IB Environmental Systems and Societies SL and HL

Environmental systems and societies (ESS) is an interdisciplinary subject that takes 21st-century challenges and socio-environmental real-world issues and looks at them through the lens of human societies and the interrelationships of the natural world. The course combines a mixture of knowledge and skills from the subject groups of Individuals and Societies (Group 3) and the Sciences (Group 4).

ESS has a new curriculum that will start at SMC in February 2025 and one of the biggest changes is that the course can now be taken as a HL subject. 

Environmental systems and societies (ESS) aims to empower and equip students to:

1. develop an understanding of their own environmental impact, in the broader context of the impact of humanity on the Earth and its biosphere

2. develop knowledge of a range of perspectives to address issues of sustainability

3. engage and evaluate the tensions around environmental issues using critical thinking

4. develop a holistic lens about the exploration of environmental issues

5. be inspired to engage in environmental issues across local and global contexts.

Areas of study:

Topic 1: Foundation (perspectives, systems and sustainability)

Topic 2: Ecology

Topic 3: Biodiversity and conservation

Topic 4: Water

Topic 5: Land

Topic 6: Atmosphere and climate change

Topic 7: Natural resources

Topic 8: Human populations and urban system

Higher level (HL) lenses:

HL.a Environmental law

HL.b Environmental economics

HL.c Environmental ethics

A combination of bookwork and practical work are used to teach this subject.