A Physical Framework for the Earth System in the Anthropocene: Towards an Accountancy System

Abstract

At a time when humanity has achieved global dominance at a scale that was previously thought impossible, it might also face an existential threat due to the consequences of that overwhelming influence on our common home, the Earth System (ES). In this work we explore how Physics may help us to understand the transitions that the ES is going through and lead us to a physically motivated accounting system that allows for setting boundaries to our negative influence on the ecosystems.

To appear in the Proceedings of the EIBEA (Ibero-american Encounter of Anthropocene Studies), 11-13 July 2019, Braga, Portugal. 7 pages, 4 figures