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IB ESS SL 6.2 Climate Change Causes and Impacts Questions

Practise IB ESS SL 6.2 by tracing human emissions through greenhouse warming and feedback, then comparing impacts on ecosystems and communities.

Syllabus
First assessment 2026
Course
ESS SL
Level
SL

Exam points

  • Compare carbon footprints or calculate emission changes from charts across countries, sectors or years.
  • Explain how human GHG emissions strengthen warming, distinguishing this mechanism from other climate drivers.
  • Trace ice-albedo, cloud and methane feedbacks to show when warming is amplified or moderated.
  • Explain ecosystem effects of warming, drought and sea-level rise through species, habitat or service examples.
  • Compare societal effects on water, health, food and infrastructure, linking vulnerability to adaptive capacity.

Covered syllabus points

6.2.1—Climate definition6.2.2—Anthropogenic CO₂ emissions6.2.3—Ice core, tree ring, sediment data6.2.4—Enhanced greenhouse effect6.2.5—Climate change impacts on ecosystems6.2.6—Climate change impacts on societies6.2.7—Climate change models6.2.8—Climate change planetary boundary6.2.9—Perspectives on climate change

Question 1

[Maximum number: 1]
Global carbon-dioxide emissions from 1992 to 2012

Figure:Global carbon-dioxide emissions from 1992 to 2012

Figure 6: The graph below shows the global CO₂ emissions from 1992 to 2012.

Calculate the percentage increase of global CO2\mathrm{CO}_{2} emissions from 1992 to 2012.

Question 2

[Maximum number: 1]
Global crude birth and death rates from 2003 to 2011

Table:Global crude birth and death rates from 2003 to 2011

Figure 9 shows the crude birth rate and the crude death rate per thousand of the global human population between 2003 and 2011.

Outline one way in which a larger world population may cause an increase in the rate of global warming.

Question 3

[Maximum number: 2]
Figure:Fact file on Mindo cloud forest

Figure 10(a): Fact file on Mindo cloud forest
Only one third of Ecuador’s identified cloud forest sites are protected. The Mindo-Nambillo cloud forest reserve forms part of several protected areas across Ecuador. The Mindo cloud forest covers 268 km2 and is home to several indigenous subgroups of the Quichua people. The village of Mindo is west of the reserve and is known for chocolate made from locally grown cacao. Organizations work with local farmers to find alternatives to cattle ranching and with indigenous groups to develop more sustainable agricultural practices, reducing habitat destruction.

Describe two ways in which climate change could affect the cloud forest ecosystem.

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