Awakening to the Traumacene

On May 11, 2019 our atmosphere’s concentration of carbon dioxide surpassed 415 ppm for the first time since anatomically modern humans have walked on Earth. This milestone is the crowning achievement of centuries spent burning fossil fuels, cutting trees, and tilling soil, among other activities. These workings transform our world, making it warmer, shifting its precipitation patterns, and leading to extreme weather events. We are changing…