This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of the value of environmental damage from the real exam.

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IELTS Essay: Environmental Damage

Environmental damage is a problem in most countries.

What is the cause of this damage?

What should be done about this problem?

Environmental damage has become a pressing issue in numerous countries worldwide. The main causes of this problem relate to human expansion and industry and must therefore be tackled by relevant authorities and corporations.

The factors contributing to environmental damage stem from human activity. Firstly, industrial activities and the burning of fossil fuels release harmful emissions, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere, leading to climate change. For instance, the excessive use of coal and oil in power generation contributes significantly to rising temperatures and poor air quality. Secondly, deforestation, driven by logging and agricultural expansion, destroys crucial ecosystems and disrupts the delicate balance of the planet. The loss of forests not only reduces carbon absorption but also leads to soil erosion and the endangerment and potential extinction of numerous plant and animal species.

To address the problem of environmental damage requires a multifaceted approach from governing bodies. Governments should prioritize the implementation of stringent environmental regulations and promote sustainable practices across industries. For example, imposing strict emission standards on factories and incentivizing the use of renewable energy sources can significantly reduce air pollution and combat climate change. Relatedly, funding sustainable land management practices, such as reforestation and afforestation programs, can help restore vital ecosystems and preserve biodiversity. Governments can apply these solutions together with companies that are heavily involved in environmental degradation.

Environmental damage poses a significant threat to the planet, but large organizations must work collectively to mitigate this issue. Implementing sustainable practices, enforcing environmental regulations, and encouraging corporate involvement are key steps toward preserving our environment for future generations.

Analysis

1. Environmental damage has become a pressing issue in numerous countries worldwide. 2. The main causes of this problem relate to human expansion and industry and must therefore be tackled by relevant authorities and corporations.

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

1. The factors contributing to environmental damage stem from human activity. 2. Firstly, industrial activities and the burning of fossil fuels release harmful emissions, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere, leading to climate change. 3. For instance, the excessive use of coal and oil in power generation contributes significantly to rising temperatures and poor air quality. 4. Secondly, deforestation, driven by logging and agricultural expansion, destroys crucial ecosystems and disrupts the delicate balance of the planet. 5. The loss of forests not only reduces carbon absorption but also leads to soil erosion and the endangerment and potential extinction of numerous plant and animal species.

  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. Add in as much detail as possible.

1. To address the problem of environmental damage requires a multifaceted approach from governing bodies. 2. Governments should prioritize the implementation of stringent environmental regulations and promote sustainable practices across industries. 3. For example, imposing strict emission standards on factories and incentivizing the use of renewable energy sources can significantly reduce air pollution and combat climate change. 4. Relatedly, funding sustainable land management practices, such as reforestation and afforestation programs, can help restore vital ecosystems and preserve biodiversity. 5. Governments can apply these solutions together with companies that are heavily involved in environmental degradation.

  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. Use really concrete examples.

1. Environmental damage poses a significant threat to the planet, but large organizations must work collectively to mitigate this issue. 2. Implementing sustainable practices, enforcing environmental regulations, and encouraging corporate involvement are key steps toward preserving our environment for future generations.

  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.

Environmental damage has become a pressing issue in numerous countries worldwide. The main causes of this problem relate to human expansion and industry and must therefore be tackled by relevant authorities and corporations.

The factors contributing to environmental damage stem from human activity. Firstly, industrial activities and the burning of fossil fuels release harmful emissions, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere, leading to climate change. For instance, the excessive use of coal and oil in power generation contributes significantly to rising temperatures and poor air quality. Secondly, deforestation, driven by logging and agricultural expansion, destroys crucial ecosystems and disrupts the delicate balance of the planet. The loss of forests not only reduces carbon absorption but also leads to soil erosion and the endangerment and potential extinction of numerous plant and animal species.

To address the problem of environmental damage requires a multifaceted approach from governing bodies. Governments should prioritize the implementation of stringent environmental regulations and promote sustainable practices across industries. For example, imposing strict emission standards on factories and incentivizing the use of renewable energy sources can significantly reduce air pollution and combat climate change. Relatedly, funding sustainable land management practices, such as reforestation and afforestation programs, can help restore vital ecosystems and preserve biodiversity. Governments can apply these solutions together with companies that are heavily involved in environmental degradation.

