1. COLLS IGCSE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TOPIC SUMMARY
TOPIC LEARNING OUTCOME
Rocks and minerals and their exploitation
Formation of rocks ■ describe and explain the rock cycle
■ explain the formation of igneous,
sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
Extraction of rocks and minerals from the Earth ■ describe methods of extraction: surface
mining, subsurface mining
■ discuss factors that affect decisions on
extraction
Impact of rock and mineral extraction ■ describe and explain the environmental,
economic, and social impacts of mineral
extraction
Managing the effects of rock and mineral
extraction
Case study
■ describe and assess ways to restore
landscapes affected by mining
The Eden Project, Cornwall
Sustainable use of rocks and minerals ■ define the terms ‘sustainable resource’ and
‘sustainable development’
■ describe and assess strategies for sustainable
use of rocks and minerals
Energy and the environment
Fossil fuel formation ■ describe the formation of fossil fuels: coal,
oil, and gas
Energy resources and the generation of
electricity
■ classify energy resources as non-renewable
and renewable
■ describe how non-renewable and renewable
resources are used to generate electricity
■ describe environmental, economic, and social
advantages and disadvantages of these
resources
Energy demand ■ describe and explain factors that affect the
demand for energy
Conservation and management of energy
resources
■ describe and explain the ways for efficient
management of energy resources
■ discuss research and development of new
energy resources
Impact of oil pollution ■ describe causes and effects of oil pollution on
marine and coastal ecosystems
Management of oil pollution ■ discuss ways of reducing oil spills in marine
and coastal regions
Case studies Oil pollution in Niger Delta; Deepwater Horizon
oil spill, Gulf of Mexico
Agriculture and the environment
Soil composition ■ describe and explain the composition of
various soils
Soils for plant growth ■ describe soils as a medium for growth of
plants
2. COLLS IGCSE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TOPIC SUMMARY
Types of agriculture ■ describe the different types of agriculture
Increasing agricultural Yields ■ describe the different methods/techniques
used to increase agricultural output
Impact of agriculture ■ describe and explain the impact of agriculture
on the environment and people
Causes and impacts of soil erosion ■ describe the causes and effects of soil erosion
Managing soil erosion
Case study Soil erosion and desertification
■ describe and explain the different ways of
reducing soil erosion
Sustainable agriculture ■ describe and explain ways of practising
sustainable agriculture
Water and its management
Global water distribution ■ state the distribution of water on Earth and
its sources
The water cycle ■ define and explain the water cycle
Water supply ■ describe the sources of fresh water for
human use
■ describe surface water supplies and transfers
for use
Water usage ■ know and describe various uses of fresh
water
Water quality and availability ■ discuss availability of potable water across
the world; define water-rich and water-poor
countries; understand and explain difference in
accessibility to water
■ potential for water conflict between
countries
Multipurpose dam projects ■ describe and assess multipurpose dam
projects, their usefulness and impact, and
sustainability
Case study Three Gorges Dam—multipurpose
scheme
Water pollution and its sources ■ describe the causes and sources of water
pollution
Impact of water pollution ■ describe and explain the types of water
pollution and their effects
Managing pollution of fresh water ■ describe and explain the ways to manage
pollution and improve water quality
Case study Water pollution management
Managing water related diseases ■ know about malaria, a water-related disease;
describe and assess ways to control malaria
■ describe how cholera can be controlled
Oceans and fisheries
Oceans as a resource ■ state the resource potential of the oceans
World fisheries ■ state the distribution of the major ocean
currents
3. COLLS IGCSE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TOPIC SUMMARY
■ explain the distribution of major fish
populations
■ discuss El Niño’s impact on fish stocks along
the Pacific coast of South America
Impact of the exploitation of the oceans ■ describe and explain the effects of
overfishing—causes and consequences
■ describe how fish farming reduces
exploitation of fisheries
Case studies Fish farming
Management of the harvesting of marine
species
■ describe, explain, and assess methods for
managing the harvesting of marine species
Managing natural hazards
Earthquakes and volcanoes ■ identify and discuss major natural hazards
■ describe and explain the distribution and
causes of earthquakes and volcanoes
■ understand and explain the impact and
management of earthquakes
■ know about volcanoes, distribution, and
strategies for managing impact
Case study Earthquake management in California and Iran:
comparison
Tropical cyclones ■ describe and explain the distribution and
causes of tropical cyclones i.e. storms,
hurricanes, typhoons
■ describe strategies to manage cyclone impact
Case study Katrina(MEDC) / 2 Bravo (LEDC)
Flooding ■ understand and explain the causes and
impact of flooding
■ describe how the effects of flooding can be
managed
Case study: Flooding in Bangladesh
Drought ■ describe and explain the causes of drought;
identify affected regions
■ learn about the impact of drought and its
management Case study: Australia
Impact of natural hazards ■ describe and explain impacts on people and
the environment—loss of life, property,
disease, impact on agriculture, water sources,
desertification, etc.
Managing the impacts of natural hazards a) tectonic events b) tropical cyclones c)
flooding d) drought
The atmosphere and human activities
The atmosphere ■ learn about the structure and composition of
the atmosphere
Atmospheric pollution and causes ■ describe and explain the causes, with
reference to smog, acid rain, ozone layer
4. COLLS IGCSE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TOPIC SUMMARY
depletion, greenhouse effect, and their impact
on people and environment
Impact of atmospheric pollution ■ know about and explain ways of dealing with
impact of atmospheric pollution
Managing atmospheric pollution ■ learn about the causes and effects of global
warming, greenhouse effect
■ describe and explain ways used by people,
governments and individuals to reduce the
impact of global warming
Case study
Human Population
Human population density and distribution ■ learn about world population—density and
distribution
Changes in population size ■ describe and explain growth curve, and the
changes in human populations—birth and
death rates
Population structure ■ describe the population structure in MEDCs
and LEDCs; reasons for differences
Managing human population size ■ discuss and assess steps taken to manage
population size
Case study China and its ‘one child’ policy
Natural ecosystems and human activities
Ecosystems ■ define the terms ecosystem, population,
community, habitat, niche
■ describe biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living)
components of an ecosystem
■ understand and explain photosynthesis, food
chains, food web, trophic levels, ecological
pyramids, respiration, and carbon cycle
Ecosystems under threat ■ describe and explain causes and effects of
damage to habitat
Deforestation ■ know about and explain causes and effects of
deforestation
Case study Deforestation in Indonesia / Brazil
Managing forests ■ understand and explain the need for
managing forests
■
Measuring and managing biodiversity ■ describe and evaluate methods for estimating
biodiversity
■ learn about and understand management
strategies for conservation
■ know about the importance of national parks,
wildlife reserves, world biosphere reserves
■ assess national and international strategies
for conservation of species—plants and animals
Case study Biosphere Reserve
5. COLLS IGCSE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TOPIC SUMMARY
Ecotourism ■ understand and discuss ecotourism and its
value
