Summary of Course:

1. ESS basics – We'll begin with some background on the Solar system, Earth’s Energy Balance, a Systems Approach and a tour of the 5 Spheres.

2. Energy systems - We'll discuss where we get energy to power society, fossil fuel formation, acquisition and environmental and society impacts, and the pros and cons of transitioning to renewable energy sources.

3. Planetary indicators surpassing "safe operating space" boundaries - Throughout the course, we'll discuss the causes of and potential solutions for addressing three human-driven global-scale environmental impacts that are surpassing the limits of a healthy functioning Earth System - climate change, nutrient loading, and biodiversity loss.