Climate change and renewable energy solutions have become increasingly prominent topics in IELTS Writing Task 2. Based on recent trends, we can expect these themes to appear frequently in future exams. Let’s explore a relevant question that mirrors the style of actual IELTS prompts:
Some people believe that the development of renewable energy sources is crucial for addressing climate change, while others argue that it is not a practical solution. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Analyzing the Question
This question requires candidates to:
- Discuss the view that renewable energy is crucial for addressing climate change
- Discuss the opposing view that renewable energy is not a practical solution
- Provide their own opinion on the matter
Let’s examine three sample essays of varying quality, highlighting the key features that contribute to their respective band scores.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to our planet, and the debate over the efficacy of renewable energy as a solution has intensified in recent years. While some argue that transitioning to renewable energy sources is essential for combating climate change, others contend that it is an impractical approach. In my opinion, while renewable energy alone may not be a panacea, it is undoubtedly a critical component of any comprehensive strategy to address climate change.
Those who advocate for renewable energy sources argue that they offer a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, which are the primary contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, for instance, produce little to no carbon emissions during operation, making them ideal for reducing our carbon footprint. Moreover, as technology advances, these energy sources are becoming increasingly efficient and cost-effective, challenging the notion that they are impractical. Countries like Germany and Denmark have already demonstrated that a significant portion of their energy needs can be met through renewables, setting a precedent for others to follow.
On the other hand, skeptics argue that renewable energy sources are not yet sufficiently developed to meet global energy demands. They point out that intermittency issues, such as the variability of sunlight and wind, make these sources unreliable for baseload power. Additionally, the initial costs of implementing renewable energy infrastructure can be prohibitively high for many developing nations. Critics also highlight the environmental impact of manufacturing solar panels and wind turbines, as well as the land use requirements for large-scale renewable energy projects.
renewable-energy-sources|Renewable energy sources|Various renewable energy sources like solar panels, wind turbines, and hydroelectric dams.
In my view, while the concerns raised by skeptics are valid, they do not negate the crucial role of renewable energy in addressing climate change. The challenges associated with renewable energy are not insurmountable obstacles but rather opportunities for innovation and improvement. Advancements in energy storage technologies, for example, are rapidly addressing the intermittency issue, while economies of scale are driving down costs. Furthermore, the long-term benefits of transitioning to renewables, including improved air quality, energy security, and job creation, far outweigh the short-term challenges.
In conclusion, while renewable energy may not be a silver bullet for climate change, it is an indispensable tool in our arsenal. A balanced approach that combines renewable energy with other strategies, such as energy efficiency improvements and carbon capture technologies, offers the most promising path forward. As global citizens, we must support the continued development and implementation of renewable energy solutions to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
(Word count: 398)
Analysis of Band 8-9 Essay
This essay demonstrates excellence across all marking criteria:
Task Response: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, presenting a well-developed response with relevant, extended, and supported ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is cohesive with clear progression throughout. It uses a range of cohesive devices and linking words effectively.
Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is sophisticated with very natural and precise usage. Examples include “unprecedented threat”, “panacea”, “intermittency issues”, and “prohibitively high”.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy. Complex sentences are used effectively, and there are no noticeable errors.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
Climate change is a big problem today, and people have different ideas about how to solve it. Some think renewable energy is very important, but others say it’s not practical. I will discuss both sides and give my opinion.
People who support renewable energy say it’s good for the environment. Solar and wind power don’t make pollution like coal and oil do. This helps to reduce global warming. Also, renewable energy won’t run out, so we can use it for a long time. Many countries are starting to use more renewable energy, which shows it can work.
However, some people think renewable energy is not practical. They say it’s too expensive to build solar panels and wind turbines. Also, the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow, so we can’t rely on these sources all the time. Another problem is that we need a lot of land to make renewable energy, which can affect nature and wildlife.
