| Date | November 2016 | Marks available | 15 | Reference code | 16N.1.bp.6 |
| Level | SL and HL | Paper | 1 | Time zone | |
| Command term | Examine | Question number | 6 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Examine the geopolitical and environmental impacts of the production and/or consumption of fossil fuels such as oil.
Markscheme
Geopolitical impacts may include the importance of Russia, the Middle East and/or OPEC members, political and economic alliances and energy-related trade agreements, wars over energy reserves, and policies to develop alternative energy resources.
Environmental impacts may include oil spills, air pollution, increased carbon emissions, water pollution, and may make it impossible to achieve environmental sustainability.
Credit should not be given for other impacts (social, demographic, economic) except where the response justifies why the impact can be considered to be either geopolitical or environmental.
Responses that consider only oil (and no other fossil fuels) may be awarded full marks.
Responses discussing both production and consumption need not consider both aspects in equal depth for the award of full marks.
At band D, expect responses to describe a range of both geopolitical and environmental impacts.
At band E, expect responses either to explain a wide range of positive and negative impacts, or to examine the variations in impacts on space/time.
At band F, expect both.
Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.
[15 marks]
