This is an essay on the topic of people who want to stop flying altogether.

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IELTS Essay: Stopping Flying

Some groups of people have decided to reduce the number of times they fly every year or to stop flying altogether.

Do you think that the environmental benefits of this development outweigh the disadvantages for individuals and businesses?

In recent years, a growing number of individuals have chosen to limit or completely eliminate air travel from their lives, largely due to concerns about its environmental impact. While this shift may be economically inconvenient, I believe the environmental benefits far outweigh this downside from a long-term, global perspective.

On the one hand, it is undeniable that reducing air travel can negatively affect individuals and businesses. For example, frequent flyers, such as international consultants or academics attending conferences, rely on the ease and speed that air travel offers. In 2019, for instance, researchers from developing countries struggled to attend a major climate summit in Sweden after organizers encouraged train travel over flying. Similarly, the tourism and hospitality sectors in countries like Thailand or the Maldives would face significant economic losses if people worldwide reduced their flying. A decline in air travel due to environmental reasons during the COVID-19 pandemic led to an estimated loss of billions in global tourism revenues in 2020 alone.

However, the true impact of flying is difficult to fully quantify. Flights leave an outsized carbon footprint due to CO2 emissions at high altitudes, which can triple the climate effect. One transatlantic round-trip flight emits as much CO2 as the average person in some developing countries produces in years. By reducing such flights, individuals can drastically cut their personal carbon footprints. The impact of this was evident during the Swedish movement called ‘flight shame,’ which led to a decrease in domestic air travel in Sweden in the 2010s, while train usage increased significantly. This kind of behavioral change not only reduced emissions directly but also sent a strong market signal that spurred investment in greener transport options. Other countries adopting such an approach would necessarily encourage high-speed rail constructions and electric aviation startups.

In conclusion, while reducing the frequency of air travel may inconvenience individuals and hurt certain industries, the long-term environmental advantages are more significant. In a world increasingly threatened by climate change, these sacrifices are not only worthwhile but necessary.

Analysis

1. In recent years, a growing number of individuals have chosen to limit or completely eliminate air travel from their lives, largely due to concerns about its environmental impact. 2. While this shift may be economically inconvenient, I believe the environmental benefits far outweigh this downside from a long-term, global perspective.

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

1. On the one hand, it is undeniable that reducing air travel can negatively affect individuals and businesses. 2. For example, frequent flyers, such as international consultants or academics attending conferences, rely on the ease and speed that air travel offers. 3. In 2019, for instance, researchers from developing countries struggled to attend a major climate summit in Sweden after organizers encouraged train travel over flying. 4. Similarly, the tourism and hospitality sectors in countries like Thailand or the Maldives would face significant economic losses if people worldwide reduced their flying. 5. A decline in air travel due to environmental reasons during the COVID-19 pandemic led to an estimated loss of billions in global tourism revenues in 2020 alone.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Better to have more detail.

1. However, the true impact of flying is difficult to fully quantify. 2. Flights leave an outsized carbon footprint due to CO2 emissions at high altitudes, which can triple the climate effect. 3. One transatlantic round-trip flight emits as much CO2 as the average person in some developing countries produces in years. 4. By reducing such flights, individuals can drastically cut their personal carbon footprints. 5. The impact of this was evident during the Swedish movement called ‘flight shame,’ which led to a decrease in domestic air travel in Sweden in the 2010s, while train usage increased significantly. 6. This kind of behavioral change not only reduced emissions directly but also sent a strong market signal that spurred investment in greener transport options. 7. Other countries adopting such an approach would necessarily encourage high-speed rail constructions and electric aviation startups.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
5. Keep developing.
6. Focus on this topic and don’t get sidetracked.
7. This essay is a bit long – aim for about 275 words.

1. In conclusion, while reducing the frequency of air travel may inconvenience individuals and hurt certain industries, the long-term environmental advantages are more significant. 2. In a world increasingly threatened by climate change, these sacrifices are not only worthwhile but necessary.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. 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.

In recent years, a growing number of individuals have chosen to limit or completely eliminate air travel from their lives, largely due to concerns about its environmental impact. While this shift may be economically inconvenient, I believe the environmental benefits far outweigh this downside from a long-term, global perspective.

On the one hand, it is undeniable that reducing air travel can negatively affect individuals and businesses. For example, frequent flyers, such as international consultants or academics attending conferences, rely on the ease and speed that air travel offers. In 2019, for instance, researchers from developing countries struggled to attend a major climate summit in Sweden after organizers encouraged train travel over flying. Similarly, the tourism and hospitality sectors in countries like Thailand or the Maldives would face significant economic losses if people worldwide reduced their flying. A decline in air travel due to environmental reasons during the COVID-19 pandemic led to an estimated loss of billions in global tourism revenues in 2020 alone.

