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Abstract

The concept of sustainability has been shaped by the history of environmental problems and ecological crises, and the scientific value of studying the past has long been recognised. However, the relevance of studying Earth’s past in the context of the sustainability debate goes beyond testing Earth-system models used for future climate projections and looking for past analogues of future climate states or modern biodiversity loss. The past is also important for communicating the climate and ecological crisis in terms of enhancing scientific credibility and illustrating the extent of human interference with our planet. Finally, teaching and communicating the past evolution of the Earth system can help guide our thinking towards a more sustainable future by overcoming two root problems of the sustainability crisis, the perceived disconnect between humans and the environment and the lack of long-term thinking.