Explain some of the ways in which humans are damaging the environment. What can governments do to address these problems? What can individual people do

It is a fact that humans need to take responsibility for a wide range of environmental problems.
However
, we can
also
take steps to reduce the damage that we are causing to the planet.
This
essay will analyze the root causes of environmental
issues
and
then
suggest remedies to address these
issues
. In terms of reasons for environmental damage, increased utilization of private vehicles would make a huge contribution to
this
issue.
This
means of
transportation
would release a huge amount of exhaust fumes into the atmosphere, which could seriously pollute the
air
as well as
sources of water. In the long run,
this
could lead to health problems
such
as respiratory or heart diseases.
Besides
, the irresponsibility of individuals would be another principal problem. In urban areas, especially some places famous for tourists,
people
have a growing tendency to litter indiscriminately.
As a result
, when the disposal of waste products is improper, it takes a long time to degrade, which could lead to emitting chemicals and microparticles right into the atmosphere and seriously damaging the
air
quality
.
For example
, cigarette butts thrown away contain poisonous chemicals
such
as arsenic and formaldehyde, so they would have an adverse impact on the
air
quality
as well as
the health conditions of
people
in these areas. Regarding feasible solutions to resolve these problems, the
government
should pass strict laws and new policies to encourage
people
to reduce their use of private vehicles. To be more specific, the
government
could impose a tax on utilizing private vehicles. In that way,
people
would have a sense of hesitation and discomfort when using their own
transportation
and gradually turn to using public
transportation
on a more frequent basis.
Besides
, the
government
could spend their budget developing renewable energy sources
such
as solar and wind to replace the increasing utilisation of fossil fuels, which would make a major contribution to improving the
air
quality
as well as
the ecosystem in general. Apart from that, individuals need to take responsibility for
this
alarming problem.
People
can get involved in campaigns relating to environmental
issues
to raise their awareness. Only when each individual has an in-depth understanding of the latent threats that their actions cause to the environment can we hope that
this
severe situation can be improved.
For example
, in some specific areas in the Netherlands, most of the citizens here advocate the idea of vehicle-free days and only make use of public
transportation
on these days, so the
air
quality
in these regions could be significantly improved. In conclusion, human activities have to be mainly responsible for environmental
issues
.
In addition
, solutions need to be taken urgently by both the
government
and
people
Correct article usage
the people
show examples
to solve
this
issue
Submitted by joyce.ta213 on

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Word Count

IELTS says that you should write a minimum of 250 words in writing task 2. If you go under word count you will lose marks in task response.

A very long essay will not give you a higher band score.

Aim for between 260 to 290 words in writing task 2. This will ensure a concise essay and will be realistic in terms of time management. You have only 40 minutes to write the essay and you need around 10 minutes of planning time, so you will not be able to write a long essay in 30 minutes.

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Topic Vocabulary:
  • Pollution: contamination, emissions, pollutants, industrial waste
  • Deforestation: habitat loss, biodiversity, urban development, logging
  • Climate Change: greenhouse gases, global warming, fossil fuels, renewable energy
  • Overfishing: unsustainable, fish stocks, marine ecosystems, conservation
  • Waste Production: non-biodegradable, plastics, recycling, waste management systems
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