere 520 00:18:57,170 --> 00:19:00,409 is over 400 ppm. 521 00:19:00,410 --> 00:19:03,169 Before the industrial age, it was 280. 522 00:19:03,170 --> 00:19:04,170 So. 523 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:07,269 And please notice that these are not 524 00:19:07,270 --> 00:19:08,679 fossil fuel emissions, these are 525 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,049 concentration pathways, so they include 526 00:19:12,070 --> 00:19:14,029 natural sources for greenhouse gases. 527 00:19:14,030 --> 00:19:15,839 So we have to account for that as well. 528 00:19:17,780 --> 00:19:19,519 But what we need to do definitely is to 529 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:21,709 reduce the greenhouse gas emissions 530 00:19:21,710 --> 00:19:22,609 a few years ago. 531 00:19:22,610 --> 00:19:24,589 The recommendation was by 10 percent each 532 00:19:24,590 --> 00:19:26,719 year. Let's make it 20 to 533 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:27,880 be safe, you know? 534 00:19:29,300 --> 00:19:31,399 So if you want to do something and 535 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:33,379 try to identify something in your life 536 00:19:33,380 --> 00:19:35,450 that directly produces fossil 537 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:38,749 fossil fuel emissions of greenhouse gas 538 00:19:38,750 --> 00:19:41,029 emissions and 20 percent is an easy 539 00:19:41,030 --> 00:19:43,129 thing to calculate, just try to do 20 540 00:19:43,130 --> 00:19:44,130 percent less of it. 541 00:19:45,650 --> 00:19:47,479 Also, there's, of course, not an 542 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:49,129 individual thing to solve. 543 00:19:49,130 --> 00:19:50,420 This also needs 544 00:19:51,470 --> 00:19:52,729 global campaigns. 545 00:19:52,730 --> 00:19:54,889 You probably know the students 546 00:19:54,890 --> 00:19:57,409 divestment campaign in the 547 00:19:57,410 --> 00:19:59,869 U.S. where students try to convince 548 00:19:59,870 --> 00:20:02,089 their administrations in the universities 549 00:20:02,090 --> 00:20:04,189 to stop investing endowment funds 550 00:20:04,190 --> 00:20:06,559 into fossil fuel companies. 551 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:08,359 We also need to stop the operations that 552 00:20:08,360 --> 00:20:10,429 we're currently doing because just the 553 00:20:10,430 --> 00:20:12,139 resources that we have already tapped 554 00:20:12,140 --> 00:20:14,329 will most likely push us past the two 555 00:20:14,330 --> 00:20:16,639 degree goal or one point five degree goal 556 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,219 that was at the 557 00:20:19,220 --> 00:20:21,289 Paris climate conference 558 00:20:21,290 --> 00:20:23,629 last year was agreed politically. 559 00:20:23,630 --> 00:20:25,699 So the so-called stranded 560 00:20:25,700 --> 00:20:27,649 assets that the that the companies have 561 00:20:27,650 --> 00:20:30,139 in their books, they are worthless. 562 00:20:30,140 --> 00:20:32,299 And also the stuff that they 563 00:20:32,300 --> 00:20:34,159 think they have found that is also 564 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:35,479 worthless, basically. 565 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:37,879 And one now 566 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,069 maybe a bit more critical thing is you 567 00:20:40,070 --> 00:20:42,589 can still study how to find and extract 568 00:20:42,590 --> 00:20:45,019 fossil fuel resources in universities. 569 00:20:45,020 --> 00:20:46,969 So we also have to think about maybe we 570 00:20:46,970 --> 00:20:49,009 need to divest educationally as well, 571 00:20:49,010 --> 00:20:50,809 because it's maybe it's not ethical to 572 00:20:50,810 --> 00:20:52,879 train young people for jobs that will 573 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:54,650 not be available in the future. 574 00:20:56,470 --> 00:20:58,720 Yeah, also there's 575 00:20:59,920 --> 00:21:01,599 a closely related to education is, of 576 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:03,669 course, behavior, and there we 577 00:21:03,670 --> 00:21:05,559 have a problem with a so-called rebound 578 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:06,539 effect. 579 00:21:06,540 --> 00:21:08,979 Um, so you sometimes 580 00:21:08,980 --> 00:21:11,079 expect to save some amount of energy 581 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:12,909 or some amount of resources if you 582 00:21:12,910 --> 00:21:15,129 introduce a new technology, for example. 