IELTS Writing Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:
Scientists and the news media are presenting ever more evidence of climate change. Governments cannot be expected to solve this problem. It is the responsibility of individuals to change their lifestyle to prevent further damage.
What are your views?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Governments cannot be expected to solve the problem of climate change
Sample Answer
In recent years more and more data has been presented on the subject of climate change. We have also seen a shift from an emphasis on global warming to climate change recently by politicians and the media. While there may be more evidence presented, in part this may be due to the fact that we are now able to collect and process more data due to advances in technology rather than more changes actually happening.
History, and more recently science, has shown us that the world’s climate has always been changing and has passed through several extreme climate changes throughout the history that we know of it. While there can be no doubt that the existence of mankind has some effect on the planet, its ecosystem and therefore the climate, it is arguable just how much of any climate change can be directly attributed to our daily activities.
While governments, environmental agencies and other groups can present climate change data and possibly play an educational role; solutions, as in most cases, will probably be provided by the private sector. Alternative energy sources and such like must be economically viable and readily available for them to be successful and adopted on a large enough scale to have any real positive effect on the environment.
Ultimately, it is an individual choice to live responsibly, being conscious of our use of non-renewable natural resources, energy consumption and other activities which may adversely affect our environment and hence the climate. As in most cases of behavioural change – motivation is a key factor. We would not expect government to provide ‘behavioural solutions’ in other aspects of life and neither should we expect them to solve any climate change problems without everyone’s involvement.
IELTS Climate Change Questions
It's a complex question. Numerous factors come into play when we think about climate change, so my opinion may differ from other people's opinions. Let's look at some examples.
Several sources might contribute to climate change. These include natural or human-induced sources such as solar variability, volcanic eruptions, the sun's magnetic storms on the earth's atmosphere and other driving forces such as ozone depletion.
Almost all countries in the world contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and these contribute to global warming. As an individual, you can help by reducing your carbon footprint.
If you're behind on simple steps like switching to a green energy company or recycling more of your waste, you can start there.
You can also ask targeted questions for more specific advice. Like hey, I love rock climbing and just learned about how carabiners are made from steel? Can I recycle them?
Ultimately though, it's an uphill battle because when people don't know the right action to take, they often just say "I'm doing my best." They mean well but are not doing much t help.
Taxes won't solve climate change. Only two things can solve our crisis easily.
We either reduce the world's carbon footprint, or there is a massive extinction event.
A few people on our planet need to make some difficult decisions about what will save humanity.
The sooner we do this, the better off future generations are going to be.
Unfortunately, it seems that many people don't care enough about the fate of humanity to take meaningful action.
There are many who just don't care at all because they have their lives exactly as they want them and have no intention of changing anything at all.
Yes, but individual action is only part of the solution.
You can take many individual actions. You might be surprised at how much impact these actions will have.
So go and do something to make a change.
If we all took action on climate change, it would help reduce our carbon footprint, which is just another term for how much of a negative effect we have on our environment.
Everyone needs to be more responsible about the way they consume.