The core theme provides an overview of the geographic foundation for the key global issues of our times. The purpose is to provide a broad factual and conceptual introduction to each topic and to the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular those concerning poverty reduction, gender equality, improvements in health and education and environmental sustainability. An evaluation of the progress made towards meeting these goals is also provided." ~ IB Geography Syllabus
Populations in Transition
Population change
- Explain population trends and patterns in births (Crude Birth Rate), natural increase and mortality (Crude Death Rate, infant and child mortality rates), fertility and life expectancy in contrasting regions of the world. Analyse population pyramids. Explain population momentum and its impact on population projections.
- Explain dependency and ageing ratios. Examine the impacts of youthful and ageing populations. Evaluate examples of a pro-natalist policy and an anti-natalist policy
- Discuss the causes of migrations, both forced and voluntary. Evaluate internal (national) and international migrations in terms of their geographic (socio-economic, political and environmental) impacts at their origins and destinations.
- Examine gender inequalities in culture, status, education, birth ratios, health, employment, empowerment, life expectancy, family size, migration, legal rights and land tenure
Disparities in Wealth & Development
Measurements of Regional and Global Disparities
- Define indices of infant mortality, education, nutrition, income, marginalization and Human Development Index (HDI). Explain the value of the indices in measuring disparities across the globe.
- Explain disparities and inequities that occur within countries resulting from ethnicity, residence, parental education, income, employment (formal and informal) and land ownership.
- Identify and explain the changing patterns and trends of regional and global disparities of life expectancy, education and income. Examine the progress made in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in poverty reduction, education and health.
- Discuss the different ways in which disparities can be reduced with an emphasis on trade and market access, debt relief, aid and remittances. Evaluate the effectiveness of strategies designed to reduce disparities
Patterns in Environmental Quality & Sustainability
Atmosphere and Change
- Describe the functioning of the atmospheric system in terms of the energy balance between solar and longwave radiation. Explain the changes in this balance due to external forcings (changes in solar radiation, changes in the albedo of the atmosphere and changes in the longwave radiation returned to space). Discuss the causes and environmental consequences of global climate change.
- Explain the causes of soil degradation. Discuss the environmental and socio-economic consequences of this process, together with management strategies.
- Identify the ways in which water is utilized at the regional scale. Examine the environmental and human factors affecting patterns and trends in physical water scarcity and economic water scarcity. Examine the factors affecting access to safe drinking water.
- Explain the concept and importance of biodiversity in tropical rainforests. Examine the causes and consequences of reduced biodiversity in this biome.
- Define the concept of environmental sustainability. Evaluate a management strategy at a local or national scale designed to achieve environmental sustainability.
Patterns in Resource Consumption
Patterns in Resource Consumption
- Evaluate the ecological footprint as a measure of the relationship between population size and resource consumption. Identify international variations in its size. Discuss the two opposing views (neo-Malthusian and anti-Malthusian) of the relationship between population size and resource consumption.
- Examine the global patterns and trends in the production and consumption of oil.
- Examine the geopolitical and environmental impacts of these changes in patterns and trends. Examine the changing importance of other energy sources.
- Discuss the reduction of resource consumption by conservation, waste reduction, recycling and substitution. Evaluate a strategy at a local or national scale aimed at reducing the consumption of one resource