Climate change and its impact on global water resources is a crucial topic that has gained significant attention in recent years. This subject has appeared frequently in IELTS Writing Task 2 questions and is likely to remain relevant in future exams. Based on past exam trends and the growing importance of environmental issues, we can expect to see more questions related to this theme. Let’s explore a sample question and analyze how to approach it effectively.
Some people believe that climate change is the biggest threat to the world’s water resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Analyzing the Question
This question requires candidates to express their opinion on the relationship between climate change and global water resources. The key aspects to consider are:
- The phrase “to what extent” indicates that a balanced approach is necessary.
- Candidates should discuss how climate change affects water resources.
- Other potential threats to water resources should be mentioned for comparison.
- A clear stance must be taken, supported by relevant examples and explanations.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
Climate change is undeniably a significant threat to the world’s water resources, and I largely agree that it poses the most substantial risk. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that other factors also contribute to the deterioration of global water supplies.
The impact of climate change on water resources is profound and multifaceted. Rising global temperatures lead to altered precipitation patterns, resulting in more frequent and severe droughts in some regions while causing excessive rainfall and flooding in others. This unpredictability disrupts the natural water cycle, affecting both surface and groundwater availability. Moreover, melting glaciers and polar ice caps, direct consequences of global warming, threaten freshwater sources for millions of people worldwide. The resulting sea-level rise also leads to saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers, further compromising freshwater supplies.
Nevertheless, it would be remiss to ignore other significant threats to water resources. Industrial pollution, for instance, continues to contaminate rivers, lakes, and groundwater with harmful chemicals and heavy metals. Additionally, overexploitation of water sources, particularly for agriculture and urban development, leads to the depletion of aquifers and the drying up of rivers. These human-induced factors, while not as globally pervasive as climate change, can have severe localized impacts on water availability and quality.
Despite these other threats, I maintain that climate change remains the most significant danger to global water resources due to its far-reaching and long-lasting effects. Unlike localized pollution or overexploitation, which can potentially be addressed through targeted policies and technologies, climate change requires a coordinated global effort to mitigate its impacts. The interconnected nature of the Earth’s climate system means that actions in one part of the world can have consequences for water resources in distant regions.
In conclusion, while acknowledging the existence of other threats, I strongly agree that climate change poses the most substantial risk to the world’s water resources. Its global scale, long-term consequences, and the complexity of addressing it make it the paramount challenge in safeguarding our planet’s water supplies for future generations.
[Word count: 377]
Explanation of Band 8-9 Score
This essay demonstrates several characteristics of a high-scoring response:
- Clear position: The writer clearly states their agreement with the statement while acknowledging other factors.
- Coherent structure: The essay follows a logical progression of ideas, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the argument.
- Relevant examples: The writer provides specific examples of how climate change affects water resources, such as altered precipitation patterns and melting glaciers.
- Advanced vocabulary: The essay uses sophisticated vocabulary appropriately, such as “multifaceted,” “aquifers,” and “pervasive.”
- Varied sentence structures: The writer employs a mix of complex and compound sentences, enhancing the essay’s readability and sophistication.
- Critical thinking: The essay demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the topic by considering multiple perspectives and evaluating their relative importance.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
Climate change is a big problem for water resources around the world, and I mostly agree that it is the biggest threat. However, there are also other important things that can harm our water supplies.
Climate change affects water in many ways. When the Earth gets warmer, it changes how rain falls in different places. Some areas get too much rain and have floods, while others don’t get enough rain and have droughts. This makes it hard for people to get the water they need. Also, when ice melts in cold places because of global warming, it can cause problems for rivers and make sea levels rise, which is bad for freshwater near the coast.
But we shouldn’t forget about other things that can harm water resources. For example, factories sometimes put chemicals in rivers and lakes, which makes the water dirty and unsafe to drink. Farmers and cities also use too much water sometimes, which can make rivers and underground water sources dry up. These problems can be very bad in some places, even if they don’t affect the whole world like climate change does.
Even though these other problems are serious, I think climate change is still the biggest threat to water resources. This is because climate change affects the whole planet and can last for a very long time. It’s also harder to fix climate change because it needs many countries to work together, while other water problems can sometimes be solved by just one country or area.
In conclusion, I mostly agree that climate change is the biggest threat to the world’s water resources. While other problems like pollution and overuse of water are also important, climate change has the biggest impact on water all over the world and is the hardest to solve.
[Word count: 329]
Explanation of Band 6-7 Score
This essay demonstrates several characteristics of a mid-range response:
- Clear position: The writer states their agreement with the main idea while acknowledging other factors.
- Coherent structure: The essay has a logical flow of ideas, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the argument.
- Relevant examples: The writer provides examples of how climate change affects water resources, such as changes in rainfall patterns and melting ice.
- Vocabulary: The essay uses some topic-specific vocabulary, but it is less sophisticated compared to the Band 8-9 essay.
- Sentence structures: The writer uses a mix of simple and compound sentences, with fewer complex structures than the higher-band essay.
- Critical thinking: The essay shows an understanding of the topic and considers multiple perspectives, but the analysis is less nuanced than in the Band 8-9 essay.
Key Vocabulary to Remember
-
Climate change (noun) – long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns
Pronunciation: /ˈklaɪmət tʃeɪndʒ/ -
Global warming (noun) – the gradual increase in Earth’s average temperature
Pronunciation: /ˈɡləʊbəl ˈwɔːmɪŋ/ -
Precipitation (noun) – rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground
Pronunciation: /prɪˌsɪpɪˈteɪʃən/ -
Drought (noun) – a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall
Pronunciation: /draʊt/ -
Aquifer (noun) – an underground layer of water-bearing rock
Pronunciation: /ˈækwɪfər/ -
Contaminate (verb) – to make something impure by exposure to or addition of a harmful substance
Pronunciation: /kənˈtæmɪneɪt/ -
Overexploitation (noun) – excessive use of a resource
Pronunciation: /ˌəʊvərˌeksplɔɪˈteɪʃən/ -
Mitigation (noun) – the action of reducing the severity or seriousness of something
Pronunciation: /ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/ -
Pervasive (adjective) – spreading widely throughout an area or group of people
Pronunciation: /pərˈveɪsɪv/ -
Saltwater intrusion (noun phrase) – the movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers
Pronunciation: /ˈsɔːltwɔːtər ɪnˈtruːʒən/
In conclusion, the impact of climate change on global water resources is a critical topic that is likely to appear in future IELTS Writing Task 2 questions. To prepare effectively, practice writing essays on related themes such as:
- The role of governments in addressing water scarcity caused by climate change
- The economic impacts of climate-induced water shortages
- Technological solutions for adapting to changes in water availability due to climate change
Remember to structure your essays logically, use relevant examples, and demonstrate critical thinking in your analysis. Practice writing your own essays on this topic and share them in the comments section below for feedback and discussion with fellow IELTS candidates.
How does climate change affect international relations is another important aspect to consider when discussing the global impact of climate change. Understanding these interconnected issues can help you develop more comprehensive and insightful essays for your IELTS Writing Task 2.