IB ESS SL 1.1.10 Environmental Movement Influences
Practise identifying how Rachel Carson, Al Gore, media and environmental disasters shifted public awareness and action.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Course
- ESS SL
- Level
- SL
Exam points
- Identify historical influences that changed environmental awareness and policy.
1.1.10—Environmental movement influences question 1
[Maximum number: 4]
Outline two historical influences on the development of the modern environmental movement.
Al Gore produced film, "Inconvenient Truth"; this raised international awareness about global warming;
Rachel Carson published book, "Silent Spring"; this raised awareness about impact of pesticides/DDT on ecosystems / encouraged establishment of EPA in US;
Industrial revolution led to high levels of atmospheric pollution; the impact of this on human health/living standards promoted great public concern/interest in pollution;
John Snow made connection between water quality and spread of cholera/water borne disease; this led to public concern to manage water quality standards/introduce water treatment;
Passenger pigeon in US became extinct through overhunting; this unexpected extinction led to first conservation efforts in US / Woodrow Wilson setting up first National Parks;
Wackernagel \& Rees introduced concept of ecological footprint; this model has gained widespread recognition as a means of evaluating environmental impacts of societies/populations;
For each of the TWO examples, award [1 mark] for naming and stating influential action and [1 mark] for describing/developing their influence on environmental movement
All question bank results loaded