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Implication
Global synthesis reveals extensive anthropogenic disruption across planetary systems, indicating unprecedented human domination of global ecosystems.
Key Points
- Quantify the cumulative extent and planetary impacts of human activities across terrestrial, atmospheric, and biological systems.
- Synthesized global empirical indicators of anthropogenic environmental alteration spanning land use, atmospheric composition, the nitrogen cycle, freshwater consumption, and species loss.
- Between one-third and one-half of Earth's land surface has been transformed by human action, and more than 50% of accessible surface fresh water is utilized by humanity.
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration has increased by nearly 30% since the Industrial Revolution, and humanity fixes more atmospheric nitrogen than all natural terrestrial sources combined.
- Approximately 25% of bird species on Earth have been driven to extinction through human-driven changes.
Cite This Study
Vitousek et al. (1997) studied this question.