Using examples, explain the growing need for environmental management at a global scale.

Examine how different global flows are affected by the availability of information and communications technology (ICT) and transport.

Likely examples of the need for management include topics/case studies of transboundary pollution, climate change, agribusiness and the environment, or oceanic pollution. For these themes, the explanation of need most likely will be linked with potential losses or “victims” (eg, harm to ocean life, homeless climate change refugees) either in particular local places or felt more universally (as a result of a global “failure” such as insufficient climate change mitigation). Other possibilities for exemplification include bio-conservation or resource management (eg, water or fossil fuels) linked with a sustainability agenda.

Good answers may also explain how the growing need is linked to population and/or economic/consumption growth in emerging/BRIC economies; or to global consumerism and the power of media and advertising. Good answers may also distinguish between regional problems (for neighbour countries) or truly global-scale concerns (climate change; biodiversity).

Do not over-credit recalled description of actual global governance actions (eg outcomes of the Kyoto, Paris, Montreal meetings, etc. This is not asked for by the question. The focus should be the growing need for management.

For band C (4-6 marks), expect a weakly-evidenced outline of one or two environmental issue(s). The need for management may be asserted.

For band D (7-8 marks), expect a structured, evidenced analysis of

• either two detailed global environmental issue(s) that need managing
• or reasons why this need is growing / becoming more urgent.

For band E (9-10 marks), expect both band D traits.

[10 marks]

Credit all content in line with the markbands. Credit unexpected approaches wherever relevant.

The question requires that multiple global flows are addressed and linked with the availability of different facilitating technologies. Possible themes from the geography guide include:

• the shrinking world (the combined outcome of ICT and transport) and how this affects multiple flows such as travel, tourism and social networking [Guide 2]
• labour migration (transport), financial flows (electronic money transfers) and outsourcing (call centres; commodity movements using containerized shipping) [Guide 3]
• diaspora growth and connectivity using social networking [Guide 5]
• global environmental online messaging [Guide 4]
• agribusinesses, raw materials and containerized transport [Guide 4].

Good answers might examine how availability varies spatially: there are still barriers to the actual use of ICT and transport even where it is theoretically available (poverty, censorship, conflict, etc). Another approach might be to examine how some global flows depend on either ICT or transport; whereas others, such as migration and tourism, involve both (physical movements of people using transport, online bookings and electronic remittances using ICT).

For band C (5-8 marks), expect a weakly-evidenced outline of two or three relevant themes from the geography guide.

For band D (9-12 marks), expect

• either a structured synthesis which links together several well-evidenced and well-focused themes from the geography guide
• or a critical conclusion (or ongoing evaluation).

For band E (13-15 marks), expect both of these traits.

[15 marks]