Learning objectives for this review:

• Describe the chemical processes that lead to stratospheric ozone depletion and identify the human-produced chemicals that contribute to this phenomenon.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of international agreements such as the Montreal Protocol in reducing substances that deplete ozone and propose additional strategies that could enhance these efforts.
• Explain the natural process of the greenhouse effect, including how it maintains Earth's temperature and the role of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane.
• Analyze the sources and trends of increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere and their implications for global climate systems.
• Discuss the evidence for human-induced global climate change and its projected impacts on global temperatures, weather patterns, and sea levels.
• Describe how increased atmospheric greenhouse gases contribute to ocean warming and explore the potential impacts on marine ecosystems and global weather patterns.
• Explain the process of ocean acidification, including how increased CO2 levels lead to lower pH levels in ocean waters, and assess its effects on marine biodiversity.
• Identify the characteristics that make species invasive and evaluate the ecological and economic impacts of invasive species on native ecosystems.
• Discuss the primary factors contributing to species endangerment, focusing on habitat loss, pollution, and climate change, and review current conservation strategies aimed at protecting these species.
• Investigate the various ways human activities impact biodiversity, including land use changes, pollution, and resource exploitation, and discuss strategies to mitigate these impacts.