We are now in an unprecedented age where humans have become a force of global importance and where local human behavior has significant global impacts. In light of this new world order, Dr. Richard Rockwell of the University of Michigan addresses the issue of identifying and mitigating the negative impacts of human activity on the environment. These impacts, which Dr. Rockwell describes as large and growing, are and will continue to affect every individual, regardless of whether they directly contribute to the impacts or not.