IB ESS HL HL.a.6 Environmental law levels Question Bank

Issue addressed: for example, ozone depletion

International level: policy/legislation/action:
Montreal Protocol in 1987; technological development to replace CFCs with HFCs;

Evaluation:
proposed elimination of CFC s however not all countries followed the schedule; reduction of 50 % by 1999 which some countries met earlier;
further meetings in London and Copenhagen to eliminate CFCs entirely by 2000 ;
...with recognition that ELDCs needed more time;
HFCs a greenhouse gas, so cause other problems; substitution of CFCs highly effective as ozone levels recovering; however variable reports on ozone recovery;
National level: policy/legislation/action: signing of international agreement; national legislation/incentives for industries and population to comply;
investment in alternative energy to reduce $\mathrm{NO}_{\mathrm{x}}$ /ozone depletion from fossil fuels;

Evaluation:
highly effective policy as CFCs largely phased out in many countries;
countries found this an easy policy to implement as few changes needed/substitutes available;
CFCs are smuggled, so criminal/illegal parties involved;
ELDCs cannot always meet cost of alternative energy technology; nations often committed to fossil fuel based technology;
Local level:
Policy/legislation/action:
lifestyle choices eg avoiding products that utilise CFCs;
...energy conservation to reduce fossil fuel use/ $\mathrm{NO}_{\mathrm{x}}$ release;

Evaluation:
avoiding CFC products no longer an issue in nations where they are banned;
...but was significant before legislation / still is in nations that have not signed agreement;
difficult to persuade changes in lifestyle;
Issue addressed: eg biodiversity loss
International level:
Policy/legislation/action:
CITES/Red List status;
Man and Biosphere Reserves;
WWF activity;

Evaluation (for CITES eg):
difficulty in assigning red list status;
CITES/red list status are species-based approaches and so habitat could be lost; rely on countries accurately reporting data/bias in data; politics can become involved/data becomes unreliable; the policies are relatively easy for the public to understand; government policy and international body checks - so reliable;
creates legislation for controlling trade in organisms;

National level:

Policy/legislation/action: national implementation/policing of CITES guidelines;

Evaluation:
different countries have different status for organisms and this can cause conflict; e.g. trade in ivory is banned, but Southern African countries wish to have some trade;

Local level:
Policy/legislation/action: raising public awareness of Red Listed species;
local conservation initiatives for endangered species and their habitats;

Evaluation:
engages population/community support for CITES objectives; applies these objectives at the level where it matters;
does not in itself carry the force of national/international legislation;
may conflict with other community needs/aspirations;

Marking guidance:

Award [3 max] if only one spatial level (local, national, international) is considered.
Award [4 max] if response gives only positive, or only negative, evaluations.