Since sedentism, we have altered the earth so much that more and more scientists say a new name is required for this geological era – the anthropocene, the human epoch.
Without the earth's atmosphere, life on earth would be impossible. Yet we humans intervene in atmospheric cycles and are accelerating climate change by emission of gases. Each time we burn wood, carbon, oil or natural gas, carbon dioxide is formed and industrial livestock farming also contributes significantly to the production of greenhouse gases.
