Climate change and migration have become increasingly interconnected global issues, frequently appearing in IELTS Writing Task 2 questions. Based on recent trends and the growing importance of these topics, it’s highly likely that you’ll encounter a question related to climate change-induced migration in your IELTS exam. To help you prepare, we’ll analyze a relevant question and provide sample essays for different band scores.
Let’s examine a question that has appeared in recent IELTS exams:
Climate change is causing people to migrate from their homes to other countries. What problems does this cause? What solutions are there to these problems?
Analyzing the Question
This question requires you to discuss two main points:
- The problems caused by climate change-induced migration
- Potential solutions to these problems
It’s crucial to address both aspects equally in your essay to achieve a high score.
Sample Essays for Different Band Scores
Band 8-9 Essay
Climate change has become a significant driver of global migration, forcing people to leave their homes and seek refuge in other countries. This phenomenon presents numerous challenges for both the migrants and the host nations. In this essay, I will discuss the problems arising from climate-induced migration and propose potential solutions to address these issues.
One of the primary problems caused by climate change-driven migration is the strain on resources in host countries. When large numbers of people relocate due to environmental factors, it can overwhelm the infrastructure and social services of the receiving nations. This influx may lead to shortages in housing, healthcare, and education, potentially creating tensions between migrants and local populations. Additionally, cultural clashes and social integration difficulties can arise as people from diverse backgrounds attempt to assimilate into new societies.
Another significant issue is the loss of cultural heritage and identity for the displaced communities. As people are forced to leave their ancestral lands, traditional ways of life and local knowledge may be lost, leading to a decline in global cultural diversity. Furthermore, the economic burden on both the countries of origin and destination can be substantial, with the former losing valuable human capital and the latter facing increased expenditure on social support systems.
To address these challenges, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. Firstly, international cooperation and burden-sharing should be strengthened to ensure that the responsibility of accommodating climate migrants is distributed fairly among nations. This could involve creating a global fund to support countries most affected by climate-induced migration and developing international agreements to protect the rights of climate refugees.
Secondly, investing in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in vulnerable regions can help reduce the need for migration in the first place. This may include developing drought-resistant crops, improving water management systems, and implementing coastal protection measures. By addressing the root causes of climate-induced displacement, we can minimize the scale of migration and its associated problems.
Lastly, host countries should focus on developing comprehensive integration programs that facilitate social cohesion and cultural exchange. These programs could include language training, job placement assistance, and community engagement initiatives to help migrants adapt to their new environments while preserving their cultural identities.
In conclusion, climate change-induced migration poses significant challenges to global society, including resource strain, cultural conflicts, and economic burdens. However, through international cooperation, proactive climate action, and well-designed integration policies, we can mitigate these problems and create a more resilient and inclusive world for all.
Band 6-7 Essay
Climate change is causing many people to move from their homes to other countries. This situation creates several problems, but there are also some possible solutions.
One of the main problems is that countries receiving climate migrants may struggle to provide enough resources for everyone. This can lead to shortages in housing, jobs, and public services like healthcare and education. Another issue is that migrants might face discrimination or difficulty fitting into their new communities. This can cause social tension and make it hard for migrants to feel at home.
For the countries that people are leaving, there is a problem of losing important skills and workers. This can make it harder for these countries to develop and improve their situations. Also, migrants might lose their cultural traditions and ways of life when they move to new places with different customs.
To solve these problems, there are a few things that can be done. First, countries should work together to help climate migrants. This could mean sharing the responsibility of taking in migrants and providing financial support to countries that receive many people. Second, more effort should be put into stopping climate change and helping people adapt to its effects in their home countries. This might include developing better farming methods or building sea walls to protect coastal areas.
Another solution is to create programs to help migrants settle into their new homes. These programs could teach language skills, help people find jobs, and encourage cultural exchange between migrants and local communities. This would make it easier for everyone to live together peacefully.
In conclusion, climate change migration causes problems like resource shortages and social tensions, but there are ways to address these issues. By working together and planning carefully, countries can manage the challenges of climate migration and create better outcomes for both migrants and host communities.
Band 5-6 Essay
Climate change is making people move from their countries to other places. This causes some problems, but there are also some ways to fix them.
