Evolution and sustainability: gathering the strands for an Anthropocene synthesis DOI
Maurício Lima, James H. Liu, Erle C. Ellis

et al.

Published: Feb. 28, 2024

How did human societies evolve to become a major force of global change? What dynamics can lead on trajectory sustainability? The astonishing growth in population, economic activity, technological capacity and environmental impact - together known as the Anthropocene has brought these questions fore. In this theme issue, we bring elements theory evolution sustainability Earth. We show how diverse theories approaches help understand past, present future Anthropocene, discover new opportunities for moving towards sustainability. Collectively, work provides basis an evolutionary synthesis predicament planet Positive feedbacks deep-time transitions populations Abrupt rapid changes are among most exciting population phenomena. Human tend expansions from low high density along with increased social complexity just few generations. Such demographic appear remarkable feature Homo sapiens dynamics, likely fuelled by ability accumulate cultural/technological innovations that actively modify their environment. especially interested establishing if pre-historic same dynamic signature Industrial Revolution transition (a positive relationship between rates size). Our results patterns across different were similar those observed during developed western societies. These features, which have been operating our recent history hunter–gatherers modern industrial societies, imply cooperation underlay sudden Continuities discontinuities cultural consciousness Global (GC), encompassing cosmopolitan orientation, orientations (i.e. openness multicultural experiences) identification all humanity, is relatively stable individual difference strongly associated pro-environmental attitudes behaviours, less ingroup favouritism prejudice, greater pandemic prevention safety behaviours. Little about it socialized everyday life. Using stratified samples six socializing institution factors correlating positively GC education, white collar (and its higher income) religiosity. However, also decreased increasing age, contradicting ‘wisdom elders’ transmission learning, not replicating typical findings general prosociality increases age. Longitudinal empathy-building, network-enhancing like getting married or welcoming infant, three-month interval. Instrumental gains receiving promotion (or better job) showed effects. Less intuitively, death close-other enhanced rather than reduced GC. Perhaps was achieved through ritualized management meaning where sense smallness self empathy condition, more discontinuous opportunistic form culture-based learning. condition: evolving social–ecological transformations Anthropogenic planetary disruptions, climate change biodiversity loss, unprecedented challenges Some groups, practices, technologies institutions already disintegrating disappearing result. coupling socially produced disruptive changes—the condition—is new. From food-producing hunter–gatherers, farmers, urban food systems, current entanglement roots millennia accumulating sociocultural capabilities shaping cultured environments always lived (sociocultural niche construction). When transformative shape coupled adaptations enabling effectively live transformed environments, scales intensities accelerate feedback loop ‘runaway construction’. Efforts achieve both people will depend guiding runaway process outcomes redirecting Earth's nature: power aspirations. To guide force, narratives appeal aspirations be effective crisis overstepping natural boundaries. Reducing inequality local cooperation: simple model group selection externality Group-structured models often explain prosocial activities terms acting at levels. do typically consider individuals' behaviours may consequences beyond boundaries groups. many affect variables, including ecosystem fragility. Against background, propose multi-level presence externalities. model, members cooperate dilemma potential group-level benefits. actions cooperators consequences, good) negative bad). use simulations scenarios effects either evenly distributed, stronger influences rich poor. find promotes only disproportionately benefits poor reduces payoffs rich. If primarily harms poor, undermines behaviour. Understanding effect important given concerns poorer households vulnerable impacts. Green preferences sustain greenwashing: sustainable Discussions revolve around monetary incentives other easy-to-measure important, but they neglect culture. Pro-environmental values crucial when facing demand green consumers arguably critical incentivise production. owing asymmetric information, might know whether premium pay production well-spent. Reliable monitoring manufacturers meant solve problem. see work, develop analyse game theoretic buyer–seller exchange analysis shows greenwashing exist exactly because reliable co-exists unreliable monitoring. More broadly, promoting even amplify problem times manufacturer significant market exploit consumer trustworthy gouge prices extreme cases wash plain sight. discuss several strategies address Promoting accurate beliefs large-scale behavioural based necessary future, evidence literature highlights challenges.