583 00:21:15,130 --> 00:21:17,319 But then the adaptation of 584 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:19,479 behavior of people eats up 585 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:20,569 all of these savings. 586 00:21:20,570 --> 00:21:22,449 So in the worst case, you can even have a 587 00:21:22,450 --> 00:21:25,059 backfire effect that, for example, people 588 00:21:25,060 --> 00:21:27,189 drive more cars if they buy more fuel 589 00:21:27,190 --> 00:21:28,989 efficient cars and thereby in total, all 590 00:21:28,990 --> 00:21:31,269 over the world, the, um, the 591 00:21:31,270 --> 00:21:33,969 savings are not actually realized at all. 592 00:21:33,970 --> 00:21:35,829 And by the way, if you know an example of 593 00:21:35,830 --> 00:21:37,329 the so-called super conservation, where 594 00:21:37,330 --> 00:21:39,519 not only do you save everything 595 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:41,619 that you were expecting, but you save 596 00:21:41,620 --> 00:21:42,969 actually more, please let me know. 597 00:21:42,970 --> 00:21:44,739 I tried to find something now. 598 00:21:45,790 --> 00:21:47,409 So we have, as I mentioned before, the 599 00:21:47,410 --> 00:21:48,849 cost. I mean, the engines are getting 600 00:21:48,850 --> 00:21:51,159 more efficient all the time, 601 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,439 but the cars get heavier, more 602 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:54,729 functions are built in. 603 00:21:54,730 --> 00:21:57,309 They use more energy in total. 604 00:21:57,310 --> 00:21:59,559 Also in this community, we get 605 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:01,239 more batteries, better batteries all the 606 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:03,399 time. But we use our devices much 607 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:04,989 more intensively. 608 00:22:04,990 --> 00:22:07,959 So many of us require apparently 609 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:09,249 external batteries. 610 00:22:09,250 --> 00:22:11,319 So these are behavioral problems, 611 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:13,389 of course. And I don't 612 00:22:13,390 --> 00:22:14,859 want to pick on jetlag specifically 613 00:22:14,860 --> 00:22:16,389 because they really build a great 614 00:22:16,390 --> 00:22:17,409 product. 615 00:22:17,410 --> 00:22:19,269 But what they are advertising is what I 616 00:22:19,270 --> 00:22:20,829 would like to label convenience 617 00:22:20,830 --> 00:22:21,819 computing. 618 00:22:21,820 --> 00:22:23,529 CPU's are becoming more efficient. 619 00:22:23,530 --> 00:22:25,989 Computing becomes cheaper and cheaper. 620 00:22:25,990 --> 00:22:28,299 So we use it just for every single little 621 00:22:28,300 --> 00:22:29,979 thing that we can imagine. 622 00:22:29,980 --> 00:22:32,199 And this is ineffective 623 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,179 behavior that invalidates the 624 00:22:34,180 --> 00:22:36,219 improvements in technology that we 625 00:22:36,220 --> 00:22:37,119 definitely have. 626 00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:39,639 But the solution or the 627 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:41,859 takeaway point here is that technology 628 00:22:41,860 --> 00:22:43,059 alone will not save us. 629 00:22:43,060 --> 00:22:45,189 So we have to adapt the behavior 630 00:22:45,190 --> 00:22:46,190 a little bit. 631 00:22:46,820 --> 00:22:47,820 I'm not a little bit. 632 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:52,029 So to start the summary, I think I'm good 633 00:22:52,030 --> 00:22:54,219 in turn, I'm answering 634 00:22:54,220 --> 00:22:55,240 my own questions a little bit. 635 00:22:56,800 --> 00:22:58,899 So it is not yet a new geological 636 00:22:58,900 --> 00:23:01,539 epoch, but it will be in a few years 637 00:23:01,540 --> 00:23:03,069 or it will at least be proposed. 638 00:23:03,070 --> 00:23:05,409 And then we will see, um. 639 00:23:05,410 --> 00:23:06,459 Did we do it? 640 00:23:06,460 --> 00:23:07,460 Yep. 641 00:23:07,930 --> 00:23:08,930 Was it an accident? 642 00:23:10,060 --> 00:23:11,649 This is interesting. 643 00:23:11,650 --> 00:23:13,839 More than 100 years ago, the discussion, 644 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:16,119 whether CO2 or in this case, 645 00:23:16,120 --> 00:23:18,579 carbonic acid in the air 646 00:23:18,580 --> 00:23:20,799 might actually be a problem for us was 647 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:21,849 already going on. 648 00:23:21,850 --> 00:23:24,039 I mean, the pollution directly from coal 649 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:26,499 was very visible, 650 00:23:26,500 --> 00:23:28,719 but also the understanding that increases 651 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:30,909 in CO2 concentration would change. 