AP Environmental Science: Global Change

Human Impact on Earth:
  - The impact humans have on the Earth is significant and detrimental.
  - Current trajectories in human behavior are unsustainable.
  - Global movements are underway, with individuals and groups advocating for the environment.
Role of Policies:
  - Policies are crucial in protecting the environment.
  - International vs Domestic Policies:
    - International policies tend to be harder to enforce than domestic ones.
    - The United Nations is actively involved in this area, executing treaties among countries to promote environmental protection.
Historical Context in the U.S.:
- U.S. laws regarding land protection initiated only in 1872.
- Most early acts prioritized exploitation and profit from land and natural resources.
Key Figures:
  - Theodore Roosevelt:
    - Credited with establishing the Golden Age of Conservation.
    - Enacted numerous environmental laws and established reserves, conservation efforts, and national parks.

Significant Environmental Acts:
  - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Established under President Nixon.
  - Chief of the United States Forest Fires: Position created by Theodore Roosevelt.
  - Clean Air Act (1963): To regulate air emissions.
  - Clean Water Act (1972): Aimed at regulating the discharges of pollutants into the waters.
  - National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 1970): Established a framework for environmental protection considerations in government actions.
  - International Environmental Protection Act (1983): Addressed global environmental issues.
  - Pollution Prevention Act (1990): Focused on reducing pollution at the source.
  - Environmental Education Act (1990): Aimed at developing environmentally literate citizens.
  - Non-Governmental Organizations:
    - Groups such as Greenplace and Wildlife Fund contribute to environmental protection efforts.

Major Issues of Focus:
  - Population Growth
  - Water Shortages
  - Biodiversity Loss
  - Air and Chemical Pollution
  - Ocean Acidification and Pollution

Cap and Trade Policy:
- Provides economic incentives for reducing pollution output.
Command and Control Laws:
- Aim to limit the use of resources and protect species.
- Challenges exist in enforcement due to various complicating factors.
Green Taxes:
  - Concept of levying taxes on environmentally harmful actions and practices (e.g., pollution tax).
  - Can be structured as taxes on consumption rather than taxes on income.
  - Goals include fostering behavioral change, funding restoration projects, and reducing overall pollution.
Market Permits:
- Permits that can be purchased and utilized to authorize the release of certain pollutants into designated environmental areas.
- Present incentives to lower pollution emissions.
Globalization:
- Describes the interconnectedness in communication, travel, and relationships around the world.
- Organizations like the World Bank and the UN actively engage in global environmental efforts.

Notable Treaties and Agreements:
  - Montreal Accord (1978): Addressed substances that deplete the ozone layer.
  - Basel Convention (1992): Controlled transboundary movements of hazardous waste.
  - Kyoto Protocol (1997): Aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  - Paris Agreement (2016): Comprehensive agreement to combat climate change and limit global warming.