Language: Английский

Evolution of the polycrisis: Anthropocene traps that challenge global sustainability DOI Creative Commons
Peter Søgaard Jørgensen, Raf E. V. Jansen, Daniel Itzamna Avila-Ortega

et al.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 379(1893)

Published: Nov. 13, 2023

The Anthropocene is characterized by accelerating change and global challenges of increasing complexity. Inspired what some have called a polycrisis, we explore whether the human trajectory complexity influence on Earth system could become form trap for humanity. Based an adaptation evolutionary traps concept to context, present results from participatory mapping. We identify 14 categorize them as either global, technology or structural traps. An assessment reveals that 12 (86%) be in advanced phase trapping with high risk hard-to-reverse lock-ins growing risks negative impacts well-being. Ten (71%) currently see trends their indicators. Revealing systemic nature assess often interact reinforcingly (45% pairwise interactions), rarely dampening fashion (3%). end discussing capacities will important navigating these pursuit sustainability. Doing so, introduce evolvability unifying such research between sustainability sciences. This article part theme issue 'Evolution sustainability: gathering strands synthesis'.

Language: Английский

Citations

29
Exploring the Interface Between Planetary Boundaries and Palaeoecology DOI Creative Commons
Lindsey Gillson, Alistair W. R. Seddon, Ondřej Mottl

et al.

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT The concepts of planetary boundaries are influential in the sustainability literature and assist delineating ‘safe operating spaces’ beyond which critical Earth system processes could collapse. Moving away from our current trajectory towards ‘hothouse Earth’ will require knowledge how systems have varied throughout Holocene, whether far we deviated past ranges variability. Such information can inform decisions about where change be resisted, accepted or adaptation is inevitable. need for on long‐term (Holocene) provides an interface palaeoecology that remains underexploited. In this position paper, explore interface, first discussing perspectives introducing examples has been used defining safe spaces constraining limits acceptable change. We describe advances quantitative methods analysis time‐series data strengthen contribution to spaces. consider importance issues scaling landscape regional global scales operationalising concepts. distil principles field research going forward introduce three case studies form basis these topics.

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Net benefit of smaller human populations to environmental integrity and individual health and wellbeing DOI Creative Commons
Chitra Maharani Saraswati, Melinda A. Judge, Lewis J. Z. Weeda

et al.

Frontiers in Public Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: March 5, 2024

Introduction The global human population is still growing such that our collective enterprise driving environmental catastrophe. Despite a decline in average growth rate, we are experiencing the highest annual increase of size history species—averaging an additional 84 million people per year since 1990. No review to date has accumulated available evidence describing associations between increasing and decline, nor solutions for mitigating problems arising. Methods We summarize relationships integrity, prosperity wellbeing, climate change. used PubMed , Google Scholar Web Science identify all relevant peer-reviewed gray-literature sources examining consequences on biosphere. reviewed papers quantifying risks associated with growth, especially relating Results These scale, as greenhouse-gas emissions, disruption, pollution, loss biodiversity, spread disease—all potentially catastrophic standards living, health, general wellbeing. trends country development, demographics, maternal education, access family planning, child health. Conclusion Support nations going through demographic transition required ensure progress occurs within planetary boundaries promotes equity rights. Ensuring wellbeing under this aim itself will lower further promote sustainability.

Language: Английский

Citations

7
Positive feedbacks in deep-time transitions of human populations DOI Creative Commons
Maurício Lima, Eugenia M. Gayó, Sergio A. Estay

et al.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 379(1893)

Published: Nov. 13, 2023

Abrupt and rapid changes in human societies are among the most exciting population phenomena. Human populations tend to show expansions from low high density along with increased social complexity just a few generations. Such demographic transitions appear as remarkable feature of Homo sapiens dynamics, likely fuelled by ability accumulate cultural/technological innovations that actively modify their environment. We especially interested establishing if pre-historic same dynamic signature Industrial Revolution transition (a positive relationship between growth rates size). Our results patterns across different were similar those observed during developed western societies. These features, which have been operating our recent history hunter-gatherers modern industrial societies, imply dynamics cooperation underlay sudden This article is part theme issue 'Evolution sustainability: gathering strands for an Anthropocene synthesis'.

