Topic 1.1 introduces the concept of environmental systems and how they interact with human societies. Students learn to identify system boundaries, inputs, outputs, and the relationships between components — foundational skills for analysing environmental issues throughout the IB ESS course.
Key Idea: People disagree about environmental issues because they have different perspectives and worldviews.
Inputs → Processes → Outputs
🌿 Ecocentric: Nature first. Protect ecosystems. Reduce consumption.
⚙️ Technocentric: Technology solves problems. Innovation. Human ingenuity.
Key Idea: Humans manage nature using laws and sustainable use.
Always link: values → worldview → decision/action. Explain WHY people disagree.
ESS is assessed through Paper 1 (case study) and Paper 2 (short answer & structured questions). Concepts from this topic may appear in either paper, often combined with data analysis or real-world examples.
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Start studying freeTopic 1.1 Environmental systems forms a core part of Unit 1: Foundations of ESS in IB ESS. Mastering these concepts will strengthen your understanding of connected topics across the syllabus and prepare you for exam questions that require analysis, evaluation, and real-world application.
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