In my opinion, I think renewable energy is important for fighting climate change, but it’s not the only solution. We need to use renewable energy along with other methods. For example, we should also try to use less energy and find ways to remove carbon from the air. It’s true that there are some problems with renewable energy, but I believe we can solve them if we keep working on new technologies.
To conclude, while renewable energy has some challenges, it is still a crucial part of addressing climate change. We should continue to develop and use renewable energy sources, but also look at other ways to help the environment. By using a mix of solutions, we can make a real difference in fighting climate change.
(Word count: 292)
Analysis of Band 6-7 Essay
This essay demonstrates good control of language but lacks some of the sophistication of the higher band essay:
Task Response: The essay addresses all parts of the task, but some points are underdeveloped.
Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is generally well-organized, but the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical.
Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is adequate but lacks the precision and sophistication of higher bands. Some attempts at less common vocabulary are made.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms with generally good control. There are some errors, but they do not impede communication.
Sample Essay 3 (Band 5)
Nowaday, climate change is big problem. Some people think renewable energy is important to fix it, but others don’t agree. I will talk about both sides.
First, renewable energy is good because it don’t make pollution. Sun and wind is clean energy. It can help stop global warming. Also, we can use it forever because sun and wind always there. Some countries use lot of renewable energy now.
But, some people say renewable energy is not good idea. It cost too much money to make solar panel and wind turbine. Also, sometime no sun or wind, so we can’t get energy. We need big land for renewable energy, this can hurt animals.
I think renewable energy is good for climate change. But we need other things too. We should use less energy and find new ways to help environment. Renewable energy have problems, but we can fix if we try hard.
In conclusion, renewable energy is important for climate change. We should use it more, but also do other things to help Earth. If we work together, we can stop climate change.
(Word count: 169)
Analysis of Band 5 Essay
This essay demonstrates limited control of language and underdeveloped ideas:
Task Response: The essay addresses the task but in a limited way. Ideas are not fully developed or supported.
Coherence and Cohesion: There is some organization, but cohesive devices are basic and repetitive.
Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Errors in word choice and form are noticeable.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses mainly simple sentences with frequent errors. More complex structures are attempted but with mixed success.
Key Vocabulary to Remember
- Renewable energy (noun) /rɪˈnjuːəbəl ˈenədʒi/ – Energy from a source that is not depleted when used
- Climate change (noun) /ˈklaɪmət tʃeɪndʒ/ – Long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns
- Sustainable (adjective) /səˈsteɪnəbəl/ – Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level
- Intermittency (noun) /ˌɪntəˈmɪtənsi/ – The state of occurring at irregular intervals
- Infrastructure (noun) /ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌktʃə(r)/ – The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities
- Baseload power (noun) /ˈbeɪsləʊd ˈpaʊə(r)/ – The minimum amount of electric power needed to be supplied to the electrical grid at any given time
- Carbon footprint (noun) /ˈkɑːbən ˈfʊtprɪnt/ – The amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organization, or community
- Energy efficiency (noun) /ˈenədʒi ɪˈfɪʃənsi/ – The use of less energy to perform the same task or produce the same result
- Greenhouse gas emissions (noun) /ˈɡriːnhaʊs ɡæs ɪˈmɪʃənz/ – The release of gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation
- Carbon capture (noun) /ˈkɑːbən ˈkæptʃə(r)/ – The process of capturing waste carbon dioxide from large point sources
Conclusion
The topic of renewable energy solutions for climate change is likely to remain relevant in future IELTS exams. To prepare effectively, practice writing essays on related themes such as:
- The role of government in promoting renewable energy
- The economic impact of transitioning to renewable energy sources
- The challenges of implementing renewable energy in developing countries
- The balance between environmental protection and economic development
We encourage you to practice writing your own essay on the topic provided in this article. Share your essay in the comments section for feedback and discussion. This active practice is an excellent way to improve your IELTS Writing Task 2 skills and prepare for success in the exam.
For more insights on renewable energy and its global impact, check out our articles on how renewable energy is promoting sustainable rural development and the impact of green energy on local economies.