IB DP ESS HL.b Environmental Economics Teaching Notes & PowerPoint 2026

This comprehensive teaching and revision resource covers the Environmental and Ecological Economics (HL.b) lens from the IB Diploma Programme Environmental Systems and Societies course (first assessment 2026). It is designed to serve two purposes: as supplemental teaching notes for instructors and as revision material for Higher Level students.

Editable PowerPoint Version Included

In addition to the printable PDF version, this resource includes an editable PowerPoint presentation that mirrors the full content. Teachers may adapt slides, add case studies, embed real-world economic examples, or modify explanations to suit different classroom contexts. This makes it ideal for HL lessons, revision sessions, and blended learning environments.

What Makes This Resource Useful for ESS Teachers

Follows the Subject Guide Directly
The content is structured around the HL Environmental and Ecological Economics lens in the new ESS syllabus, which extends core topics by examining sustainability through economic perspectives and decision-making frameworks.

Helpful for New Teachers
If you are new to teaching HL ESS, this resource provides a clear framework for integrating economic thinking into environmental issues such as resource use, sustainability, and policy, reducing planning time while maintaining curriculum alignment.

Dual-Purpose Design
Use the material as your own teaching notes during lessons or provide it directly to students as structured HL revision notes. The explanations are accessible for independent study while maintaining the analytical depth required for IB assessments.

Content Included

• Definition of environmental and ecological economics
• Economic value of natural capital and ecosystem services
• Market failure and environmental externalities
• Tragedy of the commons and overexploitation of shared resources
• Cost–benefit analysis in environmental decision-making
• Sustainable development and economic sustainability models
• Environmental accounting and valuation methods
• Green economics and circular economy concepts
• Economic instruments such as taxes, subsidies, and incentives
• Role of stakeholders in environmental economic decisions
• Links between economic growth, consumption, and sustainability
• Systems thinking connections between economics, policy, and environmental outcomes
• Key terminology and definitions highlighted for HL revision
• Diagrams, charts, and structured summaries to support conceptual understanding

This is a straightforward, curriculum-aligned HL teaching tool that presents Environmental Economics in a clear, organised format, helping students evaluate environmental issues through economic perspectives while preparing effectively for IB ESS assessments.