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Abstract

In the Anthropocene, in which we now live, climate change is impacting
most life on Earth. Microorganisms support the existence of all higher
trophic life forms. To understand how humans and other life forms on
Earth (including those we are yet to discover) can withstand
anthropogenic climate change, it is vital to incorporate knowledge of
the microbial 'unseen majority'. We must learn not just how
microorganisms affect climate change (including production and
consumption of greenhouse gases) but also how they will be affected by
climate change and other human activities. This Consensus Statement
documents the central role and global importance of microorganisms in
climate change biology. It also puts humanity on notice that the impact
of climate change will depend heavily on responses of microorganisms,
which are essential for achieving an environmentally sustainable future.