Homo sapiens and the sixth mass extinction of species (Andrew Glikson, ASPI The Strategist)

While many of the attributes of the genus Homo are shared by other species, it’s the use of fire which uniquely distinguishes Homo from other members of the animal kingdom. Evolved on the surface of a flammable carbon-rich biosphere exposed to an oxygen-rich atmosphere, the skill humans acquired in igniting fire and combustion has become their blueprint; it has affected the rest of nature. From nomad clans of hunter-gatherers to civilizations releasing copious amounts of energy and thus increasing entropy in nature at levels many times higher than the human physical capacity, Homo sapiens have become a dominant force in nature.

http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/homo-sapiens-and-the-sixth-mass-extinction-of-species/