Environmental damage poses a significant threat to the planet, but large organizations must work collectively to mitigate this issue. Implementing sustainable practices, enforcing environmental regulations, and encouraging corporate involvement are key steps toward preserving our environment for future generations.

Answers

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

Environmental damage Ecological harm

pressing issue in Urgent concern in

worldwide Globally

The main causes of this problem relate to The primary factors behind this issue are

expansion Growth

therefore Consequently

tackled by relevant authorities Dealt with by relevant governing bodies

corporations Companies

The factors contributing to The aspects that are responsible for

stem from human activity Originate from human actions

burning of fossil fuels release harmful emissions Combusting fossil fuels releases noxious discharges

carbon dioxide CO2

atmosphere Air

excessive use of Overconsumption of

power generation contributes significantly to rising temperatures Energy production plays a substantial role in temperature increase

poor air quality Air pollution

deforestation Logging

driven by logging and agricultural expansion Motivated by logging and the expansion of agriculture

destroys crucial ecosystems Devastates vital habitats

disrupts the delicate balance of Upsets the fragile equilibrium of

loss Depletion

reduces carbon absorption Lowers carbon assimilation

soil erosion Soil degradation

endangerment Jeopardy

potential extinction Possible eradication

address Tackle

multifaceted approach from governing bodies Comprehensive strategy from authorities

prioritize Focus on

implementation Execution

stringent Strict

regulations Rules

promote sustainable practices across industries Advocate for sustainable practices in various sectors

imposing strict emission standards Enforcing stringent emission regulations

incentivizing Motivating

renewable energy sources Sustainable energy sources

significantly reduce air pollution Substantially lower air pollution

combat climate change Battle global warming

Relatedly In a similar context

funding sustainable land management practices Financing sustainable land stewardship practices

reforestation Tree planting

afforestation Establishing forests

restore vital ecosystems Revive essential habitats

preserve biodiversity Protect biological variety

apply Implement

heavily involved in Deeply engaged in

poses a significant threat to Represents a major danger to

large organizations Major corporations

collectively Together

mitigate Alleviate

Implementing sustainable practices Enforcing sustainable approaches

enforcing environmental regulations Imposing environmental rules

encouraging corporate involvement Stimulating corporate contribution

key steps toward preserving Crucial actions for safeguarding

for future generations For the coming generations

Pronunciation

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

ɪnˌvaɪrᵊnˈmɛntᵊl ˈdæmɪʤ 

ˈprɛsɪŋ ˈɪʃuː ɪn 

ˌwɜːldˈwaɪd.

ðə meɪn ˈkɔːzɪz ɒv ðɪs ˈprɒbləm rɪˈleɪt tuː 

ɪksˈpænʃᵊn 

ˈðeəfɔː 

ˈtækᵊld baɪ ˈrɛləvᵊnt ɔːˈθɒrətiz 

ˌkɔːpᵊrˈeɪʃᵊnz 

ðə ˈfæktəz kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪŋ tuː 

stɛm frɒm ˈhjuːmən ækˈtɪvəti 

ˈbɜːnɪŋ ɒv ˈfɒsᵊl ˈfjuːəlz rɪˈliːs ˈhɑːmfᵊl ɪˈmɪʃᵊnz 

ˈkɑːbᵊn daɪˈɒksaɪd 

ˈætməsfɪə 

ɪkˈsɛsɪv juːz ɒv 

ˈpaʊə ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃᵊn kənˈtrɪbjuːts sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊntli tuː ˈraɪzɪŋ ˈtɛmprəʧəz 