However, the true impact of flying is difficult to fully quantify. Flights leave an outsized carbon footprint due to CO2 emissions at high altitudes, which can triple the climate effect. One transatlantic round-trip flight emits as much CO2 as the average person in some developing countries produces in years. By reducing such flights, individuals can drastically cut their personal carbon footprints. The impact of this was evident during the Swedish movement called ‘flight shame,’ which led to a decrease in domestic air travel in Sweden in the 2010s, while train usage increased significantly. This kind of behavioral change not only reduced emissions directly but also sent a strong market signal that spurred investment in greener transport options. Other countries adopting such an approach would necessarily encourage high-speed rail constructions and electric aviation startups.

In conclusion, while reducing the frequency of air travel may inconvenience individuals and hurt certain industries, the long-term environmental advantages are more significant. In a world increasingly threatened by climate change, these sacrifices are not only worthwhile but necessary.

Answers

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

1. In recent years → Over the past decade
2. a growing number of individuals → an increasing proportion of people
3. limit or completely eliminate air travel → reduce or altogether stop flying
4. largely due to concerns about its environmental impact → primarily because of worries about the harm it causes to the environment
5. shift → transition
6. economically inconvenient → financially burdensome
7. far outweigh this downside → significantly surpass this disadvantage
8. long-term, global perspective → a broader, future-oriented outlook
9. On the one hand → From one angle
10. it is undeniable → it cannot be contested
11. reducing air travel → cutting back on flying
12. frequent flyers → habitual air travelers
13. international consultants → global business advisors
14. academics attending conferences → scholars participating in international seminars
15. rely on the ease and speed that air travel offers → depend on the convenience and rapidity of flying
16. struggled to attend a major climate summit → faced difficulties getting to a key environmental conference
17. organizers encouraged train travel over flying → event planners promoted rail transport instead of planes
18. Similarly → In the same vein
19. tourism and hospitality sectors → travel and accommodation industries
20. would face significant economic losses → could suffer major financial setbacks
21. worldwide reduced their flying → globally cut down on air travel
22. decline → downturn
23. during the COVID-19 pandemic → throughout the coronavirus crisis
24. led to an estimated loss of billions in global tourism revenues → resulted in a projected multibillion-dollar drop in international tourism income
25. in 2020 alone → within just the year 2020
26. the true impact of → the actual consequences of
27. difficult to fully quantify → hard to measure precisely
28. leave an outsized carbon footprint due to → produce a disproportionately large amount of CO₂ because of
29. emissions at high altitudes → pollutants released at elevated atmospheric levels
30. triple the climate effect → cause three times the environmental damage
31. transatlantic round-trip flight emits → a flight across the Atlantic and back produces
32. developing countries → lower-income nations
33. drastically cut their personal carbon footprints → significantly reduce their individual greenhouse gas emissions
34. evident → clearly observable
35. ‘flight shame’ → the social stigma around flying
36. a decrease in domestic air travel → a drop in short-haul or internal flights
37. train usage increased significantly → rail transport saw a notable rise
38. behavioral change → shift in individual habits
39. reduced emissions directly → led to immediate declines in pollution
40. sent a strong market signal → gave a powerful economic message
41. spurred investment in greener transport options → encouraged funding for more sustainable travel alternatives
42. adopting such an approach → embracing this kind of strategy
43. necessarily encourage high-speed rail constructions → would likely support the expansion of fast train networks
44. electric aviation startups → emerging companies focused on battery-powered aircraft
45. reducing the frequency of air travel → flying less often
46. hurt certain industries → negatively affect specific economic sectors
47. long-term environmental advantages are more significant → the ecological benefits over time are more substantial
48. In a world increasingly threatened by → As the planet faces growing danger from
49. sacrifices → personal or economic trade-offs
50. not only worthwhile but necessary → both justified and essential

