Week 1 - ENV 120 - Environmental Sciences II - LibGuides at Hostos Community College Library

Introduction & Impact on Human Effect

Reading

Chapter 18: Impact on Human Health
When environmental conditions are degraded such that the range of tolerance is exceeded, there will be a significant impact on human health. Our industrialized society dumps huge amounts of pollutants and toxic wastes into the earth's biosphere without fully considering the consequences. Such actions seriously degrade the health of the earth's ecosystems, and this degradation ultimately affects the health and well-being of human populations.
Chapter 19: First Order Effects
The size of natural ecosystems has shrunk as people increase their use of the land. Plants and animals have been changed by human agricultural practices. Clearly humans are changing the global environment and climate. What is unclear is whether earth's systems can adjust to these changes.

Additional Materials

1.4 Environment and Environmental Science

Environmental science studies all aspects of the environment in an interdisciplinary way. This means that it requires the knowledge of various other subjects including biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, microbiology, biochemistry, geology, economics, law, sociology, etc.

1.5 The Scientific Method

The scientific process typically starts with an observation (often a problem to be solved) that leads to a question. The scientific method consists of a series of well-defined steps. If a hypothesis is not supported by experimental data, a new hypothesis can be proposed.

1.6 Sustainability and Sustainable Development

Sustainability and the triple bottom-line (meeting environmental, economic, and social goals simultaneously) require that we limit our environmental impact, while promoting economic well-being and social equity.

Introduction to Environmental Sciences: What is Environmental Science and Sustainability

Earth is the only place in the universe that is definitely known to sustain life and ecosystems. Other than sunlight, the natural resources needed to sustain the human economy are restricted to the limited amounts that can be extracted on Earth.

Ecological Footprint Calculator

2022 New York Scoping Plan (Overview, Facts and Full Report): Framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net-zero emissions, increase renewable energy usage, and ensure climate justice.

New York’s Scoping Plan

The Scoping Plan is the framework for how New York will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net-zero emissions, increase renewable energy use, and ensure all communities equitably benefit in the clean energy transition.

Attributions

Chapter 18, Impact on Human Health
Chapter 19: First Order Effects
Source: AP Environmental Science by University of California, University of California College Prep
License: CC BY 2.0

Chapter 1: Introduction to Environmental Science
Source: Introduction to Environmental Science, 2nd Edition by Caralyn Zehnder, Kalina Manoylov, Samuel Mutiti, Christine Mutiti, Allison VandeVoort, Donna Bennett; Published by University System of Georgia
License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

What is Environmental Science and Sustainability
Source: Environmental Science by Dalhousie University
License: CC BY-NC 4.0

New York State Climate Action Council Scoping Plan
Source: New York State Climate Action Council, climate.ny.gov/ScopingPlan 2022. Copyright 2023.