The Anthropocene is not a distinct new geological epoch, says IUGS. The impact of human activities on our planet is in fact increasingly evident and visible through greenhouse gas emissions, the spread of microplastics and other forms of pollution.
Scientists are campaigning for this period, which began in the 19th century with the Industrial Revolution, to be recognized as an era in its own right. The Holocene, an interglacial period marked by favorable climatic conditions which stimulated the flourishing of human societies, spanned more than 10,000 years.