There has been significant debate surrounding the causes of climate change.

Evaluate contrasting viewpoints on this issue [9 marks]

Indicative Content	Guidance
IPCC / human-induced climate change: Scientific data → supports the correlation between human-induced factors and increased levels of carbon dioxide / other greenhouse gases Known impacts of these gases on global temperatures → suggests plausible link between human activities and climate change Evidence supporting climate warming: Observable data / scientific evidence → indicates a warming trend in global climate Consistent data from various sources/periods → reinforces argument supporting global warming Uncertainty in global climate models: Global climate models are complex → introduces uncertainty in predicting future climate trends Challenges in accurately predicting climate changes → raises questions about the reliability of long-term forecasts Historical changes in climate and carbon dioxide levels: Climate / carbon dioxide levels have changed significantly in the past → even before significant human activity Comparisons to geological history → suggest that current carbon dioxide levels / temperature fluctuations are moderate Natural fluctuations → suggest that observed warming could be a short-term trend Impact of lobbyists: Lobbyist influence in discrediting scientific data / spreading uncertainty about climate change Particularly in the fossil fuel industry → e.g. lobbying efforts in the United States → competing economic/political interests These efforts contribute to public skepticism / pose challenges to implementation of climate policies	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 debate surrounding the causes of climate change is complicated and mainly revolves around the issue of whether or not human activities are responsible for current shifts in climate, including global warming [K]. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) supports the argument that recent climate changes, most notably characterised by the significant increase in mean global temperatures, can mainly be attributed to human activities [K]. Our continued extensive use of fossil fuels globally, and particularly in countries undergoing rapid economic and industrial development like China and India, is identified as the key causal factor [Ap]. The combustion of coal in these nations has significantly contributed to elevated carbon dioxide levels in recent decades. Observable data and scientific evidence provide further support for the argument favouring human-induced climate change [K]. The melting of glaciers and ice sheets worldwide, an example being the retreat of glaciers in the Alps and Greenland, offers clear evidence of the impact of rising temperatures on the Earth's stores of frozen water [Ap]. These examples, as well as their devastating knock-on effects such as rapid sea level rise endangering coastal populations, demonstrate the urgent need for global initiatives to mitigate the damaging effects of human activities on the climate [An]. Conversely, a lot of uncertainty and alternative explanations for observed climate patterns still exists. Critics argue that the complexity of global climate models introduces uncertainties, raising questions about the accuracy of long-term predictions [K]. An example of this is the variability in predicting the extent of Arctic ice melt, where models have faced challenges in precisely forecasting the extent to which this might occur [Ap]. In addition, historical data can be used to challenge the idea that current warming trends are totally anthropogenic. For example, there are known cases of warmer temperatures occurring before the influence of modern industrial activities, which emphasises the natural variability of Earth's climate [An]. In conclusion, the debate on the causes of climate change is still divided by contrasting viewpoints. This issue demonstrates the importance of ongoing research and global collaboration to understand the causes of climate change and address the complex challenges it poses [E].
Commentary
This answer is an example - yours may be different The answer evaluates the main viewpoints on causes of climate change and finishes with a supported final judgement The response is annotated to show where the skills of knowledge (K), application (Ap), analysis (An) and evaluation (E) have been demonstrated

Climate Change: Causes & Impacts (SL IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Topic Questions