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NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

11–12Geography 11–12 Syllabus

Record of changes
Implementation from 2024
Expand for detailed implementation advice

Content

Year 11

Human–environment interactions
Overview of change to Earth’s natural systems over time
  • Natural change compared to human-induced change

  • Evidence of climate change in the contemporary world

  • Evidence for the causes of climate change over time

  • Land cover change at a global scale, including deforestation, desertification, melting glaciers and retreating ice sheets

Land use and land cover change
  • The extent and rate of change in ONE form of land cover

    Including:
    • how changes in land use can interrupt natural systems and contribute to the land cover change
    • the impacts of the land cover change at a range of scales, including climate change
Human–environment interactions study

Students undertake ONE of the following studies to develop an understanding of natural and human elements, how they interact, and the implications of the interactions for people and the environment.

  • Study 1: A geographic region (this may fall within a state or country or encompass a small group of neighbouring countries)

  • Study 2: A contemporary hazard (ONE natural hazard OR ecological hazard)

  • Study 3: Climate change.

Study 1: A geographic region
  • The spatial dimensions and nature of a chosen geographic region, which may be of local or regional scale

  • Unique characteristics of the natural environment, including physical processes and natural cycles influencing the nature of the region

  • Human–environment interactions and evidence of change

    Including:
    • change due to international integration
    • change in relation to climate
  • Challenges, opportunities and responses

    Including:
    • changes to natural processes, systems and/or environments
    • impacts of change on people and communities
    • management to minimise negative impacts
    • varying perspectives
  • The effectiveness of people and organisations in managing ONE challenge at a selected place, within the region

Study 2: A contemporary hazard
  • The spatial distribution and nature of the contemporary hazard

  • Characteristics of the natural environment, including the physical processes and cycles influencing the nature and occurrence of the hazard

  • Human–environment interactions and evidence of change

    Including:
    • the contribution of human activities to hazard events
    • change in relation to climate
  • Challenges, opportunities and responses

    Including:
    • changes to natural processes, systems and/or environments
    • impacts on people and communities
    • management at a range of scales
    • varying perspectives
  • The effectiveness of people and organisations in managing ONE contemporary hazard event at a selected place

Study 3: Climate change
  • Spatial and temporal characteristics of climate change at a global scale

  • Environmental and human impacts of climate change at a range of scales

    Including:
    • impacts on natural processes, systems and/or environments
    • impacts on people and communities
  • Challenges, opportunities and responses

    Including:
    • varying perspectives
    • mitigation in relation to the rate and magnitude of change
    • minimising risk through adaptation, resilience and innovation
    • local, national and global action
  • The effectiveness of people and organisations in managing ONE climate change challenge at a selected place

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