Key Idea: Most marks in topic 6.3 come from mitigation strategies and global action, including the UN's role. At HL, also learn who leads, new technology, geoengineering and the tragedy of the commons.
1. Mitigation (most marks)
- Mitigation cuts greenhouse gases or removes them from the air.
- Cut: renewables, energy efficiency, carbon taxes, emissions trading, less meat.
- Remove: reforestation, protecting mangroves and peat, carbon capture and storage.
2. Global action
- The atmosphere is shared, so one country alone cannot stop warming.
- Kyoto (1997) set binding cuts for rich countries only.
- Paris (2015): keep warming well below 2 °C, aim for 1.5 °C; every country sets its own targets.
3. Adaptation and HL ideas
- Adaptation reduces the harm of change: sea walls, flood plans, drought-resistant crops.
- The Netherlands' Room for the River gave rivers space to flood safely; Bangladesh built cyclone shelters.
- At HL: the UN, IPCC and COPs, NGOs, new technology, geoengineering and the tragedy of the commons.
How it is examined:
| Question | How to score |
|---|---|
| [1] to [2] Name a mitigation or adaptation strategy | Say which it is; do not mix them up. |
| [2] Outline how a strategy mitigates | Link it to less carbon dioxide released or more stored. |
| [4] Evaluate a strategy, such as reforestation | A strength, a limitation and a judgement. |
| [6] to [7] Compare or assess a country's actions | Named policies, what they achieved, what is missing. |
| [9] Discuss global action or worldviews | Agreements, values, named examples, both sides. |
Key terms, one line each:
| Term | In one line |
|---|---|
| Mitigation | reducing the causes of climate change by cutting or removing greenhouse gases |
| Adaptation | reducing the harm climate change causes |
| Carbon sink | a store that takes in more carbon than it releases |
| Carbon capture and storage | trapping carbon dioxide and storing it underground |
| Net zero | removing as much greenhouse gas as is released |
| Geoengineering | large-scale changes to the climate system, such as reflecting sunlight |
| Tragedy of the commons | a shared resource is overused because each user gains from using more |
Last-minute check: answer, then tap to see.
What is the IPCC's job? To assess the science of climate change for governments.
Why is geoengineering said to treat the symptom? It cools the planet but does not cut emissions.
Why does the tragedy of the commons fit climate? Each country gains from emitting; all share the cost.
Name an NGO that pushes for climate action. 350.org or Greenpeace.
The Kyoto Protocol (1997) set binding cuts for rich countries; the Paris Agreement (2015) asks every country to set its own targets. Discuss how successful the UN's climate agreements have been.
Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Exam tips
- Say clearly whether each strategy is mitigation or adaptation.
- For mitigation, link the strategy to less carbon dioxide released or more carbon stored.
- Use named agreements with dates: Kyoto 1997, Paris 2015.
- For the UN, name the IPCC, the UNFCCC and the COPs, and say what each does.