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This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of climate change and business from the real IELTS exam.
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IELTS Essay: Climate Change and Business
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.
Some are of the belief that any prospective reforms to combat climate change will necessarily be injurious to businesses. In my opinion, despite the marginal market for eco-friendly companies, this is largely true.
Environmentalists often argue that green businesses can be profitable. There are numerous examples from all over the world of corporations excelling in fields such as eco-friendly foods, cars, energy and fashion. For instance, Tesla has become one of the largest automobile manufacturers over the last decade with a unique focus on stylish electronic cars. Their success is by far the greatest so far in the emerging sector of green energy consumer products and will doubtlessly inspire a generation of entrepreneurs to view protecting the environment as a potential catalyst for growth rather than a deterrent to profits.
However, the examples above are still dwarfed by most industries and governmental regulation will surely hurt large and small businesses. In the past, well-intentioned environmental policy has failed to take into account the far-reaching impact of even the simplest stipulations. For example, when nations band together to sign treaties such as the recent Paris Accords, nearly all countries eventually fail to live up to the standards laid out because of the economic downsides and how that could affect their popularity domestically. As soon as one nation begins to fall short of their commitment, other countries have no choice but to also prioritise corporations over the environment for fear of losing power in later elections.
In conclusion, though there is some potential in green business models, they will always have dire economic repercussions. This does not make them less justified but it is an important consideration to temper expectations of progress.
Analysis
1. Some are of the belief that any prospective reforms to combat climate change will necessarily be injurious to businesses. 2. In my opinion, despite the marginal market for eco-friendly companies, this is largely true.
- Paraphrase the essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Learn more about introductions here.
1. Environmentalists often argue that green businesses can be profitable. 2. There are numerous examples from all over the world of corporations excelling in fields such as eco-friendly foods, cars, energy and fashion. 3. For instance, Tesla has become one of the largest automobile manufacturers over the last decade with a unique focus on stylish electronic cars. 4. Their success is by far the greatest so far in the emerging sector of green energy consumer products and will doubtlessly inspire a generation of entrepreneurs to view protecting the environment as a potential catalyst for growth rather than a deterrent to profits.
- Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Write a specific example.
- Develop it fully.
1. However, the examples above are still dwarfed by most industries and governmental regulation will surely hurt large and small businesses. 2. In the past, well-intentioned environmental policy has failed to take into account the far-reaching impact of even the simplest stipulations. 3. For example, when nations band together to sign treaties such as the recent Paris Accords, nearly all countries eventually fail to live up to the standards laid out because of the economic downsides and how that could affect their popularity domestically. 4. As soon as one nation begins to fall short of their commitment, other countries have no choice but to also prioritise corporations over the environment for fear of losing power in later elections.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain the new main idea.
- Write another example.
- Develop that example fully as well.
1. In conclusion, though there is some potential in green business models, they will always have dire economic repercussions. 2. This does not make them less justified but it is an important consideration to temper expectations of progress.
- Repeat your opinion and summarise your main ideas.
- Write a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Some are of the belief that any prospective reforms to combat climate change will necessarily be injurious to businesses. In my opinion, despite the marginal market for eco-friendly companies, this is largely true.
Environmentalists often argue that green businesses can be profitable. There are numerous examples from all over the world of corporations excelling in fields such as eco-friendly foods, cars, energy and fashion. For instance, Tesla has become one of the largest automobile manufacturers over the last decade with a unique focus on stylish electronic cars. Their success is by far the greatest so far in the emerging sector of green energy consumer products and will doubtlessly inspire a generation of entrepreneurs to view protecting the environment as a potential catalyst for growth rather than a deterrent to profits.
However, the examples above are still dwarfed by most industries and governmental regulation will surely hurt large and small businesses. In the past, well-intentioned environmental policy has failed to take into account the far-reaching impact of even the simplest stipulations. For example, when nations band together to sign treaties such as the recent Paris Accords, nearly all countries eventually fail to live up to the standards laid out because of the economic downsides and how that could affect their popularity domestically. As soon as one nation begins to fall short of their commitment, other countries have no choice but to also prioritise corporations over the environment for fear of losing power in later elections.
