CourseCourse QuestionQuestion

IB Environmental Systems and Societies

Topic 1: Foundation

Topic 2: Ecology

Topic 3: Biodiversity and conservation

4.1 Water systems

4.2 Water access, use and security

4.2.1—Water security definition

4.2.2—Factors affecting water availability

4.2.3—Water supply increase needs

4.2.4—Increasing water supplies

4.2.5—Water scarcity types

4.2.6—Domestic water conservation

4.2.7—Industrial water conservation

4.2.8—Water scarcity mitigation strategies

4.2.9 (HL)—Freshwater planetary boundary

4.2.10 (HL)—Governance for sustainability

4.2.11 (HL)—Water footprints

4.2.12 (HL)—Citizen science role

4.2.13 (HL)—Water stress definition

4.2.14 (HL)—Water stress threshold

4.2.15 (HL)—Water stress causes

4.2.16 (HL)—Transboundary disputes

4.2.17 (HL)—Industrial-level water stress solutions

4.2.18 (HL)—Freshwater production impacts

4.2.19 (HL)—Inequitable access impacts

4.3 Aquatic food production systems

4.4 Water pollution

Topic 6: Atmosphere and climate change

Topic 7: Natural resources

Topic 8: Human populations and urban systems

IB/ESS/HL//Concept/Topic 4: Water/4.2 Water access, use and security/4.2.9 (HL)—Freshwater planetary boundary

Topic 4: Water

Syllabus: First assessment 2026
Section: —
Level: HL

Exam analysis

Most tested topics

Water systems
Water access, use and security
Aquatic food production systems
Water pollution