The Capitalocene is a proposed epoch of human and natural history, posed as an alternative to the “Anthropocene” era. The Anthropocene is a geologic era defined by the human species' impact on the Earth, as exemplified by deforestation, mass extinction, and the introduction of manmade waste materials into the environment, but above all by anthropogenic global warming. Scholars of the Capitalocene, in contrast, attribute these changes not to humanity as such, but to the capitalist mode of production and its need for infinite growth, its dependence on fossil fuels, and its compulsion of capitalists to seek profit without regard to “external” or long-term consequences.
McConnel & Company mills, Manchester c. 1820. Fossil fuels were first used as a generalized power source in the British textile industry.
The Potosí silver mine, c. 1750. An early example of "Cheap Nature" appropriation
Rusted boats on what was once the bed of the Aral Sea. The sea's disappearance was the result of decisions made by Soviet planners.
The Anthropocene ( ) is the common name for a proposed geological epoch, dating from the commencement of significant human impact on Earth up to the present day. It affects Earth's geology, landscape, limnology, ecosystems and climate. The effects of human activities on Earth can be seen for example in biodiversity loss and climate change. Various start dates for the Anthropocene have been proposed, ranging from the beginning of the Neolithic Revolution, to as recently as the 1960s as a starting date.
Light pollution comes from highly populated areas at night, caused by human activity (electric lights)
The Trinity test in July 1945 has been proposed as the start of the Anthropocene.
Summary of major environmental-change categories that cause biodiversity loss. The data is expressed as a percentage of human-driven change (in red) relative to baseline (blue). Red indicates the percentage of the category that is damaged, lost, or otherwise affected, whereas blue indicates the percentage that is intact, remaining, or otherwise unaffected.
Technofossils