One big problem is that the countries where people go might not have enough things for everyone. There might not be enough houses, jobs, or schools for all the new people. Also, the new people might find it hard to make friends or feel at home in the new country. Sometimes the local people might not like the new people coming to their country.
For the countries that people leave, it’s bad because they lose many good workers. This makes it harder for these countries to get better. The people who move might also forget their old way of life and lose their culture.
To fix these problems, we can do some things. First, countries should help each other with the people who have to move. They can share money and resources to make it easier. Second, we should try harder to stop climate change so people don’t have to move in the first place. We can also help people live better in their own countries even when the weather changes.
Another good idea is to make special programs to help new people in their new countries. These programs can teach them the language, help them find jobs, and show them how to live in the new place. This will make it easier for everyone to live together happily.
In the end, climate change making people move causes some problems, but we can solve them if we work together and think of good ideas.
Explaining the Scores for Each Sample Essay
Band 8-9 Essay Explanation
This essay demonstrates excellent writing skills and a comprehensive understanding of the topic, earning it a high band score:
- Task Response: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, discussing both problems and solutions in detail.
- Coherence and Cohesion: Ideas are logically organized with clear progression throughout the essay. Paragraphs are well-linked, and cohesive devices are used effectively.
- Lexical Resource: A wide range of vocabulary is used accurately and appropriately, with precise word choice (e.g., “assimilate,” “ancestral lands,” “cultural diversity”).
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay demonstrates a wide range of complex structures used accurately, with only minor errors.
Band 6-7 Essay Explanation
This essay shows a good attempt at addressing the task but lacks some of the sophistication of the higher band essay:
- Task Response: The essay addresses the main points of the task, but the ideas are less fully developed compared to the Band 8-9 essay.
- Coherence and Cohesion: There is a clear overall progression, but the ideas are not as smoothly linked as in the higher band essay.
- Lexical Resource: A sufficient range of vocabulary is used, but it lacks the precision and sophistication of the Band 8-9 essay.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentences, with generally good control, but lacks the variety and accuracy of the higher band essay.
Band 5-6 Essay Explanation
This essay demonstrates a basic understanding of the task but has limitations in various areas:
- Task Response: The essay addresses the task, but the ideas are simple and not well-developed.
- Coherence and Cohesion: There is a basic structure, but paragraphing and linking could be improved.
- Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, with some errors in word choice and usage.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Simple sentence structures are used predominantly, with limited attempts at complex sentences.
Key Vocabulary to Remember
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Climate-induced migration (noun phrase) – /ˈklaɪmət ɪnˈdjuːst maɪˈɡreɪʃən/ – Movement of people due to changes in the environment caused by climate change.
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Assimilate (verb) – /əˈsɪmɪleɪt/ – To adapt to and become part of a different culture or society.
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Cultural heritage (noun phrase) – /ˈkʌltʃərəl ˈherɪtɪdʒ/ – The legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society.
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Burden-sharing (noun) – /ˈbɜːdn ˈʃeərɪŋ/ – The distribution of costs or responsibilities among multiple parties.
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Mitigation (noun) – /ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃn/ – The action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something.
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Adaptation strategies (noun phrase) – /ædæpˈteɪʃn ˈstrætədʒiz/ – Plans or methods to adjust to new conditions, especially in response to climate change.
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Social cohesion (noun phrase) – /ˈsəʊʃl kəʊˈhiːʒn/ – The willingness of members of a society to cooperate with each other.
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Resilient (adjective) – /rɪˈzɪliənt/ – Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
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Discrimination (noun) – /dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃn/ – The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people.
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Cultural exchange (noun phrase) – /ˈkʌltʃərəl ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/ – The sharing of ideas, traditions, and customs between different cultures.
Conclusion
Climate change and migration are complex, interconnected issues that are likely to feature prominently in future IELTS Writing Task 2 questions. By understanding the key aspects of this topic and practicing with sample essays, you can improve your ability to write coherent, well-structured responses.
To further enhance your skills, try writing your own essay on the following potential future topics:
- How can developed countries support developing nations in dealing with climate change-induced migration?
- Discuss the long-term economic impacts of climate migration on both source and destination countries.
- Should there be a new international legal framework to protect climate refugees? Why or why not?
We encourage you to practice writing essays on these topics and share them in the comments section below. This active engagement will help you refine your writing skills and prepare effectively for your IELTS exam.