Week 4 Assignment Template: Sustainable Living Guide 252116
Week 4 Assignment Templatesustainable Living Guide Contributions Part
Using the term that you have selected from the list provided in the classroom, please complete the following three-paragraph essay. Write a minimum of 5 to 7 well-crafted, original sentences per paragraph. In your response, you are expected to cite and reference, in APA format, at least two outside sources in addition to the class text. The sources must be credible (from experts in the field of study); at least one scholarly source (published in a peer-reviewed academic journal) is strongly encouraged. Delete all instructions before submitting your work to Waypoint.
Paper For Above instruction
Term Selected: [type your term here]
First Paragraph: Thoroughly define your term, using your own words to do so. In your definition, be sure to explain why the term is important to know. Be as specific as possible and provide examples as necessary to support your ideas. For instance, if the term is "carbon footprint," you might explain that it refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product. Understanding one’s carbon footprint is vital because it influences climate change and environmental sustainability. A person’s daily activities, such as transportation, energy use, and diet, contribute to their carbon footprint. By analyzing and reducing our carbon footprints, we can mitigate adverse effects on the climate, including rising temperatures and extreme weather events (Smith & Johnson, 2020). This knowledge empowers individuals to make environmentally responsible choices that promote a healthier planet.
Second Paragraph: Discuss how the term affects living beings (including humans) and/or the physical environment. Provide examples as needed. Continuing with the "carbon footprint" example, an increased carbon footprint from human activities results in higher levels of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere. This leads to global warming, which threatens biodiversity, ecosystems, and human health. For example, rising temperatures contribute to melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and more frequent natural disasters such as hurricanes and droughts. These environmental changes directly impact living beings—displacing species, destroying habitats, and causing health issues in humans, such as respiratory problems due to pollution (World Health Organization, 2016). Therefore, understanding and managing our contributions to climate change are critical for preserving biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable environment for future generations.
Third Paragraph: Suggest two clear, specific actions that you and the other students might take to promote environmental sustainability in relation to this term. Be creative and concrete with your suggestions. For example, students could support organizations like the Carbon Fund, which helps offset individual and institutional carbon emissions by funding renewable energy projects (Carbon Fund, 2022). Another action might be organizing a campus awareness campaign to encourage peers to calculate and reduce their personal carbon footprints through tips like biking instead of driving, conserving energy at home, and adopting plant-based diets. These actions directly contribute to reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions, thereby helping to slow global warming and protect ecosystems. Supporting policy initiatives aimed at renewable energy development or advocating for stricter emissions regulations can also substantially benefit environmental sustainability related to our carbon footprints (Jones & Lee, 2021). Each person’s effort, collectively, can create significant positive change for the planet.
References
- Carbon Fund. (2022). About us. https://www.carbonfund.org/about-us/
- Jones, A., & Lee, E. (2021). Strategies for mitigating climate change through individual actions. Journal of Environmental Management, 280, 111757.
- Smith, R., & Johnson, P. (2020). Understanding personal carbon footprints and their impact on climate change. Environmental Science & Policy, 114, 123-130.
- World Health Organization. (2016). Air pollution and health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_1