The IELTS Reading section is a critical part of the IELTS exam, designed to assess a candidate’s reading comprehension skills through various text types and question formats. One increasingly relevant and common theme in these texts is climate change and its effects. Given the global urgency and pervasive impact of climate change, this topic frequently appears in IELTS Reading passages. Today, we will focus on a specific aspect of this theme: “How Does Climate Change Affect Human Rights?”

Climate change has wide-ranging impacts, many of which directly affect human rights. These impacts are increasingly recognized by international bodies, making this a relevant and potent topic for IELTS test-takers. Additionally, examining historical data shows a trend of environmental issues being prioritized, suggesting a likelihood of encountering such themes in future exams.

Climate Change and Human Rights

Reading Passage and Practice Questions

Climate Change and Human Rights: The Unseen Link (Medium Text)

Climate change, a phenomenon primarily driven by human activities, poses significant threats not only to the environment but also to the fundamental human rights of individuals and communities worldwide. The effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and food insecurity, have direct and indirect consequences on a variety of human rights, such as the right to life, health, and adequate living standards.

The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts, lead to the displacement of millions of people, creating what is known as “climate refugees.” These displaced individuals often face severe challenges in accessing basic needs, including shelter, healthcare, and employment, thereby infringing on their rights.

Rising sea levels and changing weather patterns also contribute to the loss of livelihoods, particularly in agriculture-dependent regions. Farmers struggle with unpredictable growing seasons, reduced crop yields, and increased pest invasions, which threaten their right to work and to an adequate standard of living. Furthermore, food insecurity due to climate change affects the right to adequate food, as communities face shortages and higher prices for basic foodstuffs.

Climate change also exacerbates health risks, as changing ecosystems bring about the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. This situation poses a direct threat to the right to health, especially in vulnerable populations with limited access to healthcare services.

Moreover, climate change impacts indigenous peoples disproportionately. Their strong cultural and spiritual ties to the land make them particularly vulnerable to environmental changes. Loss of land and natural resources essential for their way of life threatens not only their physical survival but also their cultural rights and traditions.

Recognizing these challenges, international bodies like the United Nations have called for integrating human rights into climate change policies. Nations are urged to adopt a human rights-based approach to combat climate change, ensuring that measures to address environmental issues do not compromise human rights but rather seek to protect and fulfill them.

Practice Questions

Multiple Choice

1. What is primarily responsible for climate change?
   a. Natural processes.
   b. Human activities.
   c. Solar cycles.
   d. Volcanic eruptions.

2. What term is used to describe individuals displaced due to climate change?
   a. Environmental activists.
   b. Climate refugees.
   c. Economic migrants.
   d. Urban settlers.

True/False/Not Given

3. Extreme weather events directly lead to higher employment rates.

   • True
   • False
   • Not Given

4. Rising sea levels have no impact on agricultural livelihoods.

   • True
   • False
   • Not Given

Matching Information

Match each right with the corresponding climate change impact described in the text:
5. Right to health
6. Right to adequate food
7. Cultural rights
8. Right to work

a. Spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.
b. Loss of livelihoods in agriculture-dependent regions.
c. Food insecurity and higher prices for food.
d. Disproportionate impact on indigenous peoples.

Sentence Completion

9. __ are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to their reliance on the land and natural resources.
10. International bodies are urging nations to integrate _____ into climate change policies.

Answer Key

1. b. Human activities.
2. b. Climate refugees.
3. False.
4. False.
5. a. Spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.
6. c. Food insecurity and higher prices for food.
7. d. Disproportionate impact on indigenous peoples.
8. b. Loss of livelihoods in agriculture-dependent regions.
9. Indigenous peoples.
10. human rights.

Common Mistakes

1. Misinterpreting Information: Ensure you understand the specific impact described for each human right to avoid confusion in matching exercises.
2. Overlooking Details: Pay close attention to all details in the text to accurately answer True/False/Not Given questions.
3. Overgeneralizing: Avoid assumptions and stick to the information explicitly given in the text.

Vocabulary

1. Displacement (noun) /dɪsˈpleɪsmənt/: The forced movement of people from their homes.
2. Infringe (verb) /ɪnˈfrɪndʒ/: To actively break the terms of (a law, agreement, etc.).
3. Livelihood (noun) /ˈlaɪvliˌhʊd/: A means of securing the necessities of life.
4. Adequate (adjective) /ˈædɪkwət/: Satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity.
5. Vulnerable (adjective) /ˈvʌlnərəbəl/: Susceptible to physical or emotional harm.

Key Grammar Points

1. Relative Clauses: Used to provide additional information about a noun. Example: “Communities, which are reliant on agriculture, face severe challenges due to climate change.”
2. Passive Voice: Often used in academic writing to emphasize the action rather than the doer. Example: “Rights are compromised by the effects of climate change.”

Recommendations

1. Practice Regularly: Regular reading practice with a focus on diverse topics.
2. Expand Vocabulary: Keep a vocabulary journal to track new terms and their usage.
3. Review Grammar: Regularly review key grammar points, focusing on common IELTS structures like relative clauses and passive voice.

Remember, consistency and a thorough understanding of both the content and the structure of the IELTS Reading section will significantly enhance your performance. Happy studying!