Language: Английский

Citations

15
Social-ecological niche construction for sustainability: understanding destructive processes and exploring regenerative potentials DOI Creative Commons
Christian Dorninger, Lumila Paula Menéndez, Guido Caniglia

et al.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 379(1893)

Published: Nov. 13, 2023

Through the exponential expansion of human activities, humanity has become driving force global environmental change. The consequent sustainability crisis been described as a result uniquely form adaptability and niche construction. In this paper, we introduce concept social-ecological construction focusing on biophysical interactions outcomes. We use it to address destructive processes discuss potential regenerative ones ways overcome them. From point view, increasing disconnections between activities feedbacks appear success story in history human-nature coevolution because they enable humans expand virtually without being limited by constraints. However, is still poorly understood how suppressed affect future generations other species, or which lock-ins self-destructive dynamics may unfold long-term. This crucial observed escape from natural selection requires growing energy input represents temporal deferral rather than an actual liberation material limitations. Relying our proposal, conclude that, instead further taming nature, there need explore tame socio-metabolic growth impact processes. article part theme issue 'Evolution sustainability: gathering strands for Anthropocene synthesis'.

Language: Английский

Citations

12
Modelling reveals the effect of climate and land use change on Madagascar’s chameleons fauna DOI Creative Commons
Alessandro Mondanaro, Mirko Di Febbraro,

Silvia Castiglione

et al.

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: July 21, 2024

Abstract The global biodiversity crisis is generated by the combined effects of human-induced climate change and land conversion. Madagascar one World’s most renewed hotspots biodiversity. Yet, its rich variety plant animal species threatened deforestation change. Predicting future Madagascar’s chameleons, in particular, complicated their ecological rarity, making it hard to tell which factor menacing survival. By applying an extension ENphylo distribution model algorithm work with extremely rare species, we find that chameleons will face intense loss north-western sector island. Land conversion humans drive loss, intersect a complex, nonlinear manner We some 30% may lose nearly all habitats, critically jeopardizing chance for

Language: Английский

Citations

4
The Anthropocene and the biodiversity crisis: an eco-evolutionary perspective DOI Creative Commons

Philippe Jarne

Comptes Rendus Biologies, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 348(G1), P. 1 - 20

Published: Jan. 9, 2025

A major facet of the Anthropocene is global change, such as climate caused by human activities, which drastically affect biodiversity with all-scale declines and homogenization biotas. This crisis does not only ecological dynamics biodiversity, but also its evolutionary dynamics, including genetic diversity, an aspect that generally neglected. My tenet therefore to consider from eco-evolutionary perspective, i.e. explicitly accounting for possibility rapid evolution feedback on processes environment. I represent impact various avatars change in a temporal pre-industrial time near future, allowing visualize their set desired values should be trespassed given (e.g., +2 °C 50 years now). After presenting stressors change) this representation used heuristically show relevance perspective: (i) analyze how will respond stressors, example seeking out more suitable conditions or adapting new conditions; (ii) serve predictive exercises envision future (decades centuries) under stressor impact; (iii) propose nature-based solutions crisis. Significant obstacles stand way development approach, particular general lack interest intraspecific perhaps understanding that, we, humans, are modest part biodiversity. Supplementary Materials: material article supplied separate file: crbiol-172-suppl.pdf Un majeur de l'Anthropocène est le changement global, par exemple climatique, qui causé les activités humaines et conduit à un déclin drastique la biodiversité une homogénéisation des écosystèmes. Cette crise n'affecte pas seulement dynamique écologique biodiversité, mais également sa évolutive, y compris diversité génétique, généralement négligé. Il donc nécessaire considérer d'un point vue éco-évolutif, c'est-à-dire en tenant compte explicitement possibilité d'une évolution rapide rétroaction sur processus écologiques l'environnement. Je représente l'impact différents du dans perspective temporelle, l'époque préindustrielle au futur proche, ce permet visualiser leur fixer valeurs souhaitables ne dépasser pour période donnée (par exemple, ans). Après avoir présenté divers facteurs stress climatique) cette représentation utilisée montrer pertinence éco-évolutive : analyser comment répondra aux environnementaux, recherchant plus appropriées ou s'adaptant nouvelles ; servir exercices prédictifs afin d'envisager dynamiques futures (décennies siècles) sous ces proposer fondées nature. reste importants voie développement telle approche, particulier manque d'intérêt général intraspécifique, peut-être compréhension fait que nous, humains, sommes qu'une modeste partie biodiversité. Compléments Des compléments sont fournis cet fichier séparé

Citations

0
Conclusion: The Anthropocene Remade DOI
Martin Böhle, Boris Holzer, Leslie Sklair

et al.

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
The Anthropocene as a Trans-Disciplinary Issue DOI
Martin Böhle, Boris Holzer, Leslie Sklair

et al.

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Introduction: The Anthropocene Working Group: Mission and Contexts DOI
Martin Böhle, Boris Holzer, Leslie Sklair

et al.

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0