The concept of the Anthropocene epoch is one that surrounds controversy due to being a period where humans are accelerating brilliantly, regarding discovery and technology, yet they are criticised heavily for the impact they are having upon the earth’s climate change. The atmospheric chemist, Paul Curtzen, proposed the theory back in 2002, stating that we currently live in the latest geographical time scale entitled the Anthropocene, following the Holocene. Hamilton et al. described the Anthropocene as not only ‘Man’s’...
The concept of the Anthropocene epoch is one that surrounds controversy due to being a period where humans are accelerating brilliantly, regarding discovery and technology, yet they are criticised heavily for the impact they are having upon the earth’s climate change. The atmospheric chemist, Paul Curtzen, proposed the theory back in 2002, stating that we currently live in the latest geographical time scale entitled the Anthropocene, following the Holocene. Hamilton et al. described the Anthropocene as not only ‘Man’s’ moment in the history of the earth, but also the species’ moment in the understanding of human history’.
However, the realities of the Anthropocene are less attractive when trying to mitigate the challenges faced by the current climate state. Various realities include the lack of political will to make the immediate change, and most stupidly, the reality that humans have knowingly got themselves into this downward spiral of climate change, yet they still convince themselves that everything is going to be all right. However, there is hope. Spatial planning can play a vital role in the mitigation of climate change because it recognizes the urgency needed to address both the causes of climate change and the impacts of unavoidable climate change. A closer look will be given on how spatial planning can be used to adjust infrastructures, economic activities and the built environment in order to adapt to future climate challenges and mitigate these before it is too late.
