Explain how the global climate functions as a system.

Discuss how different environmental philosophies can affect the choice of pollution management strategies in response to global warming.

a system is an assemblage of parts and the relationships between them, which together constitute an entity or whole;
global climate can be considered a closed system / a system in which energy, but not matter, is exchanged with its surroundings;
sun’s energy drives/powers the system / sun’s energy enters (input) the system;
energy may leave the system in the form of biomass / heat / kinetic energy;
matter within the system includes water and atmospheric gases;
transfers in the system include wind / reflection of light energy;
transformations in the system include evaporation / precipitation / photosynthesis;
stores in the system include atmospheric gases / water;
humans change the composition of atmospheric gases / particles (black carbon);
increasing levels of greenhouse gases causes more energy to be retained in the system;
humans change the land cover of an area;
this leads to changes in energy flow (albedo and photosynthesis);

[6 max]

Accept alternative ways of structuring this answer provided environmental value systems are discussed.

Technocentric:
technocentric approaches will focus on how technology can assist in reducing greenhouse emissions (mitigation) / and also adapt to the impacts of global warming;
these could include geo-engineering solutions such as carbon capture / renewable energy technology / energy efficiency improvements;
these strategies are varied in predicted success due to being untested on a large scale;
they may be expensive;
may require large scale changes in how a country provides energy, eg a smart grid to ensure energy reliability;
may require government subsidies to enhance their adoption / implementation;
do not require large changes to lifestyles and so more favourably received by richer societies;
may not be affordable by less wealthy societies and so slow to be adopted;

Anthropocentric:
anthropocentric approaches involve the use of laws and government agreements to manage and lower greenhouse gas emissions;
these include intergovernmental and international agreements (for example, Kyoto Agreement and subsequent updates) / carbon tax / carbon trading / carbon emission targets;
at an international level these approaches have proved to be very difficult to negotiate;
at a national level they have been variably successful / dependent on determination of individual governments;
help to encourage changes in business and personal behavior;
carbon taxing and trading has had limited success due to underpricing of carbon;
as global warming is a global problem international cooperation is essential as part of the solution;

Ecocentric:
ecocentric approaches involve the change of personal behavior and education to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
changes in personal behavior could include using public transport / buying local produce / eating less meat / investing in insulation for home / flying less;
education could be at a local, a national or international level and funded on a small or large scale;
changes in personal behavior can be easy for an individual to make but only effective if many change their behavior;
education is effective in raising awareness but then depends on individuals to change their behavior / way of life;
these approaches are sometimes not supported by people who do not want to risk a lowering of their standard of living;

Combination:
it is likely that individuals may lean towards one strategy but see the benefits of a combination of different strategies;

[4 max] if only one EVS considered.

[8 max]

Most candidates could define or outline the basics of a system. Linking this to the global climate was difficult for most candidates. Many could identify the energy inputs and outputs, but the matter movements was only clearly explained by the stronger candidates. The use of feedback loops in the system was popular with many candidates.

The candidates struggled with the discussion aspect of the question. Most candidates compared ecocentric and technocentric philosophies, which led to a discussion by default. The candidates focused on the philosophy strategies leading to a reduction in global warming, but very few candidates linked this to a specific pollution management strategy. A conclusion was often very vague or missing from the answers.