St Edward's IB Guide 2026

ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS AND SOCIETIES (ESS)

ESS is one of the most innovative and progressive courses within the IB. It recognises that to understand the environmental issues of the 21st century both the human and environmental aspects must be studied. The issues covered by the course are complex, and include the actions required for the fair and sustainable use of shared global resources. ESS studies the systems that support life on Earth, and explores how human activities are negatively affecting the environment. It is the first fully transdisciplinary course within the IB. This means that it can be counted simultaneously as a Group 3 (Individuals & Societies) and a Group 4 (Science) subject, thus opening up more flexibility when selecting one’s IB program. As a Group 4 subject, it demands the scientific rigour expected of an experimental science, and has a large practical component (including assessed coursework, 20% HL / 25% SL). The Group 3 approach applies a human-centred perspective that examines environmental issues from a social and cultural

viewpoint. The course therefore looks at environmental issues from economic, historical, cultural, socio-political viewpoints as well as a scientific one. ESS encapsulates the core IB values of internationalism and humanity’s aim of creating a better planet for all. As a result of studying this course, you will become equipped with the ability to recognise and evaluate the impact of societies on the natural world. The course is appropriate for a wide range of pupils, from scientists who have a particular interest in environmental issues, through to linguists and arts pupils who don’t want to study one of the traditional sciences. The HL course has three additional HL lenses – environmental law, environmental economics, and environmental ethics. These lenses allow for the development of more sophisticated processing and balanced viewpoints, and are intended to provide a solid foundation for further study at university level. The additional HL content requires pupils to make more connections between diverse areas of the syllabus; this results in increased networked knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of environmental issues, solutions and management.

Course Content

STANDARD LEVEL

HIGHER LEVEL (AS OPPOSITE PLUS)

Topic 1: Foundation 1.1 Perspectives 1.2 Systems 1.3 Sustainability

HLa Environmental Law

Topic 2: Ecology

HLb Environmental Economics

Topic 3 Biodiversity and Conservation

HLc Environmental Ethics

Topic 4: Water Topic 5: Land Topic 6: Atmosphere and Climate Change Topic 7: Natural Resources Topic 8: Human Populations and Urban Systems Individual Assessment (coursework)

ST EDWARD’S OXFORD

18