IELTS Writing Task 2

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 true that environmental degradation has been receiving endless public attention around the world, which presents a great challenge for governments. Although humankind is responsible for various environmental problems, preventive measures can be applied by both governments and individuals to alleviate the associated damage.

There are a number of human activities causing detrimental to the environment. First, the overexploitation of fishery resources has contributed to the reduction in biological diversity of many marine species. In fact, by catching huge amounts of fish, fish population in many areas will no longer be able to replenish itself through natural reproduction, which significantly affects the balance of life in the oceans. In addition, in order for corporations, especially in manufacturing industries, to maximize their productions, they have to take a toll on the environment. As a result, greenhouse emissions released by those companies would inevitably lead to global warming, which might have devastating effects on the planet in the near future.

Nevertheless, there have been many good solutions to mitigate environmental degradation. First, by imposing legal restrictions on extractive industries, such as forestry and fishery, businesses operating in these industries would be less motivated to engage in unsustainable practices. For example, heavy taxes levied on commercial fishing activities would discourage many fishers from catching excessively, which can be conducive to marine environmental sustainability. Second, in order to alleviate urban air pollution, individuals can take advantage of public transport, such as buses or trains. Plenty of evidence suggests that carbon footprint from public traveling could be reduced if citizens decided not to rely on their personal vehicles, which ensures a healthier environment.

In conclusion, even though environmental degradation seems inevitable in today’s modern world, there are ways to reverse this effect. The governments and citizens should cooperate to ensure a sustainable environment for future generations.