The Sixth Extinction 여섯 번째 대멸종

현재 지구상 민물 연체동물 3분의 1, 상어와 가오리 3분의 1, 포유류 4분의 1, 파충류 5분의 1, 조류 6분의 1이 영원히 사라지고 있는 것으로 추정된다.

엘리자베스 콜버트(Elizabeth Kolbert)는 “종들이 사라지는 데는 저마다 다른 이유가 있지만, 그 과정을 끝까지 추적하다 보면 늘 동일한 범인인 ‘일개의 나약한 종(인간)’을 만나게 된다” 라고 말하며 ‘인류’의 책임을 분명히 한다.

Meanwhile, an even stranger and more radical transformation is under way. Having discovered subterranean reserves of energy, humans begin to change the composition of the atmosphere. This, in turn, alters the climate and the chemistry of the oceans.

Some plants and animals adjust by moving. They climb mountains, and migrate toward the poles. But a great many-at first hundreds, then thousands, and finally perhaps millions-find themselves marooned. Extinction rate soar, and the texture of life changes.

No creatures has ever altered life on the planet in this way before, and yet other, comparable events have occurred. Very, very occasionally in the distant past, the planet has undergone change so wrenching that the diversity of life has plummeted.

Elizabeth Kolbert, <The Sixth Extinction>, Paperback, Page 2-3