IB ESS SL 1.3.11 Scales of Sustainability and Justice

[Maximum number: 6]

Commodity	Proportion of exports by value (\%)
Hydrocarbons	74
Metals	8
Machinery	4
Chemicals	6
Timber	2
Food and grains	1
Other	5

Table:Russia's exports in 2014, by value

Figure:Total annual sulphur dioxide and particulate emissions from smelting factories in Norilsk

Figure:Vegetation damage associated with smelting factories in Norilsk

Figure:Total exports of timber (in units of thousand cubic metres) from Russia between 2012 and 2014

Figure:Range of the Siberian tiger in 1800 and 2000

Figure:Causes of tiger mortality in and near Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve, 1992-2005

Siberia context
• The taiga provides habitat, stores carbon, regulates climate and supplies timber.
• Deforestation can affect biodiversity, carbon storage and downstream/global systems.
• Russia’s exports include hydrocarbons, metals, machinery, chemicals, timber, food and grains.
• Siberian tiger conservation involves international trade controls as well as local policing, reserves and enforcement.

To what extent might it be better to consider environmental issues at a global, rather than a local level, when planning for sustainable development in Siberia?

Arguments that support addressing issue at global level [4 max]:
- many of the issues generate global impacts / affect ecological services to whole planet;
- eg deforestation affects climate change / widely different ecosystems, eg oceans / trees are exported around the world, making deforestation in Siberia part of the global/importing countries ecological footprint;
- Ioss of habitats/local species eg tiger affect global biodiversity;
- it is a moral duty/responsibility of humans to conserve species/biodiversity globally;
- local habitats/populations are quite small/vulnerable/less resilient and so more easily lost;
- many of the impacts are stimulated by global markets/economies/demands;
- ie international demand for goods, eg timber/tiger parts/fossil fuels/metals;
- so international management is required because source/impact of problem is international;
- experts from around the world can collaborate to help tackle issues/plan for sustainable development;
- countries can help each other with resources/expertise;
- at global level there is more access to funds to implement strategies;
- countries need to collaborate to avoid tragedy of the commons, eg climate change;

Arguments that support addressing issue at local level [4 max]:
- some issues are more localized, eg acid deposition / cause and effect of acid deposition is local / discharge of effluent affects local river quality/biodiversity;
- implementation and enforcement needs to be done at a local level/on the ground (eg policing of poachers/reduction in emissions of $\mathrm{NO}_{x} / \mathrm{SO}_{2} / \mathrm{CO}$ );
- most management strategies are more successful when they engage local support / decisions at global level may not take into account local customs/needs/knowledge and alienate local people;
- at a global level it is more difficult to get everyone to agree/take action;

Conclusion/opinion [1 max]: eg "due to the interconnected nature of environmental systems, action needs to be taken at a global level eg through international agreements, however these then need to be implemented at a local level to be successful";

Note: An isolated statement/opinion, eg "Environmental issues are best addressed at a global level" should not be considered as a valid conclusion/opinion without supporting evidence.

Marking guidance:

Award [5 max] if there is no conclusion/opinion.
Accept other reasonable responses supported by information in the resource booklet.

IB ESS SL 1.3.11 Scales of Sustainability and Justice Question Bank

Exam points

1.3.11—Scales of sustainability and justice question 1