Anthropogenic

Anthropogenic is an adjective used to describe effects, processes, or objects that originate from human activity. The term derives from Greek anthrōpos, meaning “human,” combined with the suffix -genēs, meaning “produced by” or “generated.” In environmental science and related fields, anthropogenic impacts are contrasted with natural processes that occur without human influence.

Common contexts include climate change, where human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation drive changes in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations; pollution of air, water, and soil; and broader land-use changes such as urbanization and agriculture. Anthropogenic effects also appear in biodiversity loss through habitat destruction and fragmentation, in the introduction of non-native species, and in the depletion of natural resources like groundwater and minerals. The term is often used when attributing observed changes to human causes or when modeling future scenarios conditioned on human behavior.

The concept underpins discussions of the Anthropocene, a proposed geological epoch that emphasizes the substantial and lasting impact of human activity on Earth’s geology and ecosystems. In research, attribution studies seek to quantify the degree to which a specific change can be ascribed to anthropogenic factors versus natural variability. While widely used for clarity, the term can be a focal point in debates about the extent, pace, and ethical implications of human influence on the environment.