Pronunciation

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

ɪn ˈriːsᵊnt jɪəz
ə ˈɡrəʊɪŋ ˈnʌmbər ɒv ˌɪndɪˈvɪʤuəlz
ˈlɪmɪt ɔː kəmˈpliːtli ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt eə ˈtrævᵊl
ˈlɑːʤli djuː tuː kənˈsɜːnz əˈbaʊt ɪts ɪnˌvaɪrᵊnˈmɛntᵊl ˈɪmpækt
ʃɪft
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪkᵊli ˌɪnkənˈviːniənt
fɑːr aʊtˈweɪ ðɪs ˈdaʊnˌsaɪd
ˈlɒŋtɜːm, ˈɡləʊbᵊl pəˈspɛktɪv
ɒn ðə wʌn hænd
ɪt ɪz ˌʌndɪˈnaɪəbᵊl
rɪˈdjuːsɪŋ eə ˈtrævᵊl
ˈfriːkwᵊnt ˈflaɪəz
ˌɪntəˈnæʃᵊnᵊl kənˈsʌltᵊnts
ˌækəˈdɛmɪks əˈtɛndɪŋ ˈkɒnfᵊrᵊnsɪz
rɪˈlaɪ ɒn ði iːz ænd spiːd ðæt eə ˈtrævᵊl ˈɒfəz
ˈstrʌɡᵊld tuː əˈtɛnd ə ˈmeɪʤə ˈklaɪmət ˈsʌmɪt
ˈɔːɡᵊnaɪzəz ɪnˈkʌrɪʤd treɪn ˈtrævᵊl ˈəʊvə ˈflaɪɪŋ
ˈsɪmɪləli
ˈtʊərɪzᵊm ænd ˌhɒspɪˈtæləti ˈsɛktəz
wʊd feɪs sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊnt ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈlɒsɪz
ˌwɜːldˈwaɪd rɪˈdjuːst ðeə ˈflaɪɪŋ
dɪˈklaɪn
ˈdjʊərɪŋ ðə ˈkəʊvɪd-19 pænˈdɛmɪk
lɛd tuː ən ˈɛstɪmeɪtɪd lɒs ɒv ˈbɪljənz ɪn ˈɡləʊbᵊl ˈtʊərɪzᵊm ˈrɛvənjuːz
ɪn 2020 əˈləʊn
ðə truː ˈɪmpækt ɒv
ˈdɪfɪkᵊlt tuː ˈfʊli ˈkwɒntɪfaɪ
liːv ən ˈaʊtsaɪzd ˈkɑːbᵊn ˈfʊtprɪnt djuː tuː
ɪˈmɪʃᵊnz æt haɪ ˈæltɪtjuːdz
ˈtrɪpᵊl ðə ˈklaɪmət ɪˈfɛkt
ˌtrænzətˈlæntɪk raʊnd-trɪp flaɪt ɪˈmɪts
dɪˈvɛləpɪŋ ˈkʌntriz
ˈdræstɪkᵊli kʌt ðeə ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ˈkɑːbᵊn ˈfʊtprɪnts
ˈɛvɪdᵊnt
flaɪt ʃeɪm
ə ˈdiːkriːs ɪn dəˈmɛstɪk eə ˈtrævᵊl
treɪn ˈjuːzɪʤ ɪnˈkriːst sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊntli
bɪˈheɪvjərəl ʧeɪnʤ
rɪˈdjuːst ɪˈmɪʃᵊnz daɪˈrɛktli
sɛnt ə strɒŋ ˈmɑːkɪt ˈsɪɡnᵊl
spɜːd ɪnˈvɛstmənt ɪn ˈɡriːnə ˈtrænspɔːt ˈɒpʃᵊnz
əˈdɒptɪŋ sʌʧ ən əˈprəʊʧ
ˌnɛsəˈsɛrəli ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ ˌhaɪˈspiːd reɪl kənˈstrʌkʃᵊnz
ɪˈlɛktrɪk ˌeɪviˈeɪʃᵊn ˈstɑːtʌps.
rɪˈdjuːsɪŋ ðə ˈfriːkwənsi ɒv eə ˈtrævᵊl
hɜːt ˈsɜːtᵊn ˈɪndəstriz
ˈlɒŋtɜːm ɪnˌvaɪrᵊnˈmɛntᵊl ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz ɑː mɔː sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊnt
ɪn ə wɜːld ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈθrɛtᵊnd baɪ
ˈsækrɪfaɪsɪz
nɒt ˈəʊnli ˌwɜːθˈwaɪl bʌt ˈnɛsəsᵊri

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:

In ________ years, a ________________ individuals have chosen to limit _______________________ travel from their lives, largely __________________________________ impact. While this s____t may be economically _____________t, I believe the environmental benefits far _______________ downside from a long-term__________perspective.

On __________ hand, it _____ undeniable that reducing ________ travel can negatively affect individuals and businesses. For example, frequent _______s, such as international ______________s or academics ___________ conferences, rely _________________________ offers. In 2019, for instance, researchers from developing countries struggled ____________________________________ summit in Sweden after organizers ________________________ flying. S__________y, the tourism __________________ sectors in countries like Thailand or the Maldives would ______________________ losses if people worldwide _________________ flying. A d_______e in air travel due to environmental reasons during _________________________c led ___________________________________________________________ revenues in ___________ alone.

However, the ________________________ of flying is difficult ____________ quantify. Flights leave _____________________________ to CO2 emissions _________ altitudes, which can triple _________ effect. One transatlantic ________________ emits as much CO2 as the average person in some developing ___________s produces in years. By reducing such flights, individuals can drastically ______________________________ footprints. The impact of this was e________t during the Swedish movement called ‘flight _______e,’ which led to a _________________________ travel in Sweden in the 2010s, while train __________________ significantly. This kind of behavioral ________e not only reduced ____________ directly but also sent __________________ signal that spurred ______________________________ options. Other countries adopting _________ approach would necessarily ______________________________________ constructions and electric ___________ startups.

In conclusion, while reducing _________________________________ travel may inconvenience individuals and hurt __________ industries, the long-term ________________________________________ significant. In ______________________________________ by climate change, these s____________s are not __________________________ necessary.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

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

https://nordics.info/show/artikel/flightshame-in-sweden

Speaking Practice

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

Flying

1. Are there many airlines in your country?
2. Have you ever flown anywhere?
3. Where would you like to fly?
4. Are you scared of flying?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic:

Long distance flight consumes the amount of fuel that a car uses for many years and pollutes the air. Some people think that we should discourage non-essential flights, such as tourists travel, rather than limit the use of cars.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Essay: Flights and Flying