‘Anthropocene’. Second Conference of the French National Committee of Geography

16–18 December 2026

The French National Committee of Geography (CNFG) conference build on the legacy of the organisation of the International Geographical Union Congress. They are organised by the commissions that make up the CNFG, which are responsible for selecting the theme, as well as for the organising committee and the scientific committee. The aim is to provide a shared space and time for all geographers to meet, bringing them together regularly around significant, transversal themes.

The concept of the Anthropocene, as proposed by the Dutch chemist Paul Crutzen and the biologist Eugene Stroemer in 2000 (Crutzen, P.J., Stoermer, E.F., 2000) involves viewing humanity as a ‘new telluric force’ and refers to ‘the entry into a new geological epoch characterised by the widespread and irreversible imprint of human beings and their activities on the Earth’ (Critical Dictionary of the Anthropocene, 2022). Although, after 15 years of deliberation, the International Commission on Stratigraphy voted against designating the Anthropocene as a new geological epoch, the term has become established not only in the media but also within the social sciences. It gives rise to a wide range of interpretations, as well as highly diverse analytical methodologies. It resonates strongly within our discipline, due to its dual roots in the natural sciences and the social sciences. However, in France, the work of geographers remains largely overlooked and under-reported, even as publications on the subject have proliferated in recent years, featuring a wide variety of approaches and perspectives. The concept of the Anthropocene has thus reshaped fields of study and issues already extensively addressed by various strands of our discipline.

The Anthropocene can thus be understood in various ways. The concept has been viewed as a break with the past and as a subject of epistemological and political debate, particularly in the context of efforts to move beyond the nature/society dichotomy. It can be understood as a framework for interpreting global transformations, or serve as a critical tool for reflecting on the relationship between societies and the environment, and on the habitability of the Earth. By re-situating territorial dynamics within the functioning and evolution of the Earth system, it has introduced a form of systemic totality that has been criticised for being overly all-encompassing (Bonneuil, Fressoz, 2016, in the database). This has led to proposals for analyses more closely connected to local scales, the field and territories (Critical Dictionary of the Anthropocene, 2020; Anna Tsing et al. “Our New Nature: A Field Guide to the Anthropocene”, 2025)

Aims of the Conference

The Conference does not set out to re-examine the defining elements of the Anthropocene in its geological sense. The concept has evolved: it has been widely discussed and commented upon. Rather, the Conference aims to focus on discussions regarding the effects of its introduction into scientific practice and the contributions the concept makes to our discipline, by highlighting how it makes sense—or not—depending on our research themes and subjects, our theoretical, analytical and methodological frameworks, as well as our pedagogical approaches.

Some initial, non-exhaustive points for discussion:

- What is the heuristic value of the concept of the ‘Anthropocene’? By redefining our scales of analysis, by blurring the boundaries between the social and the biophysical, between the long-term and the short-term, and by questioning the relevance of certain explanatory models and the interpretation of certain mechanisms, does the concept disrupt, reinforce or reconfigure our frameworks for work and analysis?

- How can the concept of the Anthropocene be applied in the field and in the laboratory to analyse contemporary or historical changes in landscapes? Is this a genuinely new approach for geography, or does it build on existing research into society–environment interactions? What tools and methods enable us to identify and study the concrete traces of human activities (urbanisation, land development, infrastructure, agricultural or industrial practices) and to understand their effects on territories? How can we link local observations – whether of a neighbourhood, a coastline or a valley – to global phenomena such as climate change and pollution?

- Does the discourse framed by the concept of the Anthropocene enable specific forms of research practice: methodological experimentation and hybridisation, pedagogical and didactic practices, new forms of scientific communication (podcasts, creative art-science initiatives, etc.)? Has it led to a renewed interest in reflexive and critical approaches? Has it given rise to new forms of expertise (particularly in spatial planning and urbanism)?

- How can a discipline such as geography re-examine the concept of the Anthropocene by placing its dimensions – global and local, social and biophysical, material and symbolic – as well as its temporal dimensions (long-term, short-term, past, present, future) into perspective? How do its fields of study shape the way in which the Anthropocene has been established as a concept, and does this lead to the formulation of other semantic proposals (Capitalocene, Plantationocene, Urbanocene, Androcene, Plasticocene, etc.)? Which concepts might be considered competing or complementary (transition? others?), and what factors explain the success of one over another?

- How do different epistemological traditions influence the consideration and adoption—or rejection—of the concept of the Anthropocene, whether these are national epistemological traditions marked by internal debates (between the natural sciences and the social sciences, or regarding notions of geographical determinism) or approaches from the discipline’s various fields (urban, rural, environmental, political, economic, cultural, social, etc.)? How do differences in geographical context (countries of the Global South) affect the way the Anthropocene is conceptualised?

- What new synergies within the discipline might be fostered by engaging with the concept of the Anthropocene? Could this concept spark new debates within the discipline (and within the CNFG, by encouraging dialogue between committees)? Beyond our own community, how does it encourage scientific collaboration with other disciplines? How does it foster cooperation or partnerships – for example in the field of action research – with ‘practitioners’ in spatial planning and territorial development? When and by whom is the concept of the Anthropocene being applied in the fields of research or territorial action?

- Media coverage of the concept has altered social expectations regarding scientific knowledge. Consequently, in what ways and how does the Anthropocene shape the role of the geographer as a researcher? And as a teacher? And as a practitioner assisting in the formulation of public policies on spatial planning, urban planning, the environment, etc.? What are their roles and influence in shaping the discourses put forward by geographers?

In partnership with the Romanian Geographical Committee, a panel discussion will also be organised on the various international interpretations of the concept of the Anthropocene, offering a fresh perspective within the conference programme. This collaboration provides the CNFG with an opportunity to uphold the tradition of dialogue, exchange and sharing between countries, which is so valuable to our academic communities. The participation of our Romanian colleagues in these meetings will help to shed light on this diversity of approaches, in light of the various national epistemological traditions. Indeed, Romanian geography, echoing international debates, seems to have adopted the term ‘Anthropocene’ very early on in various branches of the discipline. Comparing national scientific experiences and controversies will shed further light on how the notion spreads, is sometimes grasped as a concept, and challenges and alters scientific practices in different local contexts.

Organisational details

Open to all geographers, particularly early-career researchers, this conference provides an opportunity to explore new perspectives and avenues within the discipline around this concept.

The call for participation for these sessions will take place in two stages:

a call for sessions, closing at the end of April;

a call for papers (which may or may not be linked to the previously proposed sessions), open until the end of May, with an evaluation phase running until the end of June.

All proposals will undergo double-blind evaluation by the scientific committee, and feedback will be communicated to participants during July.

Submissions should be made via this link.

Timeline:

23 March 2026: opening of the call

30 April 2026: closing of the call for sessions.

31 May 2026: closing of the call for communication.

Mid-July – feedback from the scientific committee’s evaluations and draft programme

16–18 December 2026: CNFG “Anthropocene” Conference.