IB ESS SL 1.3.9 Environmental Justice Question Bank
Analyse how environmental benefits, risks and decision-making can be distributed unequally.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Course
- ESS SL
- Level
- SL
Analyse how environmental benefits, risks and decision-making can be distributed unequally.

Figure:Cartoon comparing oil spills in West Africa with the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the US
With reference to Figure: Cartoon comparing oil spills in West Africa with the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the US, suggest what message the cartoonist is trying to communicate.
that more attention was paid to the smaller spill in the Gulf of Mexico/America than to the bigger pollution issue/spill in West Africa / that Africa is wondering why Americans are so concerned over a much smaller issue / that the spills in West Africa are a much bigger problem than the BP oil spill in the US;
America's eyebrows/expression suggest Western society/America is shocked/concerned/screaming at pollution nearby, when there are much greater concerns further away/in LEDCs;
Africa's eyes/expression suggest they may be more resigned/undisturbed by their pollution (perhaps because of more pressing issues of survival);
Africa is wondering why such attention is not paid to their pollution issue too;
The question mark may suggest Africa/everyone is relatively unaware of the pollution in Africa / there is no easy solution to the issue;