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NotesESS HL
All Subjects

IB ESS HL HL Notes

Environmental Systems and Societies

IB ESS Higher Level extends the Standard Level course with deeper analysis, additional research methodologies, and three HL lenses: Environmental Law, Ecological Economics, and Environmental Ethics. HL students face longer papers and must demonstrate more sophisticated evaluation skills.

These HL notes cover all 8 units of the ESS syllabus, including HL-specific content that goes beyond SL depth. Each topic is structured with micro-topic notes, key definitions, exam tips, and links to flashcards and practice questions.

Use the unit-by-unit structure below to revise systematically and ensure no HL-only material is missed before Paper 1 and Paper 2.

How to use ESS HL notes

  1. 1Start with a unit overview. Click any Unit heading to see all topics and key themes for that unit.
  2. 2Read micro-topic notes. Each topic links to detailed, exam-aligned notes with definitions, diagrams, and examples.
  3. 3Test with flashcards. Every topic has spaced-repetition flashcards to lock key terms into your memory.
  4. 4Practise exam questions. Apply what you know with practice questions and get AI feedback on your answers.
ESS SL NotesESS Exam Skills (HL)ESS Revision Guide

Unit 1: Foundations of ESS

1.1Environmental systems
1.2Models, Systems and Loops
1.3Equilibrium, stability and resilience
1.4Sustainability

Unit 2: Ecosystems and Ecology

2.1Species, populations
2.2Communities and ecosystems
2.3Habitat, niche and interactions
2.4Food chains & webs and trophic levels
2.5Flows of energy and matter
2.6Human impacts
2.7Biogeochemical cycles
2.8Biomes, zonation, succession

Unit 3: Biodiversity, Conservation and Change

3.1Biodiversity
3.2Natural selection, variation and speciation
3.3Threats to biodiversity
3.4Conservation strategies
3.5Protected areas, corridors
3.6In situ vs ex situ conservation

Unit 4: Water and Aquatic Food Production

4.1Water systems
4.2Water access, use and security
4.3Aquatic food production systems
4.4Water pollution

Unit 5: Soil Systems and Terrestrial Food Production

5.1Soil systems
5.2Agriculture and food

Unit 6: Atmospheric Systems and Societies

6.1Introduction to the atmosphere
6.2Climate change—causes and impacts
6.3Climate change—mitigation and adaptation
6.4Stratospheric ozone

Unit 7: Climate Change and Energy Production

7.1Natural resources—uses and management
7.2Energy sources—uses and management
7.3Solid waste

Unit 8: Human Systems and Resource Use

8.1Human populations
8.2Urban systems and urban planning
8.3Urban air pollution

Unit 9

9.1Environmental Law
9.2Environmental Economics
9.3Environmental Ethics

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