Science

Science or strategy? Researchers call for transparency over the Anthropocene rejection

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 01/10/2026, 13:10:24 UTC.

Briefings

In 2024, the Anthropocene Working Group's proposal to designate a new geological epoch was rejected by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), despite decades of research confirming human influence on Earth systems. This decision marks a significant shift in how geological time is defined, as the concept of the Anthropocene has remained influential in society and law since its 2000 introduction. The rejection highlights the tension between scientific consensus on human impact and the formal recognition of this epoch by major international bodies.

Key points

• The Anthropocene Working Group's proposal to designate a new geological epoch was rejected by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) in 2024.
• The concept of the Anthropocene has remained influential in society, science, and law since its introduction in 2000.

Context and limitations

The evidence covers the rejection event and the historical context of the concept's introduction, but does not include details on the specific criteria used for the proposal, the voting results, or the reasons for the rejection.

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