The IELTS Reading section often includes passages on current global issues, making it crucial for candidates to familiarize themselves with such topics. One prevalent topic is the “challenges of addressing global environmental issues,” which has been increasingly featured in recent years. Understanding this subject can help candidates anticipate the sort of reading passages and questions they might encounter in their exam preparation and improve their comprehension skills.
Challenges of Addressing Global Environmental Issues
Reading Passage
The following practice reading passage is designed to simulate an actual IELTS Reading test passage. The complexity level is set to medium, suitable for most IELTS candidates.
Global environmental issues like climate change, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and pollution are some of the most pressing challenges of our time. Addressing these issues on a global scale presents unique difficulties, owing to the complexity, scale, and international nature of the problems involved.
One of the primary challenges in combating global environmental issues is the sheer scale of the problems. Climate change, for instance, affects every country on Earth, and its causes are deeply embedded in the global economy. Tackling such an extensive issue requires unprecedented international cooperation and significant economic adjustments, which many nations are hesitant to undertake due to potential immediate economic repercussions.
Another obstacle is the difference in economic development between countries. Developing nations often prioritize economic growth over environmental protection, as they seek to elevate their standard of living and reduce poverty. This prioritization can result in increased pollution and environmental degradation. On the other hand, more developed nations, while having more resources to invest in environmentally friendly practices, might lack the political will to do so, as their populations may be resistant to changes that affect their lifestyles.
Furthermore, the lack of comprehensive international regulations and enforcement mechanisms complicates the situation. While agreements like the Paris Climate Accord represent steps in the right direction, they often lack binding enforcement strategies, leading to inadequate compliance by some countries. International agreements also tend to suffer from a “tragedy of the commons” effect where individual countries benefit from overexploiting resources, while the negative impacts are shared globally.
Lastly, environmental issues are frequently interrelated, making it difficult to address one problem without exacerbating another. For instance, efforts to combat climate change by promoting biofuels have sometimes led to deforestation, which in turn negatively affects biodiversity and contributes to carbon emissions. This interconnectivity requires a holistic approach to environmental policy, which is often lacking in global governance frameworks.
Addressing global environmental issues requires a multifaceted approach that balances economic growth with environmental sustainability, fosters international cooperation, and implements enforceable regulations. While these challenges are formidable, failing to address them will lead to increasingly severe consequences for the planet and future generations.
Questions
The following set of questions will help you practice your IELTS Reading question types based on the passage above.
Multiple Choice
What is considered the primary challenge in addressing global environmental issues?
- A. Economic disparities between countries
- B. The sheer scale of the problems
- C. Lack of international agreements
- D. Public resistance to change
Why do developing nations prioritize economic growth over environmental protection?
- A. They lack the technology for environmentally friendly practices
- B. To elevate their standard of living and reduce poverty
- C. They do not believe in climate change
- D. They have no international obligations
Identifying Information (True/False/Not Given)
The Paris Climate Accord includes binding enforcement mechanisms.
- True
- False
- Not Given
Promoting biofuels has only positive effects on the environment.
- True
- False
- Not Given
Matching Information
Match the challenges to their descriptions:
__: Scale of the problems
__: Economic development differences
__: Lack of regulations
__: Interrelated issues
A. Efforts to combat climate change leading to deforestation
B. Developing nations focusing on economic growth
C. Climate change affecting every country
D. Inadequate compliance due to non-binding agreements
Answer Key and Explanation
B. The sheer scale of the problems
- Explanation: The passage highlights the enormity of issues like climate change and their global impact, making them challenging to address.
B. To elevate their standard of living and reduce poverty
- Explanation: Developing nations often focus on economic development to improve living standards and reduce poverty, which can lead to neglecting environmental sustainability.
False
- Explanation: The passage notes that while agreements like the Paris Climate Accord exist, they often lack binding enforcement strategies.
False
- Explanation: It mentions that promoting biofuels has led to deforestation, implying negative environmental consequences.
- C: Scale of the problems
- B: Economic development differences
- D: Lack of regulations
- A: Interrelated issues
Common Mistakes
One frequent mistake in IELTS Reading comprehension is not recognizing the nuances in the text. For instance, distinguishing between “lack of binding enforcement strategies” and “absence of any strategies” can be crucial. Ensure you read for details and understand how pieces of information relate to one another.
Vocabulary
- Deforestation (noun) /ˌdiːfɔːrɛˈsteɪʃən/: The action of clearing a wide area of trees.
- Biodiversity (noun) /ˌbīōˈdīˌvərsədē/: The variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat.
- Holistic (adjective) /hōˈlistik/: Emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts.
Grammar
- Relative Clauses: “Developing nations, while having more resources to invest in environmentally friendly practices, might lack the political will to do so.”
- Explanation: This clause adds essential information about developing nations’ resources and political will.
Recommendations
To excel in the IELTS Reading section, immerse yourself in a variety of reading materials on current global issues. Practice regularly with passages similar to the one above and focus on understanding not just the basic meaning, but also the nuances and underlying implications.
Global Environmental Issues
For more information on how international cooperation can aid in solving global issues, consider reading our article on The Role of International Cooperation in Solving Global Issues.
