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ESM211Sciences2 Unitsintermediate

Global Environmental Issues

This course provides a comprehensive overview of global environmental issues. It begins by exploring ecosystem concepts and the Gaia hypothesis. The course then examines human population dynamics and their impact on the environment, followed by an in-depth analysis of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and desertification. Furthermore, it addresses global warming, ozone layer depletion, air pollution, and the critical issues of ocean and freshwater management. Finally, the course covers solid waste management, recycling, and global energy consumption.

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208h

Study Time

13

Weeks

16h

Per Week

basic

Math Level

Course Keywords

EcosystemsDeforestationPollutionClimate ChangeBiodiversity

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level

Builds on foundational knowledge

65%

intermediate

➕

Math Level

Basic Math

📖

Learning Type

Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Ecosystem Concepts

2

Human Population Dynamics

3

Deforestation and its Impacts

4

Biodiversity Loss and Conservation

5

Desertification Processes

6

Global Warming and Greenhouse Effect

7

Ozone Layer Depletion

8

Air and Water Pollution

9

Waste Management and Recycling

10

Global Energy Consumption

11

Transportation Impacts

Total Topics11 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Environmental Consultant

Apply your skills in this growing field

Sustainability Manager

Apply your skills in this growing field

Environmental Impact Assessor

Apply your skills in this growing field

Conservation Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Waste Management Specialist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

Environmental ConsultingGovernment RegulationRenewable EnergyWaste ManagementConservation

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week

1

Module 1: Ecosystem Concepts and Global Interdependence

4h

Unit 1: Ecosystem Concepts and Gaia Hypothesis

4 study hours

•Define ecosystem and its components.
•Identify producers, consumers, and decomposers.
•Explain the Gaia Hypothesis and its relevance to environmental balance.

Week

2

Module 1: Ecosystem Concepts and Global Interdependence

4h

Unit 2: Human Population and Environment

4 study hours

•Define human population and overpopulation.
•Analyze factors influencing population growth.
•Discuss the effects of population growth on the environment.
•Explore strategies for controlling population growth for environmental sustainability.

Week

3

Module 2: Resource Depletion and Environmental Degradation

4h

Unit 3: Deforestation

4 study hours

•Define deforestation and its various interpretations.
•Identify the status of deforestation worldwide.
•Analyze the causes and effects of deforestation.
•Explore methods for controlling deforestation and promoting sustainable habits.

Week

4

Module 2: Resource Depletion and Environmental Degradation

4h

Unit 4: Biodiversity Loss and Conservation

4 study hours

•Explain the concept of biodiversity and its relevance.
•Discuss the concept of biodiversity loss and its reasons.
•Analyze the consequences of biodiversity loss.
•Explore biodiversity conservation practices and the efforts of the Nigeria Conservation Foundation.

Week

5

Module 2: Resource Depletion and Environmental Degradation

4h

Unit 5: Desertification

4 study hours

•Understand the process of desertification and its indicators.
•Identify the causes and consequences of desertification.
•Explore techniques to control desertification.
•Differentiate between different types of deserts.

Week

6

Module 3: Atmospheric and Aquatic Pollution

4h

Unit 6: Global Warming and Greenhouse Effect

4 study hours

•Explain the terms global warming and greenhouse effect.
•Analyze the impact of major greenhouse gases.
•Outline control measures to mitigate global warming.
•Discuss the consequences of global warming on the environment.

Week

7

Module 3: Atmospheric and Aquatic Pollution

4h

Unit 7: Ozone Layer Depletion

4 study hours

•Identify major ozone-depleting substances.
•Outline the consequences of ozone layer depletion.
•Discuss strategies for controlling ozone layer depletion.
•Understand the chemistry of ozone layer depletion.

Week

8

Module 3: Atmospheric and Aquatic Pollution

4h

Unit 8: Air Pollution and Acid Rain

4 study hours

•Identify major air pollutants and their sources.
•State the effects of air pollution on human health and plants.
•Outline the consequences of acid rain on living organisms and the physical environment.

Week

9

Module 4: Water Resources and Waste Management

4h

Unit 9: Ocean: Use and Abuse

4 study hours

•Discuss the roles of the ocean to humans.
•Outline global observations on ocean pollution.
•Identify substances commonly known as ocean pollutants.

Week

10

Module 4: Water Resources and Waste Management

4h

Unit 10: Global Fresh Water

4 study hours

•Give a profile for the global distribution of fresh water.
•Discuss the limits of global fresh water resources.
•List the causes of wastage and degeneration of fresh water resources.

Week

11

Module 4: Water Resources and Waste Management

4h

Unit 11: Solid Waste Management

4 study hours

•State the definition of waste and solid waste.
•Mention solid waste categories.
•Highlight strategies for managing waste, including open dumping, sanitary landfilling, incineration, composting, and resource recovery.

Week

12

Module 5: Sustainable Practices and Future Challenges

4h

Unit 12: Recycling: A New Revolution

4 study hours

•List and explain examples of waste recycling.
•Discuss the economic factors that influence waste recycling.
•Define the concept of life cycle analysis.
•Outline the roles of individuals and government towards recycling.

Week

13

Module 5: Sustainable Practices and Future Challenges

8h

Unit 13: Global Energy Consumption

4 study hours

•List sources of energy and identify nations that consume more energy.
•Differentiate electricity consumption patterns between developed and developing nations.
•Analyze global energy consumption trends and their environmental impacts.

Unit 14: Transportation and Energy Consumption

4 study hours

•Mention the passenger vehicle that consumes more energy per passenger/km.
•Identify the cargo vehicle that consumes more energy per ton/km.
•Mention gaseous emissions from vehicles and their environmental consequences.
•Outline ways of reducing energy consumption in vehicles.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create detailed summaries of each unit, focusing on key definitions and concepts.

2

Practice applying environmental principles to case studies and real-world scenarios.

3

Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and identify areas needing further study.

4

Develop concept maps linking different environmental issues and their interdependencies.

5

Allocate specific study time for each module, prioritizing challenging units.

6

Form study groups to discuss complex topics and share insights.

7

Focus on understanding the causes, effects, and management strategies for each environmental problem.

8

Practice answering past exam questions to familiarize yourself with the exam format and question types.

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