This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of individuals preventing of living with climate change from the real IELTS exam.

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Dave

IELTS Essay: Preventing or Living with Climate Change

Some believe that people should make efforts to fight climate change while others think it is better to learn to live with it.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Many are of the opinion that individuals should accept the reality of climate change rather than try to combat it. In my opinion, certain levels of acceptance are pragmatic but it is still important to take meaningful steps.

Those who argue a passive approach point to the ineffectual impact of individuals. The vast majority of problems related to climate change cannot be countered by individual action because they primarily involve corporations and governments. For example, companies that produce packaged foods, such as potato chips and instant noodles, create far more plastic waste and industrial pollution in one day than a single person will in their entire life. Governments can make a greater different by enacting regulations to ensure that the methods of production and materials employed are more environmentally friendly. It thus follows that the average person is justified resigning themselves to the facts of climate change and living in an area that is not especially affected.

However, the combined impact of individuals highlighting climate change will influence key policy decisions. The best examples of this are in European countries such as France and Denmark where green parties hold tremendous sway in government. Individuals empower these political parties not only by voting but also through protests and consumer decisions. Even governmental bodies that are not as eco-friendly must take the environment into account when passing laws. Furthermore, corporations are now cognizant of changes in consumer behavior. Massive conglomerates such as Starbucks frequently advertise their environmental policies. This has only happened because individuals have demanded these reforms.

In conclusion, the seemingly marginal impact of individuals belies their true influence over more powerful authorities. Concerned citizens should therefore continue to vocally curb the hastening of climate change.

Analysis

1. Many are of the opinion that individuals should accept the reality of climate change rather than try to combat it. 2. In my opinion, certain levels of acceptance are pragmatic but it is still important to take meaningful steps.

Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Those who argue a passive approach point to the ineffectual impact of individuals. 2. The vast majority of problems related to climate change cannot be countered by individual action because they primarily involve corporations and governments. 3. For example, companies that produce packaged foods, such as potato chips and instant noodles, create far more plastic waste and industrial pollution in one day than a single person will in their entire life. 4. Governments can make a greater different by enacting regulations to ensure that the methods of production and materials employed are more environmentally friendly. 5. It thus follows that the average person is justified resigning themselves to the facts of climate change and living in an area that is not especially affected.

Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
Explain your main idea.
Develop it with specific examples.
Keep developing it fully.
Relate it back to the overall topic.

1. However, the combined impact of individuals highlighting climate change will influence key policy decisions. 2. The best examples of this are in European countries such as France and Denmark where green parties hold tremendous sway in government. 3. Individuals empower these political parties not only by voting but also through protests and consumer decisions. 4. Even governmental bodies that are not as eco-friendly must take the environment into account when passing laws. 5. Furthermore, corporations are now cognizant of changes in consumer behavior. 6. Massive conglomerates such as Starbucks frequently advertise their environmental policies. 7. This has only happened because individuals have demanded these reforms.

Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
Explain your new main idea.
Include specific details and examples.
Continue developing it fully!
Vary short and long sentences.
Add in more detail and results.
The further you extend your ideas, the better.

1. In conclusion, the seemingly marginal impact of individuals belies their true influence over more powerful authorities. 2. Concerned citizens should therefore continue to vocally curb the hastening of climate change.

Summarise your main ideas.
Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Many are of the opinion that individuals should accept the reality of climate change rather than try to combat it. In my opinion, certain levels of acceptance are pragmatic but it is still important to take meaningful steps.

Those who argue a passive approach point to the ineffectual impact of individuals. The vast majority of problems related to climate change cannot be countered by individual action because they primarily involve corporations and governments. For example, companies that produce packaged foods, such as potato chips and instant noodles, create far more plastic waste and industrial pollution in one day than a single person will in their entire life. Governments can make a greater different by enacting regulations to ensure that the methods of production and materials employed are more environmentally friendly. It thus follows that the average person is justified resigning themselves to the facts of climate change and living in an area that is not especially affected.

However, the combined impact of individuals highlighting climate change will influence key policy decisions. The best examples of this are in European countries such as France and Denmark where green parties hold tremendous sway in government. Individuals empower these political parties not only by voting but also through protests and consumer decisions. Even governmental bodies that are not as eco-friendly must take the environment into account when passing laws. Furthermore, corporations are now cognizant of changes in consumer behavior. Massive conglomerates such as Starbucks frequently advertise their environmental policies. This has only happened because individuals have demanded these reforms.

In conclusion, the seemingly marginal impact of individuals belies their true influence over more powerful authorities. Concerned citizens should therefore continue to vocally curb the hastening of climate change.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

of the opinion believe

accept admit

reality truth

climate change global warming

rather than instead of

combat fight against

certain levels some degree of

acceptance admitting

pragmatic practical

take meaningful steps do real actions

argue believe

passive approach not active way

point to argue about

ineffectual impact not much effect

vast majority most of

related to concerning

countered by fought by

primarily involve corporations mostly have to do with companies

packaged foods foods in plastic/boxes

instant noodles ramen

plastic waste bags, packaging, etc.

industrial pollution hurting the environment because of production

entire life whole life

enacting regulations passing laws

ensure make sure

methods of production means of making something

materials employed what is used to make it

environmentally friendly good for nature

it thus follows therefore it is logical

justified reasonable

resigning themselves giving up

facts truths

not especially affected not really hurt by

combined all together

highlighting focusing on

key policy decisions choices made by governments

green parties political groups desiring environmentally friendly policies

tremendous sway a lot of influence

empower given power

political parties Republicans, Democrats, etc.