652 00:23:30,910 --> 00:23:32,769 The chemistry of the atmosphere was 653 00:23:32,770 --> 00:23:34,990 already known. 654 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,169 And there's also I think this is 655 00:23:38,170 --> 00:23:40,269 something Robert Frank called for 656 00:23:40,270 --> 00:23:42,699 last year. There is a campaign 657 00:23:42,700 --> 00:23:44,919 to prosecute the managers of 658 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,139 Exxon Mobile because they 659 00:23:47,140 --> 00:23:49,299 threw some leaks. We learned that 660 00:23:49,300 --> 00:23:51,579 they were internally conducting a pretty 661 00:23:51,580 --> 00:23:53,859 good research, actually, on how 662 00:23:53,860 --> 00:23:56,139 fossil fuels and carbon dioxide emissions 663 00:23:56,140 --> 00:23:57,969 and climate change were related in the 664 00:23:57,970 --> 00:23:59,319 70s and 80s. 665 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:01,419 But they still continue to mislead the 666 00:24:01,420 --> 00:24:03,549 public as, for example, 667 00:24:03,550 --> 00:24:05,349 the tobacco industry did about the health 668 00:24:05,350 --> 00:24:07,659 risks of smoking for a long time 669 00:24:07,660 --> 00:24:09,039 as well. 670 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:10,869 So it was not an accident. 671 00:24:10,870 --> 00:24:12,969 And the welcome part, well, that is 672 00:24:12,970 --> 00:24:13,970 on us, of course. 673 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:16,719 I want to quickly give you an overview of 674 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:18,849 the blogs and podcasts that I 675 00:24:18,850 --> 00:24:21,009 used for this research, also used 676 00:24:21,010 --> 00:24:23,589 for maybe the academic references 677 00:24:23,590 --> 00:24:25,269 in some places as well. 678 00:24:25,270 --> 00:24:27,519 These are all highly recommendable and 679 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:29,499 the slides are online as well. 680 00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:31,779 So that's how the opening 681 00:24:31,780 --> 00:24:33,099 ceremony closed. 682 00:24:33,100 --> 00:24:36,159 You know, and also, if you saw the movie, 683 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:37,419 let's get to it. 684 00:24:37,420 --> 00:24:38,770 This is not too difficult to do. 685 00:24:51,410 --> 00:24:53,059 Thank you very much. 686 00:24:53,060 --> 00:24:54,859 Let's see if we have any questions. 687 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:58,429 My five minutes, OK? 688 00:24:58,430 --> 00:24:59,899 Everything from the Internet, maybe the 689 00:24:59,900 --> 00:25:01,169 RNC channel. 690 00:25:01,170 --> 00:25:02,719 I mean, while people line up, I already 691 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:04,759 got one question from the Internet myself 692 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:06,709 that I can already answer. 693 00:25:08,090 --> 00:25:09,829 Yeah, the Anthropocene will, of course, 694 00:25:09,830 --> 00:25:12,199 end at some point, most likely 695 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:13,939 when there's a different type of 696 00:25:13,940 --> 00:25:16,969 influence globally that a new type of 697 00:25:16,970 --> 00:25:19,249 strata will form and 698 00:25:19,250 --> 00:25:20,989 a future generation of geologists will 699 00:25:20,990 --> 00:25:22,700 find the next spike. 700 00:25:24,260 --> 00:25:25,699 How long that will take. 701 00:25:25,700 --> 00:25:27,919 You see down there this current research 702 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:30,019 that probably the sea level rise, for 703 00:25:30,020 --> 00:25:32,419 example, will go on for many, many 704 00:25:32,420 --> 00:25:33,529 thousand years. 705 00:25:33,530 --> 00:25:35,749 So what we most likely have already done 706 00:25:35,750 --> 00:25:37,909 is to stop the cycle of ice ages 707 00:25:37,910 --> 00:25:40,009 and warm ages that was actually due. 708 00:25:40,010 --> 00:25:41,390 So maybe we're lucky that 709 00:25:42,410 --> 00:25:43,579 only we. 710 00:25:43,580 --> 00:25:45,919 I see we have one question for microphone 711 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:46,920 three. 