Stemming from the Ancient Greek anthropo ('human') and cene (recent'), the term Anthropocene refers to the most recent geological period, one in which humanity has become the determining factor in environmental and geophysical changes to the planet. As the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly felt around the globe, artists such as Pablo Desoto are asking what we can do to sustain the future of our 'damaged planet'?

Suzana Milevska observed that there is a significant difference between the words `commons` and `commoning,` that goes beyond the grammatical distinction between the passive commons (noun) and the active commoning (verb or gerund). Milevska argues that this difference calls for clarification and reflection on the economic and political implications of both concepts. Peter Linebaugh remarked about the distinction between the noun commons, as resource or property, and the active relations assumed by commoning: "To speak of the commons as if it were a natural resource is misleading at best and dangerous at worst – the commons is an activity and, if anything, it expresses relationships in society that are inseparable from relations to nature. It might be better to keep the word as a verb, an activity, rather than as a noun, a substantive."

For Timothy Morton, the awareness of ecology in contemporary society resembles the form of a strange loop or Möbius strip in the sense that it is one-sided and geared towards humans. In his writings on 'Dark Ecology', Morton invites us to reconsider our relationship with nature, arguing for a future of coexistence where ecological awareness no longer privileges humans, and instead works to create a fruitful dialogue between the human and non-human that can, in his words, 'brighten the dark, strange loop we traverse.'

According to UNESCO, displacement 'refers to the forced movement of people from their locality or environment and occupational activities.' This social change is often the result of economic changes, environmental and natural disasters, or political violence.

Coined by the German biologist Ernst Haeckel in the nineteenth century, 'ecology' was first applied to the study of animal relationships to their organic and inorganic environments. Since then, ecology has been established as a branch of biology which seeks to study the relationship between organisms and their environments, with scholars such as Jason W Moore writing on the subject.

Ecological crises occur when changes to the environment endanger the survival of a particular population or species. Sometimes referred to as a 'tragedy of the commons', today's ecological crises are often the product of human activities and their subsequent impacts on the environment. Measures to reduce these effects are crucial to stemming the degradation of our environment and ensuring the survival of populations and species.

As societies across the globe recognise the importance of green spaces in urban planning and regeneration efforts, so too must they deal with the negative impacts that these can have on local communities. Eco-gentrification refers to the phenomenon in which the establishment of green projects, often designed on the premise of benefiting residents, increase land and property values in the surrounding area. As a result of facing higher rent and living expenses, many existing residents are forced to leave.

Extinction refers to the process in which a species begins to die out and ceases to exist. Although some examples of extinction are the product of natural evolution, there are many which are the result of human interference, such as the decline of Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the threat of bee extinction due to the use of pesticides in farming.

In recent years gentrification has featured more frequently in debates concerning housing and urban living. The term is used to describe the renovation of already established environments so as to cater to the influx of wealthier residents. As areas are redeveloped, rent and property values increase and communities change thus forcing pre-existing residents who are economically or socially disadvantaged to leave in spite of having established roots in these areas.

Humanity is the collective term for human beings. Often associated with the idea of 'humankind', the term humanity conjures up connotations of compassion, fraternity and understanding between beings. However, in the wake of the Anthropocene, the consideration of others can be called into question as habitats and species become endangered through human consumption, thus calling for a reconsideration of what collective existence and humanity really means today.

According to Timothy Morton, hyperobjects are objects that are independent of human thought and thus transcend notions such as time and space. An example of a hyperobject is global warming. For Morton, hyperobjects are floating entities that are able to alert humans to the impending ecological dilemmas that they are facing and raise further questions about the environment in which they are living.

When a species or population has always existed or lived naturally in a particular environment this is known as being indigenous or native. Throughout history, there are many examples of the degradation of environments harming indigenous species and populations as their means for survival have been ruined or confiscated. In spite of this, today there are many activists working to combat the erasure of indigenous cultures.

Introduced by the scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, intersectionality refers to the complex ways in which different forms of discrimination combine and the effects that this has on those who are subordinated. Whilst the term was first used in relation to feminist studies and the exclusion of women of color from societal debates, in recent years the term has been increasingly applied to queer theory and critical race theory.

Most commonly found in science fiction and philosophy, posthumanism is a concept that attempts to describe an existence or state that is beyond human. In opposition to the concept of humanism first conceived in the Renaissance, scholars such as Donna Haraway argue that posthumanist beings do not have autonomy over their environment. Instead, posthumanist beings are dependent on their environment for survival and are of no greater importance than other species and beings, together forming part of a larger evolving ecosystem.

The term privilege is often used in discussions of social inequality. Privilege refers to the advantages or rights that a particular person or social group may have over others resulting in preferential treatment. Privilege can frequently be found in the context of disability, ethnicity, gender, race, sexuality and social class.

Shelter is one of the most basic human needs alongside food and water. The term is used to describe temporary forms of protection against hardships, whether they be caused by environmental, financial, personal or political circumstances.

The term species is used to describe a set of organisms that share particular characteristics. In biology, species are categorised taxonomically in order to classify distinctions between organisms. In ecology, species can be defined in relation to certain organisms adapting so as to be able to survive within their habitats.

Structural inequality is a concept in which institutions create systems of privilege that continue to oppress marginalised groups within society. Dominant social institutions such as education, politics and the workplace, amongst others, reinforce ideas and practices that discriminate against particular social groups, thus sustaining inequality.

Discussions of sustainability are centered around ensuring that the abilities of future generations to meet their own needs are not compromised. In order to achieve this, it is essential that communities work together to conserve natural resources and use local materials so as to be able to preserve environments for future usage.