IELTS Essay: Climate Change and Business

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.

1. Paraphrase the essay topic.
2. 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.

1. Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Write a specific example.
4. 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.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain the new main idea.
3. Write another example.
4. 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.

1. Repeat your opinion and summarise your main ideas.
2. 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

1. Which season do you like the most?
2. Is it better to live in a place with 4 seasons or just 1?
3. What is the weather like in your city?
4. 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?

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Climate Change