Climate change and its effects on global public health have become increasingly prevalent topics in IELTS Writing Task 2 essays. Based on recent exam trends and the growing importance of environmental issues, it’s highly likely that questions related to the impact of climate change on global public health will continue to appear frequently in future IELTS exams. To help you prepare, we’ve selected a relevant question that has appeared in past IELTS exams and created sample essays for different band scores.
Some people believe that climate change is the biggest threat to public health in the 21st century. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Analysis of the Question
This question asks for your opinion on whether climate change is the most significant threat to public health in our current century. To answer effectively, you should:
- Clearly state your position (agree, disagree, or partially agree)
- Provide reasons and examples to support your stance
- Consider potential counterarguments
- Conclude by summarizing your main points
Now, let’s look at sample essays for different band scores.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
Climate change is undeniably one of the most pressing issues of our time, with far-reaching consequences that extend beyond environmental concerns. While there are numerous threats to public health in the 21st century, I strongly agree that climate change represents the most significant and pervasive danger to global well-being.
Firstly, the direct impacts of climate change on human health are both severe and wide-ranging. Rising temperatures lead to more frequent and intense heatwaves, which can cause heat-related illnesses and deaths, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. Furthermore, extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, and droughts – all exacerbated by climate change – not only cause immediate fatalities but also disrupt healthcare systems, compromising access to medical services and increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.
Secondly, climate change acts as a threat multiplier, exacerbating existing health challenges and creating new ones. For instance, changing weather patterns alter the distribution of disease vectors, potentially exposing millions to diseases like malaria and dengue fever in regions previously unaffected. Additionally, rising CO2 levels are linked to reduced nutritional value in staple crops, potentially leading to widespread malnutrition and related health issues on a global scale.
While some may argue that other factors, such as antibiotic resistance or emerging infectious diseases, pose equally significant threats to public health, these issues are often intertwined with and amplified by climate change. For example, warmer temperatures can accelerate the growth and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, compounding the existing challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
In conclusion, the pervasive and multifaceted nature of climate change’s impact on public health – from direct effects like heat-related illnesses to indirect consequences such as food insecurity and the spread of diseases – makes it the most formidable threat to global well-being in the 21st century. Addressing this challenge requires urgent, coordinated action on a global scale to mitigate climate change and strengthen healthcare systems worldwide.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
Climate change is a big problem in today’s world, and it affects many things, including our health. I agree that it is one of the biggest threats to public health in the 21st century, but I’m not sure if it’s the only big threat.
One reason why climate change is a big health threat is because it causes extreme weather. For example, there are more heatwaves now, which can make people, especially old people and children, very sick. Also, floods and storms are happening more often, and these can hurt people and damage hospitals.
Another problem is that climate change affects our food and water. When the weather changes, it can be harder to grow food, which means some people might not have enough to eat. This can lead to health problems like malnutrition. Climate change can also make it harder to find clean water in some places, which can cause diseases.
Climate change also helps some diseases spread to new places. For example, mosquitoes that carry diseases like malaria might be able to live in new areas because it’s getting warmer. This means more people could get sick from these diseases.
However, there are other big health problems in the world too, like new diseases (like COVID-19) and the fact that some medicines don’t work as well anymore. These are also very serious and can affect many people.
In conclusion, I think climate change is definitely one of the biggest threats to public health because it affects so many different aspects of our health. But we shouldn’t forget about other health problems too. We need to work on solving all of these issues to keep people healthy.
The role of cultural diversity in promoting global peace can also play a part in addressing global challenges like climate change, as diverse perspectives can lead to more comprehensive solutions.
Sample Essay 3 (Band 5-6)
Climate change is a big problem for health in the 21st century. I agree it is very important, but maybe not the biggest threat.
Climate change makes the weather very hot sometimes. This can make people sick, especially old people. It also causes big storms and floods, which can hurt people and break hospitals.
Another problem is that climate change makes it hard to grow food in some places. This means some people might not have enough food to eat and get sick. Also, some animals that carry diseases can move to new places because of warmer weather, so more people might get sick.
But there are other big health problems too. For example, some medicines don’t work well anymore, and new diseases like COVID-19 can spread fast around the world. These are also very dangerous for people’s health.
I think climate change is a very big problem for health, but maybe not the only big problem. We need to think about all health problems and try to fix them.
Explanation of Band Scores
Band 8-9 Essay:
- Fully addresses all parts of the task with a clear position
- Presents well-developed ideas with logical organization
- Uses a wide range of vocabulary and complex sentence structures accurately
- Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the topic
- Provides relevant examples and explanations
Band 6-7 Essay:
- Addresses the task, though some aspects may be more fully covered than others
- Presents relevant main ideas but some may be underdeveloped
- Uses an adequate range of vocabulary and mix of simple and complex sentences
- Shows a reasonable understanding of the topic
- Provides some examples, though they may not always be clearly explained
Band 5-6 Essay:
- Addresses the task in a basic way but may be repetitive or unclear in places
- Presents some main ideas but with limited development
- Uses a limited range of vocabulary and simple sentence structures
- Shows a basic understanding of the topic
- Provides few examples or explanations
Key Vocabulary to Remember
-
Climate change (noun) – long-term shifts in global weather patterns
/ˈklaɪmət tʃeɪndʒ/ -
Public health (noun phrase) – the health of the population as a whole
/ˈpʌblɪk helθ/ -
Exacerbate (verb) – to make a problem or situation worse
/ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪt/ -
Vector (noun) – an organism that transmits a disease or parasite from one animal or plant to another
/ˈvektər/ -
Malnutrition (noun) – lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat or not eating enough of the right things
/ˌmælnjuˈtrɪʃən/ -
Pervasive (adjective) – spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people
/pərˈveɪsɪv/ -
Mitigate (verb) – to make less severe, serious, or painful
/ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ -
Antimicrobial resistance (noun phrase) – the ability of microorganisms to withstand the effects of antibiotics and other drugs
/ˌæntaɪmaɪˈkroʊbiəl rɪˈzɪstəns/ -
Food insecurity (noun phrase) – the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food
/fuːd ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊərəti/ -
Waterborne disease (noun phrase) – diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms that are transmitted in water
/ˈwɔːtərbɔːrn dɪˈziːz/
In conclusion, the impact of climate change on global public health is a crucial topic that is likely to appear in future IELTS Writing Task 2 exams. How international travel promotes cultural understanding can also be relevant when discussing global issues like climate change, as it fosters awareness of environmental challenges in different parts of the world. To prepare effectively, practice writing essays on related topics such as:
- The role of governments in addressing climate-related health issues
- The economic impact of climate change on healthcare systems
- The importance of individual action in mitigating climate change and its health effects
Remember to post your practice essays in the comments section for feedback and to improve your writing skills. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!