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Characteristic processes of human evolution caused the Anthropocene and may obstruct its global solutions
Timothy M Waring1, Zachary T Wood2, Eörs Szathmáry3,4,5
1Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA.
Human evolution, favoring larger groups and exploitation, created the Anthropocene environmental crises. Current human evolution patterns hinder global solutions, necessitating altered cultural evolution to avert disaster.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Environmental science
- Anthropology
Background:
- The Anthropocene is characterized by global environmental crises.
- Human evolution has historically favored group size and resource exploitation.
- Cultural traits have facilitated human niche expansion and environmental control.
Conclusions:
- Humanity's long-standing cultural evolutionary patterns are the root of the Anthropocene and pose challenges to collective environmental action.
- Altering these patterns is crucial to avoid environmental disaster and escalating intergroup conflict.
- An applied research and policy program is proposed to guide humanity toward sustainable evolutionary pathways.
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