In conclusion, though there is some potential in green business models, they will always have dire economic repercussions. This does not make them less justified but it is an important consideration to temper expectations of progress.
Answers
of the belief believe
prospective reforms possible changes
combat climate change fight global warming
necessarily must happen
injurious hurts
marginal market not big business
eco-friendly companies green corporations
largely mostly
environmentalists people who care about the environment
green businesses eco-friendly businesses
profitable make money
numerous examples many instances
all over the world globally
excelling doing really well
fields areas
eco-friendly foods foods that don’t hurt the environment
energy fuel
Tesla a company that makes electric cars
largest automobile manufacturers biggest car companies
over the last decade in the last 10 years
unique focus special for
stylish electronic cars nice looking eco-friendly cars
by far the greatest so far up to this point the most
emerging sector new business
green energy consumer products environmentally friendly items
doubtlessly inspire definitely motivate
generation people of the same age
entrepreneurs innovators
potential catalyst possible jump-start
deterrent warns away from
dwarfed by weaker than
governmental regulation government’s controlling
surely definitely
small businesses local businesses
well-intentioned environmental policy trying to help the environment
take into account consider
far-reaching impact huge effect
simplest stipulations littlest rules
band together work together
sign treaties agree to
recent Paris Accords new environmental policy agreement
eventually fail to live up in the end don’t carry out
standards laid out what they are supposed to follow
economic downsides economic disadvantages
domestically nationally
as soon as once
fall short not meet
commitment agreement
have no choice but to must
prioritise corporations over consider the economy more important than
for fear of worried about
elections voting for your leaders
green business models eco-friendly businesses
dire economic repercussions bad effect on the economy
justified is reasonable
important consideration must be weighed
temper expectations of progress not expect too much
Pronunciation
ɒv ðə bɪˈliːf
prəsˈpɛktɪv ˌriːˈfɔːmz
ˈkɒmbæt ˈklaɪmɪt ʧeɪnʤ
ˈnɛsɪsərɪli
ɪnˈʤʊərɪəs
ˈmɑːʤɪnəl ˈmɑːkɪt
ˈiːkəʊ-ˈfrɛndli ˈkʌmpəniz
ˈlɑːʤli
ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntəlɪsts
griːn ˈbɪznɪsɪz
ˈprɒfɪtəbl
ˈnjuːmərəs ɪgˈzɑːmplz
ɔːl ˈəʊvə ðə wɜːld
ɪkˈsɛlɪŋ
fiːldz
ˈiːkəʊ-ˈfrɛndli fuːdz
ˈɛnəʤi
ˈtɛslə
ˈlɑːʤɪst ˈɔːtəməʊbiːl ˌmænjʊˈfækʧərəz
ˈəʊvə ðə lɑːst ˈdɛkeɪd
juːˈniːk ˈfəʊkəs
ˈstaɪlɪʃ ɪlɛkˈtrɒnɪk kɑːz
baɪ fɑː ðə ˈgreɪtɪst səʊ fɑː
ɪˈmɜːʤɪŋ ˈsɛktə
griːn ˈɛnəʤi kənˈsjuːmə ˈprɒdʌkts
ˈdaʊtlɪsli ɪnˈspaɪə
ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃən
ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜːz
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈkætəlɪst
dɪˈtɛrənt
dwɔːft baɪ
ˌgʌvənˈmɛntl ˌrɛgjʊˈleɪʃən
ˈʃʊəli
smɔːl ˈbɪznɪsɪz
wɛl-ɪnˈtɛnʃənd ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl ˈpɒlɪsi
teɪk ˈɪntuː əˈkaʊnt
ˈfɑːˈriːʧɪŋ ˈɪmpækt
ˈsɪmplɪst ˌstɪpjʊˈleɪʃənz
bænd təˈgɛðə
saɪn ˈtriːtiz
ˈriːsnt ˈpærɪs əˈkɔːdz
ɪˈvɛnʧəli feɪl tuː lɪv ʌp
ˈstændədz leɪd aʊt
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈdaʊnˌsaɪdz
dəʊˈmɛstɪk(ə)li
æz suːn æz
fɔːl ʃɔːt
kəˈmɪtmənt
hæv nəʊ ʧɔɪs bʌt tuː
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz ˌkɔːpəˈreɪʃənz ˈəʊvə
fɔː fɪər ɒv
ɪˈlɛkʃənz
griːn ˈbɪznɪs ˈmɒdlz
ˈdaɪər ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˌriːpɜːˈkʌʃənz
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪd
ɪmˈpɔːtənt kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃən
ˈtɛmpər ˌɛkspɛkˈteɪʃənz ɒv ˈprəʊgrəs
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Some are o______________f that any p_____________________s to c________________________e will n____________y be i_____________s to businesses. In my opinion, despite the m_______________t for e________________________s, this is l__________y true.
