Consider it what you may – a silver lining, break in the clouds, or just the brighter side of the picture – the pandemic has allowed people to reconnect with nature. Unfortunately, you might say humankind is a tad bit too late on this one, with the Earth’s current climatic outlook in shambles.

Pexels | The biggest issue we’re facing currently is climate change

What is Anthropocene?

Anthropocene, derived from the Greek Anthropos meaning human, and cene meaning geological time period is a rather recent field of study that looks into how human beings transformed the Earth. For the worse, might we add? This correlation creates deeply profound and troubling questions for humankind.

The beginning point of the Anthropocene is marked in the 1950s, although a bit debated upon. This is when the third industrial revolution caused the rapid escalation of various things. Population growth, fossil fuel use, travel and tourism, water usage, energy usage, industrial agriculture, plastic waste, deforestation, habitat loss, CO2 emissions, and climate change all skyrocketed with little to no people focusing on long-lasting repercussions.

Being Conscious of Your Connections

The concept of Anthropocene is rather frightening and anxiety-inducing as it suggests that it’s far too late to fix things. It suggests that human beings must sit and wait for the inevitable doom of the planet. It’s high time we realized that everything on planet Earth is interconnected, working in a complex system that keeps living going – and researchers are gaining a deeper understanding of this phenomena every passing day. Consequently, animal welfare movements, veganism, nature-based interventions, sustainability discussions, indigenous knowledge, and activism have all come to rise in recent years.

Pexels | People continue to search for sustainable means for everyday needs

Time to Rethink Your Relationship with Nature

Did you know that it would take 5 million years for the Earth to recover even if all of humanity is wiped extinct tomorrow? This is a rough estimate of course, but it puts things into perspective considerably. We live in a world where exploitation is the key to survival, and the more we exploit natural resources, the closer we get to the world being destroyed.

In the face of such a staggering environmental crisis, everyone must play their part responsibly. First of all, you must find your connection with nature and understand the intricate ways in which you are interconnected with the world around you. Meditating in nature is a great way to do so.

Pexels | Find your inner connection with nature

As a final thought, sustaining whatever broken pieces of the Earth we have left is in your hands as much as it is in ours. With movements stirring up to increase the longevity of the planet, the most you can do is play your part for its safety and convince others to do the same.