Welcome to the Anthropocene! For the first time in Earth’s history, one species (that’s us) has unprecedented, widespread impacts on wildlife and biodiversity. In this course, we will delve into the historical development of environmental ethics, and we will explore ethical value systems we place on animals and ecosystems. We will also discuss national and international environmental policies and consortiums that have attempted to curtail our negative impacts on Earth. Ultimately, we will tackle tough questions on how to move forward in the Anthropocene: what shifts in values, ethics and policies will we need to protect wild animals and their habitats? Should we count on international cooperation and regulations to maintain global biodiversity, or should we focus on changes in our own, individual lifestyle? To complement the philosophical readings, we will explore global examples of where wildlife, biodiversity or whole ecosystems are caught up in ethical conflict. We will also explore ways to take personal action throughout the course, such as trying “lifestyle changes” to reduce our impact and engaging with community initiatives on environmental issues and education. This class will encourage you to formulate your personal ethics related to wildlife conservation, and to discover how you can positively contribute to Earth’s biodiversity for future generations!