E_______________________s often argue that g___________________s can be p____________e. There are n____________________s from a________________d of corporations e_____________g in f_____s such as e___________________s, cars, e________y and fashion. For instance, T______a has become one of the l___________________________________s o___________________e with a u________________s on s________________________s. Their success is b_____________________________r in the e________________r of g__________________________________s and will d__________________e a g___________n of e___________________s to view protecting the environment as a p___________________t for growth rather than a d_____________t to profits.
However, the examples above are still d_________________y most industries and g____________________________n will s______y hurt large and s___________________________s. In the past, w_____________________________________y has failed to t_________________t the f_____________________t of even the s______________________s. For example, when nations b_______________r to s_________________s such as the r___________________________s, nearly all countries e__________________________p to the s___________________t because of the e____________________s and how that could affect their popularity d______________________y. A_________s one nation begins to f___________t of their c_______________t, other countries h_____________________o also p__________________________________r the environment f_____________f losing power in later e_____________s.
In conclusion, though there is some potential in g_________________________s, they will always have d______________________s. This does not make them less j_____________d but it is an i______________________n to t______________________________s.
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://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/11/we-need-an-energy-miracle/407881/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Seasons
- Which season do you like the most?
- Is it better to live in a place with 4 seasons or just 1?
- What is the weather like in your city?
- How do people in your country deal with bad weather?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Climate change is a phenomenon that affects countries all over the world. Many people strongly believe that it is the responsibility of individuals, rather than corporations and governments, to deal with this problem.
To what extent do you agree?
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Some experts believe that climate change reforms will have a negative impact on business and profitability, while others argue the opposite of this to be true and view the reforms as a business opportunity. There is truth to both sides however, in my opinion the reforms will hinder business operations more so than facilitate it.
First and foremost, the industries that have been set up over the past many decades at exuberant costs have been done so without giving much consideration to preservation of the environment. This indeed has a negative impact on the ecology. However, bringing in climate change reforms means that these industries would have to drastically change their processes and invest large amounts of capital into more sustainable and greener energy sources. For example, companies that produce plastic would have to consider developing more eco-friendly products as a substitute to plastic. This involves heavy investment in research and development. The shift in processes would eventually trickle down to the end user which is the customer. Another example of this is the introduction of solar panels which is a source of renewable energy. Investing in enough solar panels to power an average household requires a substantial investment.
On the other hand, as the world is increasingly becoming aware of our detrimental impact on the eco-system, some companies have taken the initiative to bank on this opportunity, adopt more eco-friendly practices and brand themselves as “sustainable”. Therefore, creating a positive image in the eyes of the customer. Usually, the eco-friendly products are priced at a premium.
In conclusion, there is no doubt that most industries have contributed negatively to the environment. Nevertheless, switching to greener energy would be costly and this cost would be passed onto the customers.