Examine the negative environmental impacts of economic development on water and biodiversity.

There are many possible approaches to this question, and each should be marked on its merits.

Negative impacts arise from development as the use of resources (and ecological footprint) increases. Both water quantity and quality may be adversely affected by development, and biodiversity is often reduced as forests are felled and land cleared for settlement or agriculture. Responses may consider how climate change, as a product of global development, may have a wide range of impacts on water and biodiversity.

It is possible that some responses may explore the idea that as countries become more developed they enact environmental controls and adopt strategies to reduce the stress on water and biodiversity.

Responses that fail to look at both biodiversity and water (does not have to be in equal depth) are unlikely to go beyond band D. To access bands E and F responses should either provide a range of case studies that show understanding or take an evaluative approach that recognizes that economic development is a complex concept.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.