Should we ban fossil fuel now? Scientists say we are living in a new time period — and that it can be seen in the rocks under our feet.
X
Next
After just 11,700 years... Earth enters new era
Should we ban fossil fuel now? Scientists say we are living in a new time period - and that it can be seen in the rocks under our feet.
X
PreviousNext
What's happening?
The year is 9,700 BC. The Ice AgeA long period of time in which global temperatures are extremely cold. is over and a new age is starting. It is called the Holocene. A type of hairless, walking ape called a human is just starting to tameTrain an animal so it is no longer wild. other animals.
The year is 1952. The USAThe United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million. blows up a huge bomb over the ocean. RadiationEnergy given off when radioactive material decays. It can be extremely harmful and sometimes fatal, causing vomiting, skin damage, hair loss and cancer. covers the planet.
Scientists say this marks one of the most important changes in Earth's history: the moment when humans started changing the climateThe weather over a long period of time. .
Last week, scientists said that the Holocene is over. A new time period has begun. They call it the Anthropocene.
Find out more
Today, the climate is changing. Across Europe and the USA, millions are suffering in a heat wave. Scientists think changes to the weather are in part caused by climate changeLong-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.. And humans are causing climate change by burning fossil fuelsFuels made from decomposing plants and animals, including coal, natural gas and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, causing global warming..
We burn fossil fuels to make energy. But when fossil fuels burn, they release carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide is a colourless gas formed during the combustion of any material containing carbon and is a significant greenhouse gas. . It is a gas that causes global warmingThe Earth is getting hotter due to climate change..
Some people are calling for fossil fuels to be banned now. Climate change is making many places unliveable. For now, countries are not doing enough to use other types of energy.
Others think a total ban could be far more harmful to the world's poorest people. Billions of people use the energy made by burning fossil fuels. If we stopped burning them tomorrow, many people would struggle to make a living.
X
Previous
Should we ban fossil fuels now?
Yes! We have no choice but to ban fossil fuels. Climate change is harming the planet now. We must act.
No! The economyThe way that money flows through a country, which affects wages and the cost of living. needs fossil fuels. It is important to stop using them - but we must make the change slowly so that the economy does not crash.
Keywords
Ice age - A long period of time in which global temperatures are extremely cold.
Tame - Train an animal so it is no longer wild.
USA - The United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million.
Radiation - Energy given off when radioactive material decays. It can be extremely harmful and sometimes fatal, causing vomiting, skin damage, hair loss and cancer.
Climate - The weather over a long period of time.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
Fossil fuels - Fuels made from decomposing plants and animals, including coal, natural gas and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, causing global warming.
Carbon dioxide - Carbon dioxide is a colourless gas formed during the combustion of any material containing carbon and is a significant greenhouse gas.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.
Economy - The way that money flows through a country, which affects wages and the cost of living.
After just 11,700 years… Earth enters new era
Momentous: Geologists have been working on the announcement of this new epoch for 15 years. Glossary
Ice age - A long period of time in which global temperatures are extremely cold.
Tame - Train an animal so it is no longer wild.
USA - The United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million.
Radiation - Energy given off when radioactive material decays. It can be extremely harmful and sometimes fatal, causing vomiting, skin damage, hair loss and cancer.
Climate - The weather over a long period of time.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
Fossil fuels - Fuels made from decomposing plants and animals, including coal, natural gas and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, causing global warming.
Carbon dioxide - Carbon dioxide is a colourless gas formed during the combustion of any material containing carbon and is a significant greenhouse gas.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.
Economy - The way that money flows through a country, which affects wages and the cost of living.