Unit 9: HL Lenses
Topic 9.2: Environmental Economics Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB ESS Topic 9.2. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
1define3 marks
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Define the term negative externality.
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Define the term cost-benefit analysis.
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Which statement defines a negative externality in environmental economics?
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Which set names the three pillars of sustainable development?
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Outline the three pillars of sustainable development and one tension between them.
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Define the term circular economy.
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Distinguish between direct use value and non-use value, with one example of each.
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Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of a carbon tax.
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Suggest two ways a circular economy could reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Distinguish between a public good and a common-access resource using environmental examples.
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Outline one limitation of using taxes to correct negative externalities.
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Why might a subsidy for renewable electricity fail to cut emissions as much as expected?
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Distinguish between price certainty and quantity certainty in the context of carbon taxes and cap-and-trade.
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Suggest one reason why travel cost estimates may underestimate the value of a protected area.
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Explain why air pollution from a factory can be described as a market failure.
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Suggest two reasons why governments may choose regulation instead of market-based instruments to reduce pollution.
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Describe two valuation methods that could be used to estimate the value of a wetland ecosystem service.
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Outline two limitations of monetising biodiversity in cost-benefit analysis.
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Explain why irreversible environmental damage challenges the logic of simple cost-benefit comparisons.
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