STS: Climate Action, Agency, and Environmental Citizenship

What does "Anthropocene" literally mean?

"Anthropos" = human; it refers to the age of humans dominating Earth's systems.

Who coined the term "Anthropocene"?

A: Eugene Stoermer and Paul Crutzen.

What does the Anthropocene refer to?

The current geological era where human activities are the main driving force behind changes in the Earth system.

What are the proposed beginnings of the Anthropocene?

Mastery of fire, discovery of agriculture, European colonization, Industrial Revolution, and the Great Acceleration.

Who proposed that mastery of fire marks the beginning of the Anthropocene?

Andrew Glikson (2013).

Why is European Colonization considered a possible start of the Anthropocene?

It triggered massive land use changes, species transfers, and ecological disruption on a global scale.

Why is the Industrial Revolution significant to the Anthropocene?

It marked the large-scale burning of fossil fuels and rapid industrialization, dramatically increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the geological time period just before the Anthropocene?

The Holocene (which began approximately 11,700 years ago).

What era does the Holocene belong to?

The Cenozoic era.

Who coined the term "Great Acceleration"?

John McNeill.

When did the Great Acceleration begin, and what was it tied to?

The 1950s; tied to the globalization of economies and information.

Why is the 1950s considered the marker of the Great Acceleration?

It saw explosive growth in population, energy use, economic activity, and global interconnectedness simultaneously.

Name at least three climate risks shown in the WMO Climate Risks infographic.

821 million undernourished (partly due to drought)

+35 million people affected by floods

+1,600 deaths from heatwaves and wildfires, ocean acidification, decrease in global ocean oxygen, and threats to peatland ecosystems.

How many people were displaced by weather and climate-linked disasters according to the WMO data?

+2 million people.

What percentage of internal displacements are linked to floods?

A: 32%.

What percentage of internal displacements are linked to droughts?

A: 29%.

What was the code name of the first nuclear test, and when did it occur?

Trinity; July 16, 1945, in New Mexico, USA.

When were Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombed?

A: Hiroshima on August 6, 1945; Nagasaki three days later (August 9, 1945).

Why is the nuclear era significant to discussions of the Anthropocene?

It represents humanity's capacity to cause planetary-scale destruction and marks a sharp turning point in the Great Acceleration.

Which two countries had the highest nuclear warhead stockpiles historically?

Russia and the United States.

When did global nuclear warhead stockpiles peak approximately?

Around 1990 (near 70,000 warheads globally).

What has happened to nuclear stockpiles since their peak?

They have significantly declined, though they remain a global threat.

Which SEA country has the highest CO₂ emissions per capita (2019)?

Brunei (15.96 tons per capita).

What is Climate Justice?

The recognition that climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable communities who contribute least to its causes, framing it as an ethical and human rights issue.

Why is the Philippines particularly vulnerable to climate change?

It is an archipelago in the Pacific typhoon belt, making it highly exposed to intensifying typhoons, sea level rise, and extreme weather events.

What is the costliest Philippine typhoon on record (2008–2020)?

Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), 2013 — ₱95.5 billion / $2.2 billion in damages.

What is the tension at the heart of climate justice?

Countries that pollute least often suffer the most from climate change impacts.

What are green and sustainable bonds?

Financial instruments used to fund environmentally sustainable projects and climate action initiatives.

What are the MDGs?

Millennium Development Goals — 8 goals focused on poverty, education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, disease, environment, and global partnership.

What replaced the MDGs?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — 17 goals adopted by the UN.

How many SDGs are there?

17.

Which SDG specifically addresses climate action?

SDG 13 — Climate Action.

Which SDG addresses life below water?

SDG 14.

Which SDG addresses life on land?

SDG 15.

Which SDG addresses clean water and sanitation?

SDG 6.

Which SDG addresses affordable and clean energy?

SDG 7.

Which SDG addresses responsible consumption and production?

SDG 12.

Which SDG addresses reduced inequalities?

SDG 10.

Which SDG addresses sustainable cities and communities?

SDG 11.

What is the "SDG Wedding Cake" model?

A model by the Stockholm Resilience Centre showing the economy sits within society, which sits within the biosphere — meaning all human activity depends on ecological stability.

What is the key insight of the SDG Wedding Cake model?

The biosphere is the foundation; economic and social goals cannot be achieved without a stable environment.

What are the four spheres of environmental citizenship action?

Private sphere, public sphere, individual actions, and collective actions.

What are examples of individual actions in environmental citizenship?

Reducing personal waste, conserving energy, changing consumption habits, and community clean-ups.

What are examples of collective actions in environmental citizenship?

Advocacy, protests, policy lobbying, community organizing, and voting for climate-conscious leaders.

At what scales can environmental citizenship operate?

Local, national, and global scales.

What is the deep interconnection revealed by the Anthropocene crisis?

The connection between human societies, technological development, and ecological systems.