Paul J. Crutzen
He won the Nobel Prize for his work on the formation and decomposition of ozone.
Most quoted
"Considering these and many other major and still growing impacts of human activities on Earth and atmosphere, and at all, including global, scales, it seems to me more than appropriate to emphasize the central role of mankind in geology and ecology by proposing to use the term 'Anthropocene' for the current geological epoch."
— from The 'Anthropocene', 2000
"For the past three centuries, the effects of humans on the global environment have escalated. Because of these, it seems to me that it is more than appropriate to emphasize the central role of mankind in geology and ecology by proposing to use the term 'Anthropocene' for the current geological epoch."
— from IGBP Newsletter, 2000
"The Anthropocene could be said to have started in the latter part of the eighteenth century, when analyses of air trapped in polar ice showed the beginning of growing global concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane."
— from Geology of Mankind, 2002
All quotes by Paul J. Crutzen (422)
The Anthropocene is a reminder that the Earth System is now operating in a no-analogue state.
We are the first generation with knowledge of how our activities influence the Earth System, and thus the first generation with the power and the responsibility to change our relationship with the planet.
The future of our planet lies in our hands.
We are conducting an uncontrolled experiment on Earth's life-support system.
The atmosphere is a global commons, essential for life and vulnerable to human actions.
The discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole was a shock to the scientific community.
It was a great relief when the international community, with the Montreal Protocol, agreed to take strong measures.
The ozone story shows that when science, public concern, and political will align, global environmental problems can be tackled.
We must consider the possibility of geoengineering as a last resort to combat climate change.
The idea of injecting sulfur particles into the stratosphere to cool the planet is a desperate measure for a desperate situation.
We should explore solar radiation management not as a solution, but as a potential emergency response.
The Anthropocene forces us to rethink our concepts of nature and culture.
We are not just influencing the climate; we are changing the entire Earth System.
The Holocene is over. Welcome to the Anthropocene.
The Anthropocene is a critical phase in the history of both humanity and the Earth.
Our current path is not sustainable. We need a major shift in thinking and action.
Science provides the diagnosis, but society must provide the cure.
The Earth has entered a new geological epoch, and we are the driving force.
We must learn to manage the planet wisely, not just exploit it.
The Anthropocene is a powerful concept because it tells us that we are all in this together.
Contemporaries of Paul J. Crutzen
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Paul J. Crutzen (1933–2021).