Introduction
At Higher Level (HL), IB Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) goes beyond science and economics by integrating ethics. For the 2026 first assessment, HL students are expected to show how values, worldviews, and ethical perspectives shape environmental decisions.
This is an area where many students lose marks because they focus only on scientific explanations. ESS examiners want HL students to analyze why societies make different choices—linking ethics to sustainability, law, and economics.
Quick Start Checklist for HL Students
When revising ethics in ESS, make sure you can:
- Define different environmental value systems (EVS).
- Apply ethics to real-world environmental issues.
- Compare perspectives (e.g., ecocentric vs technocentric).
- Evaluate how ethics influence policy and sustainability.
- Use ethics in Paper 2 essays and HL-specific questions.
Environmental Value Systems (EVS) in ESS
The syllabus highlights three broad perspectives:
- Ecocentric
- Nature-centered.
- Values conservation, small-scale development, deep ecology.
- Example: Indigenous worldviews prioritizing balance with ecosystems.
- Anthropocentric
- Human-centered.
- Values sustainable development, policy, and management.
- Example: UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Technocentric
- Technology-centered.
- Values innovation, resource substitution, and large-scale solutions.
- Example: geoengineering approaches to climate change.
How Ethics Links to ESS Topics
Ethics is integrated into HL questions across the syllabus:
- Biodiversity: Should species be conserved for their own sake (ecocentric) or for human benefit (anthropocentric)?
- Climate change: Is it ethical for developed nations to demand emission cuts from developing nations?
- Food production: Should societies prioritize local, sustainable farming or maximize global food supply with intensive methods?
- Population policies: Is limiting family size ethical in overpopulated regions?
Case Studies for Ethics in ESS Exams
- Whaling in Japan: cultural vs conservation ethics.
- Amazon deforestation: Indigenous rights vs economic development.
- Geoengineering proposals: ethical debates about “fixing” climate change with technology.
- CITES ban on ivory trade: ethical conflict between poverty reduction and wildlife protection.
Ethics in ESS Exams
Paper 1
HL students may be asked to identify value systems behind data or policies in the case study booklet.
Paper 2
Typical essay-style questions include:
- “Discuss the role of environmental value systems in shaping responses to climate change.”
- “Evaluate ethical perspectives on biodiversity conservation.”
Exam Tips for HL Students
- Always name the value system. Don’t just say “some people think…”—use terms like ecocentric, anthropocentric, technocentric.
- Link ethics to outcomes. Show how different ethics lead to different policies or solutions.
- Balance perspectives. Examiners reward essays that compare and evaluate.
FAQs
1. Is ethics only tested at HL?
Yes. SL students are not directly assessed on ethics, though they can still use EVS ideas in essays.
2. Do I need to know philosophers or detailed ethical theory?
No. ESS HL focuses on applied ethics in environmental contexts, not abstract philosophy.
3. Could ethics appear in Paper 1?
Yes. HL students may be asked to explain which value system is represented by a given policy.
Conclusion
Ethics in ESS HL is about showing how human values shape sustainability. By understanding environmental value systems and applying them to case studies, you’ll be able to write strong, evaluative answers for the 2026 first assessment.
RevisionDojo Call to Action:
Want HL-specific ethics practice and case study notes? RevisionDojo’s ESS resources give you the tools to master environmental ethics and write high-mark essays.
