Free study units for World Environment Day

OpenLearn has a collection of free course units related to World Environment Day, focussing on topics such as climate change and global warming to reading rocks and ecology and animal survival in diverse climates.

World Environment Day was established on 5 June 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) uses the commemoration of this event each year as an opportunity to stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action.

According to the UNEP website, the agenda for the day is to:
1. Give a human face to environmental issues;
2. Empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development;
3. Promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues;
4. Advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

The theme for WED 2009 is 'Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change'

OpenLearn courses related to the theme and to environment include:

Climate Change (S250_3)
Climate change is a key issue on today’s social and political agenda. This unit explores the basic science that underpins climate change and global warming.

Climate Change: island life in a volatile world (DD205_3)
What impact will global warming really have? This unit examines the potential problems faced by the people of the Pacific Island of Tuvalu as a result of rising sea levels. Where would you go if your island is only a few feet above sea level? Who would you blame?

Global Warming (E500_11)
This unit provides an introduction to global warming. We will be considering the history of global warming by looking at the pattern of ice ages and analyisis of recorded temperatures. We will aim to gather meaningful information from this data. We will briefly assess the impact and influence of humans on global warming and, finally, we will examine climate models and how to predict future changes.

Working with our environment (T172_1)
Global warming: are we responsible? Is our environmental impact damaging the planet? This unit examines the use of ozone depleting technology, the impact of fossil fuel use and explores how the development of technology can influence the direction of a society. From the Industrial Revolution to the present day find out how we have changed the planet.

Water and human health (SDK125_1)
Water is a natural resource that is vital for human survival and health, although only a tiny fraction of the Earth's supply is available to humans and terrestrial animals. In this unit we look at threats, such as pollution, to water's capacity to support life around the world.

Earth’s physical resources: petroleum (S278_1)
The discovery of of the world's first major underground oilfield in Pennsylvania, USA in 1859 sparked the continuing era of the world's reliance on cheap energy from oil and gas. This unit begins by examining the geological characteristics of petroleum and the key ingredients necessary to form oil and gas accumulations. Then there is a brief description of industrial operations during the life cycle of an oilfield, starting with subsurface analysis and exploration drilling. The unit also highlights the role of safety and environmental management as an integral part of the petroleum business and concludes with a short review of global resources and non-conventional petroleum.

Practising science: reading the rocks and ecology (SXR103_1)
Have you ever wondered how scientists analyse the environment? This unit introduces you to the techniques used by science students at residential schools. You will learn how to determine where rocks have come from and how they were made. You will also examine the processes involved in determining the ecology of a particular area.

Animals at the extremes: the desert environment (S324_1)
Animal life has adapted to survive in the most unlikely and inhospitable habitats. This unit looks at the surprisingly diverse desert climates throughout the world and mammals, birds, lizards and amphibians that survive there. It splits these animals into three groups according to their strategy for survival: evaders, evaporators and endurers, then discusses how these strategies work on a biochemical and physiological level.
See also:
Animals at the extremes: hibernation and torpor (S324_2)
Animals at the extremes: polar biology (S324_3)

Other related courses:
Introducing Environment (Y161_1)
Managing coastal environments (U216_1)
Health and environment (SK220_2)
Surviving the winter (S204_1)