Human Systems & Resource Use 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
Demographic transitionFour/five-stage model from high birth/death to low rates (Thompson 1929, Notestein 1945).
Population pyramidBar chart of age-sex structure; reveals dependency ratios and demographic momentum.
Ecological footprintLand/sea area needed to provide resources and absorb waste (Wackernagel & Rees 1996).
Earth Overshoot DayDate humanity exhausts annual biocapacity; in 2023 around August 2 (Global Footprint Network).
Resource depletionNon-renewable extraction (fossil fuels, metals) reduces remaining stock; renewable above MSY also depletes.
Circular economyDesigns out waste through reuse, repair, remanufacture, recycling (Ellen MacArthur Foundation 2010).
Common mistakes to avoid
Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:
Where does pollution come from?✗ Only from factories. ✓ Many sources: transport, farming, homes and waste, not just factories.
Is nuclear power a renewable energy source?✗ Yes, nuclear power is renewable. ✓ No — it uses finite uranium, though it is low-carbon.
Practise Human Systems & Resource Use — free games
Test yourself with these quick revision games for this topic:
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