The Environmental Studies course enables students to gain a deep and well informed insight into the environment and the scientific processed that control and affect it. The central theme is the development of an understanding of how different events and cycles within the environment interrelate; how they influence subsequent environmental events; the human impacts on these events and cycles and the strategies that can be used to minimise the problems caused. Key aspects within the specification include areas such as ‘Wildlife Conservation’; ‘Pollution’; ‘Global Climate Change’ and ‘Sustainability’.

Unit 1 – The Living Environment. An introduction to the biodiversity of life on Planet Earth.

The reasons why the conservation of life on Eath is important are investigated, as are the methods which may be used to achieve effective conservation. Unit 2 – The Physical Environment Physical resources such as atmospheric gases, water and mineral nutrients are essential for life on Earth. Humans exploit and manage physical resources to provide higher material living standards but the use of many of these resources is unsustainable

Unit 3 – Energy Resources and Environmental Pollution. Future problems of energy supply and how these may be resolved are investigated through the study of the energy resources which are available for use. The properties of pollutants are considered to explain why some materials of forms of energy cause environmental damage. These issues are developed through a study of a range of atmospheric, Aquatic and terrestrial pollutants. The strategies which may be used to minimise releases, treat effluents and manage the damage caused are considered.

Unit 4 – Biological Resources and Sustainability The factors controlling human population growth are considered in relation to the demands placed upon the planet’s resources and life-support system. Food production and forestry systems are analysed, with particular emphasis on the limiting factors affecting productivity; the environmental problems caused ty these systems and the ways in which problems can be addressed. The study of the sustainability of human lifestyles allows synoptic consideration of the other modules of the specification.