Geography

Environmental Change and Management

Focuses on investigating environmental geography and how humans interact with and respond to environmental change. 

Outline

• The nature, causes and impacts of major types of environmental change, such as climate change, deforestation, desertification, urbanisation, etc.

• The economic, legal, cultural and ethical aspects of environmental responsibility and sustainability

• The energy systems and climate mitigation strategies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resource stewardship

• The sustainable responses to environmental change that can improve human well-being and ecological resilience

• The governance and management of environmental issues at different scales and within different organisational contexts

Assessment of Learning 

Weighting: 30%  

Description of Task: Coastal Investigation and Comparison. 

Investigating the environmental change and management of Australian and overseas coastal locations. 

Outcomes: GE5-2, GE5-3, GE5-5,  

Date: Term 3, Week 9 

ASSESSMENT TASK 

Students are required to investigate change to a coastal environment in Australia and overseas via classroom activities and fieldwork. They then construct a presentation that compares their local studies with their chosen overseas study. In their presentation they must emphasise not only coastal processes and other geographical features, but also ways in which management strategies have been employed and suggestions for improvement.

Stage 5 HSIE NSW syllabus outcomes of Environmental Change & Management:

Geography

• GE5-1: Describes and explains the diverse features and characteristics of places and environments at the local to global scale.

• GE5-2: Explains interactions and connections between people, places, and environments.

• GE5-3: Evaluates the strategies used to manage environmental change and sustainably improve human wellbeing.

Science

• SC5-13ES: Outlines the dynamic nature of environmental systems and the implications of this for their management.

• SC5-14LW: Investigates the interactions between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere to explain the occurrence of natural phenomena and disasters.

• SC5-15LW: Describes and explains the effects of human and environmental factors on the distribution and characteristics of biomes and ecosystems.

Ethical Understanding

• EU5-1: Investigates how ethical principles can be used to address complex issues, including those arising from new technologies.

• EU5-2: Critically evaluates the ethical implications of decisions and actions that affect the environment and the wellbeing of current and future generations.

• EU5-3: Reflects on personal values and attitudes towards the environment and the ethical considerations that inform them.

Personal and Social Capability

• PSC5.3: Applies a range of personal and social skills to establish and maintain respectful relationships, work collaboratively, and make informed decisions in a range of contexts, including those that involve ethical considerations and complex issues.

• PSC5.4: Reflects on personal and social capabilities in action and makes plans for further development.