For terrestrial ecosystems, discuss the challenges associated with managing the impacts of acid rain in comparison to managing the impacts of climate change [9 marks]

Indicative Content	Guidance
Impacts of acid rain on terrestrial ecosystems: Acidified soils / nutrient leaching / release of toxins / damage to vegetation Impacts are relatively regional / localised Impacts of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems: Desertification / flooding / species loss / biome shifts Consequences are global / more widespread Managing acid rain impacts: Prevention → through alternative energy sources / scrubbers / catalytic converters Restoration measures → e.g. liming / fertilisers / replanting Education / lifestyle changes → to reduce fossil fuel use Managing climate change impacts: Prevention → through alternative energy sources / carbon taxing / energy-efficient homes/vehicles/technology Mitigation → through flood defences / irrigation / afforestation / carbon storage Educational / lifestyle changes → to reduce overall carbon footprint Relative difficulty in managing impacts: Localised nature of acid rain impacts → facilitates easier management → easier to locate regions responsible for original emissions Removal of SO₂ / NO_x from emissions → easier compared to challenges of reducing CO₂ emissions → unpopularity of reducing fossil fuel use Anthropogenic acid rain effects → solely due to combustion of fossil fuels Whereas climate change due to a range of factors → e.g. deforestation / agricultural practices / cattle farming / rice cultivation Difficulty in obtaining international agreements for climate change → due to diverse causes/impacts Debate over the causes of climate change → makes agreements more challenging to reach Climate change influenced by tipping points / positive feedback cycles → difficult understanding the full range of impacts	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 ‘Discuss’ (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
Managing the impacts of acid rain and climate change on terrestrial ecosystems presents significant but distinct challenges, due the types and scales of these impacts. Acid rain, primarily caused by the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from human activities, poses immediate but more localised threats to ecosystems [K]. In contrast, climate change results from complex interactions, involving the accumulation of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, and is resulting in longer-term, global alterations to temperature patterns and weather events [K]. The main challenge around acid rain is addressing the direct and acute nature of its effects on soil and water quality. Acid rain can lead to soil acidification, affecting nutrient availability and hindering the growth of plants [Ap]. Effective management requires specific targeted interventions, such as emission controls on industrial sources. Acid rain also requires region-specific strategies as it can effect terrestrial ecosystems in different ways and impacted regions can be great distances from the original source of emissions [An]. On the other hand, climate change is bringing about more gradual shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns across the whole planet and affecting every biome on Earth, demanding a more globally coordinated approach. The interconnectedness of ecosystems means that changes in one region can have cascading effects elsewhere and the resulting positive feedback cycles can make it hard to predict when climate tipping points might be reached [K]. Mitigating climate change involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and enhancing carbon sequestration [Ap]. However, the global nature of this issue, as well as the complexities surrounding the phasing out of fossil fuels, makes it difficult for nations to reach agreements on clear climate targets [An]. In the context of acid rain, localised strategies like scrubbers on industrial chimneys can have rapid and measurable effects [Ap]. In contrast, climate change mitigation requires long-term commitments and a coordinated global effort, making it a more complex challenge to solve. One similarity is that the consequences of acid rain and climate change often extend beyond international boundaries, although arguably this is a more extensive problem when it comes to climate change, which affects weather patterns, sea levels, and biodiversity on a planetary scale [An]. In conclusion, managing the impacts of acid rain and climate change involves different levels of intervention. Acid rain needs targeted strategies to control emissions and mitigate specific cases of ecological damage, such as damage to coniferous woodland, while climate change requires comprehensive global cooperation to address the widespread, long-term consequences [E]. Both challenges require a balance between economic interests and environmental sustainability, highlighting the difficult task of balancing human activities with the preservation of Earth's ecosystems [E].
Commentary
This answer is an example - yours may be different The answer discusses the different challenges presents by acid rain and climate change and finishes with a supported final judgement Some examples of management and mitigation strategies are given for each, in order to help compare the two problems The response is annotated to show where the skills of knowledge (K), application (Ap), analysis (An) and evaluation (E) have been demonstrated

Acid Deposition (SL IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Topic Questions