voting casting ballots in an election

protests being an activist against

consumer decisions choice by buyers

governmental bodies government organizations

eco-friendly good for nature

take the environment into account consider nature

passing laws enacting legislation

furthermore moreover

cognizant aware of

consumer behavior choices by shoppers

massive conglomerates large companies

frequently advertise often publicize

policies laws, regulations

demanded asked for strongly

reforms changes

seemingly marginal impact apparently not much effect

belies undermines

true influence over actual power over

powerful authorities governments, companies

concerned citizens people who care about

vocally curb talk a lot about lessening

hastening speeding up

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ɒv ði əˈpɪnjən
əkˈsɛpt
ri(ː)ˈælɪti
ˈklaɪmɪt ʧeɪnʤ
ˈrɑːðə ðæn
ˈkɒmbæt
ˈsɜːtn ˈlɛvlz
əkˈsɛptəns
prægˈmætɪk
teɪk ˈmiːnɪŋfʊl stɛps
ˈɑːgjuː
ˈpæsɪv əˈprəʊʧ
pɔɪnt tuː
ˌɪnɪˈfɛktjʊəl ˈɪmpækt
vɑːst məˈʤɒrɪti
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː
ˈkaʊntəd baɪ
ˈpraɪmərɪli ɪnˈvɒlv ˌkɔːpəˈreɪʃənz
ˈpækɪʤd fuːdz
ˈɪnstənt ˈnuːdlz
ˈplæstɪk weɪst
ɪnˈdʌstrɪəl pəˈluːʃən
ɪnˈtaɪə laɪf
ɪˈnæktɪŋ ˌrɛgjʊˈleɪʃənz
ɪnˈʃʊə
ˈmɛθədz ɒv prəˈdʌkʃən
məˈtɪərɪəlz ɪmˈplɔɪd
ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntli ˈfrɛndli
ɪt ðʌs ˈfɒləʊz
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪd
rɪˈzaɪnɪŋ ðəmˈsɛlvz
fækts
nɒt ɪsˈpɛʃəli əˈfɛktɪd
kəmˈbaɪnd
ˈhaɪˌlaɪtɪŋ
kiː ˈpɒlɪsi dɪˈsɪʒənz
griːn ˈpɑːtiz
trɪˈmɛndəs sweɪ
ɪmˈpaʊə
pəˈlɪtɪkəl ˈpɑːtiz
ˈvəʊtɪŋ
ˈprəʊtɛsts
kənˈsjuːmə dɪˈsɪʒənz
ˌgʌvənˈmɛntl ˈbɒdiz
ˈiːkəʊ-ˈfrɛndli
teɪk ði ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt ˈɪntuː əˈkaʊnt
ˈpɑːsɪŋ lɔːz
ˈfɜːðəˈmɔː
ˈkɒgnɪzənt
kənˈsjuːmə bɪˈheɪvjə
ˈmæsɪv kənˈglɒmərɪts
ˈfriːkwəntli ˈædvətaɪz
ˈpɒlɪsiz
dɪˈmɑːndɪd
ˌriːˈfɔːmz
ˈsiːmɪŋli ˈmɑːʤɪnəl ˈɪmpækt
bɪˈlaɪz
truː ˈɪnflʊəns ˈəʊvə
ˈpaʊəfʊl ɔːˈθɒrɪtiz
kənˈsɜːnd ˈsɪtɪznz
ˈvəʊkəli kɜːb
ˈheɪsnɪŋ

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

Many are o_______________n that individuals should a_______t the r________y of c_______________e r_______________n try to c_________t it. In my opinion, c_______________s of a____________e are p___________c but it is still important to t__________________________s.

Those who a________e a p___________________h p__________o the i_____________________t of individuals. The v_______________y of problems r______________o climate change cannot be c_________________y individual action because they p_______________________________s and governments. For example, companies that produce p_____________________s, such as potato chips and i_________________s, create far more p______________e and i_________________________n in one day than a single person will in their e_____________e. Governments can make a greater different by e_____________________s to e__________e that the m_________________________n and m________________________d are more e_____________________________y. I________________________s that the average person is j_____________d r________________________s to the f_______s of climate change and living in an area that is n_________________________d.

However, the c___________d impact of individuals h______________g climate change will influence k____________________s. The best examples of this are in European countries such as France and Denmark where g______________s hold t____________________y in government. Individuals e__________r these p_________________s not only by v________g but also through p__________s and c________________________s. Even g____________________s that are not as e__________________y must t______________________________t when p____________________s. F______________e, corporations are now c_____________t of changes in c__________________r. M_____________________s such as Starbucks f______________________e their environmental p___________s. This has only happened because individuals have d___________d these r__________s.

In conclusion, the s_____________________t of individuals b_______s their t__________________________r more p_____________________s. C_____________________s should therefore continue to v_____________b the h_____________g of climate change.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/top-10-ways-can-stop-climate-change/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Environment

Why do people throw rubbish the streets?
How can people be encouraged to not litter?
What are the results of littering?
What steps has your government taken to make people pick up after themselves?
Do the efforts of a single person have an impact on the world as a whole?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Some think that climate change reforms will negatively affect business. Others feel they are an opportunity for businesses.

Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

IELTS Essay: Climate Change and Business