We have entered a dangerous period in which a huge and growing population, combined with rapid economic growth, now threatens to have a catastrophic impact on the earth’s climate, biodiversity, and fresh-water supplies. Scientists call this new period the Anthropocene – in which human beings have become the main causes of the earth’s physical and biological changes.&nbsp;
联合国秘书长潘基文正确地指出，可持续发展是全球日程的重中之重。我们已经进入了一个危险的时期，人口数量庞大且在不断增长，经济增长十分迅速，因而对地球气候、生物多样性和清洁水供给造成了灾难性影响。科学家将这一新时期称为“人类纪”（Anthropocene），即人类称为地球物质和生物变化的主要原因的时期。