Climate change and food shortages are increasingly prevalent topics in IELTS Writing Task 2. These interconnected global issues have appeared in various forms over the past few years, and their relevance is likely to grow. Based on recent trends, we can expect to see more questions addressing the impact of climate change on food security, agricultural practices, and global hunger. Let’s explore a typical question on this subject and analyze sample essays for different band scores.

Some people believe that climate change is the main cause of food shortages around the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Analyzing the Question

This question requires you to discuss the relationship between climate change and global food shortages. The key aspects to consider are:

1. The main argument: Climate change as the primary cause of food shortages
2. The scope: Global perspective
3. Your task: Express your level of agreement or disagreement

To answer effectively, you should:

• Clearly state your position
• Provide reasons and examples to support your view
• Consider counter-arguments
• Draw a well-supported conclusion

Now, let’s look at sample essays for different band scores.

Sample Essay for Band 8-9

Climate change has undeniably emerged as a significant threat to global food security, and while I largely agree that it is a primary driver of food shortages worldwide, I believe other factors also play crucial roles in this complex issue.

There are compelling reasons to consider climate change as the main culprit behind food scarcities. Firstly, extreme weather events, such as prolonged droughts, floods, and hurricanes, have become more frequent and intense due to global warming. These disasters can devastate crops, destroy agricultural infrastructure, and disrupt food distribution networks, leading to acute food shortages in affected regions. For instance, the severe drought in East Africa in 2011 caused widespread crop failures, resulting in a famine that affected millions of people. Moreover, changing precipitation patterns and rising temperatures alter traditional growing seasons and crop yields, forcing farmers to adapt their practices or face reduced harvests.

However, it would be an oversimplification to attribute food shortages solely to climate change. Other significant factors contribute to this global challenge, including population growth, inefficient food distribution systems, and economic inequalities. The world’s population is rapidly increasing, placing immense pressure on food production systems to meet growing demand. Additionally, despite producing enough food globally, inefficient distribution and food waste exacerbate shortages in many areas. Economic disparities also play a role, as poverty limits access to nutritious food for millions of people, even in regions where food is abundant.

In conclusion, while climate change is undoubtedly a major contributor to food shortages around the world, it is part of a broader, interconnected web of causes. Addressing this global issue requires a multifaceted approach that not only mitigates climate change but also tackles other root causes such as poverty, inefficient distribution, and unsustainable agricultural practices.

(Word count: 292)

Climate Change Impact on Agriculture

Essay Analysis for Band 8-9

This essay demonstrates excellent qualities that justify a high band score:

1. Task Response (Band 8-9):

   • Clearly addresses all parts of the task
   • Presents a well-developed response with relevant, extended ideas
   • Offers a clear position throughout the essay

2. Coherence and Cohesion (Band 8-9):

   • Logically organizes information and ideas
   • Uses a range of cohesive devices effectively
   • Develops all aspects of the task with clear progression

3. Lexical Resource (Band 8-9):

   • Uses a wide range of vocabulary naturally and flexibly
   • Uses less common lexical items skillfully
   • Makes only rare minor errors in word choice or spelling

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy (Band 8-9):

   • Uses a wide range of structures flexibly
   • Produces error-free sentences with only very occasional inaccuracies or inappropriate usage

The essay effectively balances agreement with the statement while acknowledging other factors, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of the topic.

Sample Essay for Band 6-7

Climate change is a big problem in the world today, and many people think it is the main reason for food shortages globally. I partly agree with this idea because climate change does cause many problems for food production, but I also think there are other important reasons for food shortages.

Climate change can cause food shortages in several ways. First, it makes the weather more extreme, with more droughts and floods. These can destroy crops and make it hard for farmers to grow food. For example, in some African countries, droughts have made it difficult to grow enough food for everyone. Also, as the Earth gets warmer, some places that used to be good for farming might become too hot or dry, so less food can be grown there.

However, I don’t think climate change is the only cause of food shortages. There are other problems that also lead to not enough food for everyone. One big issue is that the world’s population is growing very fast, so we need more and more food. Another problem is that some countries are very poor, and people don’t have enough money to buy food, even if it is available. Also, in some places, a lot of food is wasted because it can’t be stored properly or transported to where it’s needed.

In conclusion, while climate change is a very important reason for food shortages around the world, it is not the only cause. To solve the problem of food shortages, we need to address climate change, but we also need to look at other issues like population growth, poverty, and food waste.

(Word count: 272)

Essay Analysis for Band 6-7

This essay demonstrates good qualities that justify a band score of 6-7:

1. Task Response (Band 6-7):

   • Addresses all parts of the task
   • Presents a relevant position
   • Develops main ideas but some may be unclear or repetitive

2. Coherence and Cohesion (Band 6-7):

   • Arranges information and ideas coherently
   • Uses cohesive devices but may be overused or underused
   • Presents a clear central topic within each paragraph

3. Lexical Resource (Band 6-7):

   • Uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task
   • Attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy
   • Makes some errors in spelling and word formation, but they do not impede communication

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy (Band 6-7):

   • Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms
   • Makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but they rarely reduce communication

The essay presents a clear position and develops relevant ideas, but lacks the sophistication and nuance of the higher band essay. The vocabulary and grammatical structures are adequate but less varied and precise compared to the Band 8-9 essay.

Key Vocabulary to Remember

1. Food security (noun) /fuːd sɪˈkjʊərəti/ – the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food

2. Agricultural infrastructure (noun phrase) /ˌæɡrɪˈkʌltʃərəl ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə/ – the basic physical and organizational structures needed for agriculture

3. Crop yield (noun phrase) /krɒp jiːld/ – the amount of crop produced per unit of land area

4. Precipitation patterns (noun phrase) /prɪˌsɪpɪˈteɪʃən ˈpætənz/ – the typical distribution of rainfall or snowfall in an area

5. Food distribution systems (noun phrase) /fuːd ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃən ˈsɪstəmz/ – the networks and methods used to transport and allocate food

6. Economic disparities (noun phrase) /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk dɪˈspærətiz/ – significant differences in economic well-being between individuals or groups

7. Multifaceted approach (noun phrase) /ˌmʌltiˈfæsɪtɪd əˈprəʊtʃ/ – a strategy that considers many different aspects of a problem

8. Mitigate (verb) /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ – to make less severe, serious, or painful

9. Unsustainable (adjective) /ˌʌnsəˈsteɪnəbl/ – not able to be maintained at the current rate or level

10. Root causes (noun phrase) /ruːt kɔːzɪz/ – the fundamental reasons for the occurrence of a problem

Conclusion

Climate change and its impact on food shortages is a critical topic that is likely to appear in future IELTS Writing Task 2 questions. By understanding the complexities of this issue and practicing with sample essays, you can improve your ability to address such questions effectively.

To further enhance your skills, try writing your own essay on this topic:

Some experts suggest that adapting agricultural practices is more important than reducing carbon emissions in addressing food shortages caused by climate change. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Feel free to share your practice essay in the comments section below. This will not only help you improve your writing skills but also contribute to a community of learners preparing for the IELTS exam.

Remember, the key to success in IELTS Writing Task 2 is practice, analysis, and continuous improvement. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!