With the current changes in global climate, rising sea levels, and warming oceans, it is important for students to discover the state of Earth's systems and the consequences of human activities. AP Environmental Science provides students with a global view of their world and their role in it. It examines the scientific principles and concepts required to understand the interrelationships between ocean, land, and atmosphere that guide the natural world and allow Earth to be a planet suitable for life. Laboratory activities within the course support learning of these relationships through reflective, hands-on, or virtual experiences. In addition, students identify and analyze environmental problems that are natural and human-made, determining their own ecological footprint in the world to discover how their activities affect the world around them. Students evaluate the relative risks associated with environmental problems and examine alternative solutions including clean energy, sustainable practices, and conservation, for resolving or preventing future environmental problems.