pɔːr eə ˈkwɒləti 

dɪˌfɒrɪˈsteɪʃᵊn 

ˈdrɪvᵊn baɪ ˈlɒɡɪŋ ænd ˌæɡrɪˈkʌlʧᵊrᵊl ɪksˈpænʃᵊn 

dɪˈstrɔɪz ˈkruːʃᵊl ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəmz 

dɪsˈrʌpts ðə ˈdɛlɪkət ˈbælᵊns ɒv 

lɒs 

rɪˈdjuːsɪz ˈkɑːbᵊn əbˈsɔːpʃᵊn 

sɔɪl ɪˈrəʊʒᵊn 

ɪnˈdeɪnʤəmənt 

pəˈtɛnʃᵊl ɪksˈtɪŋkʃᵊn 

əˈdrɛs 

ˌmʌltɪˈfæsɪtɪd əˈprəʊʧ frɒm ˈɡʌvᵊnɪŋ ˈbɒdiz 

praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz 

ˌɪmplɪmɛnˈteɪʃᵊn 

ˈstrɪnʤᵊnt 

ˌrɛɡjəˈleɪʃᵊnz 

prəˈməʊt səsˈteɪnəbᵊl ˈpræktɪsɪz əˈkrɒs ˈɪndəstriz 

ɪmˈpəʊzɪŋ strɪkt ɪˈmɪʃᵊn ˈstændədz 

incentivizing 

rɪˈnjuːəbᵊl ˈɛnəʤi ˈsɔːsɪz 

sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊntli rɪˈdjuːs eə pəˈluːʃᵊn 

ˈkɒmbæt ˈklaɪmət ʧeɪnʤ 

rɪˈleɪtɪdli 

ˈfʌndɪŋ səsˈteɪnəbᵊl lænd ˈmænɪʤmənt ˈpræktɪsɪz 

ˌriːˌfɒrɪˈsteɪʃᵊn 

æˌfɒrɪsˈteɪʃᵊn 

rɪsˈtɔː ˈvaɪtᵊl ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəmz 

prɪˈzɜːv ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti 

əˈplaɪ 

ˈhɛvɪli ɪnˈvɒlvd ɪn 

ˈpəʊzɪz ə sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊnt θrɛt tuː 

lɑːʤ ˌɔːɡᵊnaɪˈzeɪʃᵊnz 

kɒˈlɛktɪvli 

ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt 

ˈɪmplɪmɛntɪŋ səsˈteɪnəbᵊl ˈpræktɪsɪz 

ɪnˈfɔːsɪŋ ɪnˌvaɪrᵊnˈmɛntᵊl ˌrɛɡjəˈleɪʃᵊnz 

ɪnˈkʌrɪʤɪŋ ˈkɔːpᵊrət ɪnˈvɒlvmənt 

kiː stɛps təˈwɔːd prɪˈzɜːvɪŋ 

fɔː ˈfjuːʧə ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃᵊnz

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:

E______________________e has become a p________________n numerous countries w_________e. T__________________________________o human e___________n and industry and must t________e be t__________________________s and c_______________s.

T_________________________o environmental damage s___________________y. Firstly, industrial activities and the b_________________________________________s, such as c______________e, into the a_____________e, leading to climate change. For instance, the e_____________f coal and oil in p____________________________________________________________s and p__________y. Secondly, d_______________n, d____________________________________________n, d___________________s and d____________________________f the planet. The l___s of forests not only r___________________________n but also leads to s_____________n and the e____________________t and p_____________________n of numerous plant and animal species.

To a_________s the problem of environmental damage requires a m_______________________________________________s. Governments should p________e the i______________n of s__________t environmental r___________s and p_______________________________________s. For example, i__________________________________________s on factories and i______________g the use of r______________________________s can s___________________________________n and c___________________________e. R___________y, f____________________________________s, such as r____________n and a___________n programs, can help r______________________________s and p_________________________y. Governments can a______y these solutions together with companies that are h___________________n environmental degradation.

Environmental damage p_________________________________o the planet, but l_________________s must work c__________y to m________e this issue. I__________________________________s, e_________________________________________s, and e_________________________________t are k___________________________g our environment f___________________________s.

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://vietnamnet.vn/en/slowing-down-fast-fashion-to-save-the-planet-2178987.html

Speaking Practice

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

Environment

  1. How are environmental problems dealt with in your country?
  2. What can be done to make people recycle more often?
  3. What is the most pressing environmental problem?
  4. Is recycling a common practice in your country?
  5. Are governments or individuals more responsible?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

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