Lesson plan
Pyrocene
Pyrocene is a proposed term for a new geologic epoch or age characterized by the influence of human-caused fire activity on Earth. The concept focuses on the many ways humans have applied and removed fire from the Earth, including the burning of fossil fuels and the technologies that have enabled people to leverage their influence and become the dominant species on the planet. The Pyrocene offers a fire-centric perspective on human history that is an alternative to or complementary term for the Anthropocene. Like the Anthropocene, the concept suggests that human activity has shaped the Earth's geology and identifies fire as humanity's primary tool for shaping the planet and its environment. Pyrocene was first proposed by environmental historian Stephen J. Pyne in 2015. Since that time, it has been adopted by journalists and scholars in the fields of wildland fire, ecology, and environmental policy focused on the impacts of climate change and increased risk of wildfires around the globe. This research has focused on extreme wildfires in Hawaii, California, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Australia, and Canada. It has relied on the concept of Pyrocene to highlight how climate change, land-use changes, and direct human ignition have increased the frequency and intensity of these conflagrations.
Article summary
Pyrocene is a proposed term for a new geologic epoch or age characterized by the influence of human-caused fire activity on Earth. The concept focuses on the many ways humans have applied and removed fire from the Earth, including the burning of fossil fuels and the technologies that have enabled people to leverage their influence and become the dominant species on the planet. The Pyrocene offers a fire-centric perspective on human history that is an alternative to or complementary term for the Anthropocene. Like the Anthropocene, the concept suggests that human activity has shaped the Earth's geology and identifies fire as humanity's primary tool for shaping the planet and its environment. Pyrocene was first proposed by environmental historian Stephen J. Pyne in 2015. Since that time, it has been adopted by journalists and scholars in the fields of wildland fire, ecology, and environmental policy focused on the impacts of climate change and increased risk of wildfires around the globe. This research has focused on extreme wildfires in Hawaii, California, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Australia, and Canada. It has relied on the concept of Pyrocene to highlight how climate change, land-use changes, and direct human ignition have increased the frequency and intensity of these conflagrations.
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.