IB Environmental Systems Revision

Climate Change & Energy

Energy resources, the greenhouse effect and climate change.

Climate Change & Energy is a core part of IB Environmental Systems. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.

Key concepts

Energy securityUninterrupted, affordable access to energy resources; balanced via diversity and storage.
Fossil fuelsCoal, oil, natural gas; provide ~80% global primary energy (IEA 2023); main CO2 source.
Renewable energySolar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass; share growing; intermittency requires storage/grid.
Nuclear fissionU-235 splits with neutron release; ~10% global electricity (IEA); waste storage controversial.
Climate sensitivityEquilibrium warming for doubled CO2; IPCC AR6 best estimate 3 degrees C (range 2.5-4).
Paris Agreement2015 COP21 treaty: limit warming well below 2 degrees C, pursue 1.5 degrees C; NDC mechanism.

Common mistakes to avoid

Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:

Is recent climate change mainly natural?✗ Yes, humans have no effect on climate.   ✓ No — the rapid recent warming is driven mainly by human emissions.
Does the ozone hole cause global warming?✗ Yes, the ozone hole causes global warming.   ✓ No — they are separate issues that are often confused.

Practise Climate Change & Energy — free games

Test yourself with these quick revision games for this topic:

▶ Two Truths, One Lie▶ Reveal Race▶ Connections Grid▶ Falling Words▶ Word Web

See all 17 games in the Subjects Arcade →

More IB Environmental Systems topics

Foundations of Environmental SystemsEcosystems & BiodiversityAtmospheric SystemsWater & Aquatic SystemsSoil & Terrestrial SystemsHuman Systems & Resource UseEthics, Law & Economics

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