712 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:49,880 Oh, thank you for your very dense 713 00:25:51,410 --> 00:25:52,969 bringing everyone up to speed on the 714 00:25:52,970 --> 00:25:54,409 Anthropocene. I've been following it for 715 00:25:54,410 --> 00:25:56,759 some time because in 716 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:59,149 how Turin and Berlin has been covering 717 00:25:59,150 --> 00:26:01,219 it for about four years and now 718 00:26:01,220 --> 00:26:03,829 they've moved on to a new framing 719 00:26:03,830 --> 00:26:06,469 of the issue called Technosphere. 720 00:26:06,470 --> 00:26:08,659 And in both of these terms for me, 721 00:26:08,660 --> 00:26:10,969 where the controversy gets really 722 00:26:10,970 --> 00:26:13,429 intense and perhaps the struggle 723 00:26:13,430 --> 00:26:15,619 gets very intense, is 724 00:26:15,620 --> 00:26:17,719 that the term and the way it's being 725 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:20,389 used by the academic departments 726 00:26:20,390 --> 00:26:23,299 is a bit confusing 727 00:26:23,300 --> 00:26:25,819 the issue in a way that 728 00:26:25,820 --> 00:26:28,069 points the blame on us as 729 00:26:28,070 --> 00:26:29,659 a human species. 730 00:26:29,660 --> 00:26:31,879 And there is another analysis that points 731 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:33,829 the blame at something like the 732 00:26:33,830 --> 00:26:35,899 capitalist scene or the corporate 733 00:26:35,900 --> 00:26:38,509 scene. And it's that the systems 734 00:26:38,510 --> 00:26:40,969 of of our societies operating 735 00:26:40,970 --> 00:26:43,459 mechanisms are really are what 736 00:26:43,460 --> 00:26:45,679 are behind something that could 737 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,019 and looks very catastrophic 738 00:26:48,020 --> 00:26:50,179 for not only the human 739 00:26:50,180 --> 00:26:51,259 species, but 740 00:26:52,430 --> 00:26:54,139 millions of species. 741 00:26:54,140 --> 00:26:56,599 And in fact, we're perhaps moving into 742 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:58,639 what's being called a sixth mass 743 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:02,029 extinction and the Anthropocene. 744 00:27:02,030 --> 00:27:04,909 The problem is that it's almost like 745 00:27:04,910 --> 00:27:07,369 it's it's describing it in a way that 746 00:27:07,370 --> 00:27:08,689 we can handle this with some 747 00:27:08,690 --> 00:27:10,549 technological solutions. 748 00:27:10,550 --> 00:27:12,109 And it's really kind of something that's 749 00:27:12,110 --> 00:27:14,379 out of control and 750 00:27:14,380 --> 00:27:16,489 and it obfuscates the fact that 751 00:27:16,490 --> 00:27:18,829 we really need to, like, kind of repair 752 00:27:18,830 --> 00:27:21,079 nature rather than thinking we're going 753 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:23,239 to fix nature for our benefit 754 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:25,489 now. And so it's 755 00:27:25,490 --> 00:27:26,869 it's a really long debate. 756 00:27:26,870 --> 00:27:28,159 And I've been following this for some 757 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:30,349 time, but I think it's really something 758 00:27:30,350 --> 00:27:32,449 to extend the conversation from 759 00:27:32,450 --> 00:27:34,219 what you just gave us for information. 760 00:27:34,220 --> 00:27:35,509 So I thank you for that. 761 00:27:35,510 --> 00:27:36,799 And if you've heard about this 762 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,049 Technosphere, I would ask you if you know 763 00:27:39,050 --> 00:27:41,659 where that's leading us, 764 00:27:41,660 --> 00:27:43,429 not about this particular term. 765 00:27:43,430 --> 00:27:45,559 Thanks. I wrote some research and, 766 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:47,719 um, yeah, I 767 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:49,189 did mention this, uh, mix up. 768 00:27:49,190 --> 00:27:51,529 And I agree it is an extremely 769 00:27:51,530 --> 00:27:54,439 different a difficult topic with many 770 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:55,759 topics. Um, 771 00:27:58,730 --> 00:28:00,679 I can agree only with you and I'll be 772 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:02,780 available later for discussion up here. 773 00:28:03,830 --> 00:28:04,909 Thank you very much. 774 00:28:04,910 --> 00:28:07,249 If there are no further questions, I will 775 00:28:07,250 --> 00:28:09,139 thank them once again. 776 00:28:09,140 --> 00:28:10,399 How about a big round of applause for 777 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:11,400 her?