Topic 1: Foundation

1.1 Perspectives

1.2 Systems

1.3 Sustainability

Topic 2: Ecology

2.1 Individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems

2.2 Energy and biomass in ecosystems

2.3 Biogeochemical cycles

2.4 Climate and biomes

2.5 Zonation, succession and change

Topic 3: Biodiversity and conservation

3.1 Biodiversity and evolution

3.2 Human impact on biodiversity

3.3 Conservation and regeneration

Topic 4: Water

4.1 Water systems

4.2 Water access, use and security

4.2.1—Water security definition

4.2.2—Factors affecting water availability

4.2.3—Water supply increase needs

4.2.4—Increasing water supplies

4.2.5—Water scarcity types

4.2.6—Domestic water conservation

4.2.7—Industrial water conservation

4.2.8—Water scarcity mitigation strategies

4.2.9 (HL)—Freshwater planetary boundary

4.2.10 (HL)—Governance for sustainability

4.2.11 (HL)—Water footprints

4.2.12 (HL)—Citizen science role

4.2.13 (HL)—Water stress definition

4.2.14 (HL)—Water stress threshold

4.2.15 (HL)—Water stress causes

4.2.16 (HL)—Transboundary disputes

4.2.17 (HL)—Industrial-level water stress solutions

4.2.18 (HL)—Freshwater production impacts

4.2.19 (HL)—Inequitable access impacts

4.3 Aquatic food production systems

4.4 Water pollution

Topic 5: Land

5.1 Soil

5.2 Agriculture and food

Topic 6: Atmosphere and climate change

6.1 Introduction to the atmosphere

6.2 Climate change—causes and impacts

6.3 Climate change—mitigation and adaptation

6.4 Stratospheric ozone

Topic 7: Natural resources

7.1 Natural resources—uses and management

7.2 Energy sources—uses and management

7.3 Solid waste

Topic 8: Human populations and urban systems

8.1 Human populations

8.2 Urban systems and urban planning

8.3 Urban air pollution

HL.a Environmental law

HL.b Environmental economics

HL.c Environmental ethics

IB ESS HL 4.2.9 (HL)—Freshwater planetary boundary Question Bank

• Increasing demand causing water stress

• Risk of abrupt/irreversible hydrological system changes

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