Human activity affects not just the Earth system but human health itself. Climate is driven by natural processes, but human activities such as energy production, driving, and manufacturing release gases into the atmosphere, and this has been shown to accelerate the warming trend across the globe. Power plants, cars, and factories also spew pollutants that affect the quality of the air we breathe.

The topics in this lesson address the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects, and the NRC Framework for K-12 Science Education, the foundation for the Next Generation Science Standards. Environmental public health is an important subject because it affects everyone’s lives. Although it may not be referenced specifically in the standards, it can be used as an engaging jumping off point to address many of the concepts that are.