Evaluate the role of national and international organisations in reducing the emissions of ozone-depleting substances [9 marks]

Indicative Content	Guidance
UNEP's role: Key role of United Nations Environment Programme → providing information / creating / evaluating international agreements for protection of stratospheric ozone Emphasise importance of UNEP's contributions to global environmental governance Strengths: UNEP provides a global platform for environmental governance / information / coordination Ability to create international agreements → results in a united global response Limitations: Dependent on voluntary compliance by member nations Limited enforcement powers → relies on diplomatic / persuasive approaches Montreal Protocol: Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, 1987 → a crucial international agreement Recognise UNEP's guidance in development / implementation of this protocol Significance of the protocol → organising a global effort to reduce use of ozone-depleting substances Strengths: Successful in mobilising global cooperation / has achieved substantial reductions Demonstrates effectiveness of a legally binding international treaty National efforts / compliance: National governments → comply with Montreal Protocol by enacting laws / regulations to decrease consumption / production of halogenated organic gases → e.g. chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Highlight role of national policies in supporting international agreements Strengths: Tailored strategies → align with specific national contexts Direct influence on industries / regulatory bodies within countries Limitations: Potential for inconsistencies / loopholes in national regulations Varied levels of commitment / resources among nations Illegal market monitoring: Recognise persistence of an illegal market for ozone-depleting substances Emphasise need for constant / consistent monitoring → to curb illegal trade / enforce regulations Evaluate role of international collaboration in addressing challenges posed by illegal markets Difficulties in completely eradicating illicit trade → due to complex global supply chains	You will always have to answer two 9 mark questions from Section B in your IB ESS SL Paper 2 exam This is a 'level of response' answer. The examiner will award you a combined mark out of 9 for knowledge, application, analysis and evaluation ‘Evaluate’ (for 9 marks) requires: Knowledge of concepts, principles and models Application to the context using relevant and focused examples Analysis showing logical and coherent chains of reasoning of a range of issues Evaluation showing critical thinking linked to the context Depth is more important than breadth It is sensible to discuss two or three main points but to apply, analyse and evaluate them fully For top-level evaluation, informed judgement is required This can be demonstrated in a conclusion that synthesises and weighs up the arguments to form a supported answer to the question
Model Answer
The United Nations Environment Programme plays an important role in reducing the emissions of ozone-depleting substances by providing a global platform for the sharing and coordination of relevant information and data, and by creating international agreements [Ap]. However, the effectiveness of UNEP is limited by its reliance on voluntary compliance and its limited enforcement powers, which mainly rely on using diplomacy to persuade countries to sign agreements [An]. The Montreal Protocol, a landmark international treaty first created in 1987, is as a clear example of how a legally binding agreement can be highly successful in fostering global cooperation, in this case achieving substantial reductions in ozone-depleting substances [Ap]. The protocol's strength lies in its ability to enforce compliance through binding legal measures. Despite this success, challenges remain, such as the need to accommodate for varying economic capacities of member nations, and the slow pace at which amendments to the protocol can be made in response to emerging threats regarding ozone-depleting substances [An]. At the national level, governments play a crucial role in turning international commitments into actual policies, for example in order to comply with the Montreal Protocol. For instance, countries may engage in recycling programs for refrigerants, develop alternatives to ozone-depleting substances, and shift towards non-propellant options [Ap]. National strategies like these face challenges such as potential inconsistencies in the regulations they propose, or in the enforcement of these regulations themselves [An]. The persistence of an illegal market for ozone-depleting substances, requiring consistent monitoring and enforcement efforts, makes reducing the emissions of ozone-depleting substances very challenging. Targeting this specific challenge requires collaboration and intelligence-sharing among nations, as well as constant resource allocation and monitoring [An]. In order to continue reducing emissions of ozone-depleting substances, it is clear that a combined approach is essential. Both national and international strategies, each with their own strengths and limitations, are require [E]. National efforts can be more flexible, innovative and country or situation-specific, whilst international agreements provide regulatory frameworks for national organisation to follow, and encourage global cooperation [E].
Commentary
This answer is an example - yours may be different The answer discusses both international and national approaches, and finishes with a supported final judgement The effectiveness of these different levels of organisation are evaluated in their respective paragraphs by picking out a few benefits and drawback of each The response is annotated to show where the skills of knowledge (K), application (Ap), analysis (An) and evaluation (E) have been demonstrated

Stratospheric Ozone (SL IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Topic Questions