Shaping the Anthropocene: Understanding and Evaluating Human Impact on the Global Ecosystem

In the Anthropocene epoch, human activities have extensively altered the global ecological system, leading to substantial shifts in species distribution and survival patterns due to industrialization and global warming. Quantifying these environmental impacts is essential; for example, the 2023 Global Footprint Network estimates humanity's ecological footprint to be 1.71 Earths, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable solutions. This study aims to identify and summarize primary quantification methods for assessing human impacts on the environment. Using the Web of Science database, this paper analyzes 1000 relevant papers to identify four primary methodologies: the ecological footprint, Human Appropriation of Net Primary Production (HANPP), the Planetary Boundary framework, and the Living Planet Index (LPI). This paper provides a detailed evaluation of each approach, assessing their strengths and limitations in measuring the effects of human activities on the global ecosystem. Additionally, this study explores the potential of machine learning models to enhance future predictions. By analyzing and comparing these methods, this paper offers insights that are critical for informing policies and practices aimed at reducing human-induced environmental degradation.