Some think the current generation should take steps to protect the environment

You should spend about 40 minutes on IELTS writing task 2.

Some think the current generation should take steps to protect the environment for the next generation. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should write at least 250 words.

Sample Answer 1

Currently, a majority of people are of the opinion that the youngsters should take some considerable measures to protect the environment for future generations. I firmly agree with this perception as human beings must take responsibility for their actions and have a vision of how the future would look for their offspring. In the forthcoming paragraphs, I will be presenting my views.

It is evident that environmental issues, in the present scenario, have reached a specific level where they cannot be taken for granted anymore. In fact, if no immediate actions are taken to counter the threateningly uprising issues of the environment, there is a possibility that the upcoming generations may have to experience an ecological catastrophe. Such ecological situations will increase the level of diseases and related deaths. Additionally, mammals and other species will get impacted along with vegetation. Not to mention – a humongous number of plants and animals will be at risk of extinction. Besides, humankind’s survival may turn into a huge concern as well.

Apart from all the reasons mentioned above, the general public and authorities should be completely responsible and aware of the consequences of their actions on the environment. Everybody must take responsibility for their actions as the upcoming generation should not suffer the heritage destruction caused by our irresponsible actions. For instance, if the current generation, in pursuit of materialistic pleasure and societal status, destroys the natural habitats of animals and leaves the earth polluted, the consequences will not be fair for future citizens.

While I am aware of the fact that everything is not possible by the current generation and that they have got their own issues; nonetheless saving the environment for the upcoming generation should be the priority.

In conclusion, I completely agree that the present-day generation must take actions to protect the environment for the forthcoming generations because people are liable for the natural heritage that they are going to leave to ensure that their progeny does not suffer from any severe ecological issues.

Structure of the essay

You were given an opinion essay which means you had to pick a side. So,

• Do you agree that the current generation should take steps to protect the environment for the next generation?

(or)

• Do you disagree with the fact that the current generation should take steps to protect the environment for the next generation?

Once you pick a side, you can start planning your essay and then writing it.

Don’t forget to state your opinion on it.

Question Paraphrased – Currently, a majority of people are of the opinion that the youngsters should take some considerable measures to protect the environment for future generations.

Opinion – I firmly agree with this perception as human beings must take responsibility for their actions and have a vision of how the future would look for their offspring.

A thesis statement – In the forthcoming paragraphs, I will be presenting my views.

Body Paragraph 1:

Topic: The present situation

Supporting points:

• Upcoming generation may experience an ecological catastrophe
• Such ecological situation will increase the diseases and deaths
• Negative effect on mammals and other species
• Impact on vegetation, plants and animals

Body Paragraph 2:

Topic: Present generation should be responsible

Supporting points:

• General public and authorities should be responsible and aware of the consequences
• Everybody must take the responsibility
• The upcoming generation should not suffer the heritage destruction

Conclusion:

Reiterated that the present-day generation must take actions to protect the environment and supported the side taken in the introduction.

Sample Answer 2

Many environmentalists feel that people today have a responsibility to ensure the Earth is left in good condition for future generations. In my opinion, though this duty is unfair, it is nonetheless a burden that must be taken up.

Those who argue against this sentiment can justly assign blame elsewhere. The main contributors to climate change and the current cataclysmic warnings were the large industrial powers on the 20th century. Automobiles and air travel became common in the last 100 years and are two leading drivers of the fossil fuel consumption many scientists link to global warming. Surging populations and advances in medicine have also contributed greatly to the over-production and mass consumption that defines the 21st century. It is objectively unfair that people today, and primarily the younger generation only now entering the workforce, should have to suffer for the thoughtlessness of wanton industrialisation.

Regardless, it is the responsibility of the present generation to take heed of these potentially dire warnings. People in the past were either intentionally or unintentionally unaware of the repercussions of their actions but individuals today cannot make such excuses. For example, the rapidly deteriorating polar ice caps are directly impacting the natural habitats of animals around the world and some climate scientists believe that an uptick in natural disasters is also related to this and other man-made changes to the ecosystem. Past generations who set the world on this path cannot come back and remedy their mistakes and future generations will resent the current one if steps are not taken towards drastic reforms.

In conclusion, though people today bear little responsibility for climate change, they must commit to reversing its effects. Leaving this problem for the children of the future will put them in a potentially unwinnable situation.

Analysis

1. Many environmentalists feel that people today have a responsibility to ensure the Earth is left in good condition for future generations. 2. In my opinion, though this duty is unfair, it is nonetheless a burden that must be taken up.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion.

1. Those who argue against this sentiment can justly assign blame elsewhere. 2. The main contributors to climate change and the current cataclysmic warnings were the large industrial powers on the 20th century. 3. Automobiles and air travel became common in the last 100 years and are two leading drivers of the fossil fuel consumption many scientists link to global warming. 4. Surging populations and advances in medicine have also contributed greatly to the over-production and mass consumption that defines the 21st century. 5. It is objectively unfair that people today, and primarily the younger generation only now entering the workforce, should have to suffer for the thoughtlessness of wanton industrialisation.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific examples.
4. Add in more specifics.
5. Conclude by relating it back to your main idea.

1. Regardless, it is the responsibility of the present generation to take heed of these potentially dire warnings. 2. People in the past were either intentionally or unintentionally unaware of the repercussions of their actions but individuals today cannot make such excuses. 3. For example, the rapidly deteriorating polar ice caps are directly impacting the natural habitats of animals around the world and some climate scientists believe that an uptick in natural disasters is also related to this and other man-made changes to the ecosystem. 4. Past generations who set the world on this path cannot come back and remedy their mistakes and future generations will resent the current one if steps are not taken towards drastic reforms.

1. Write another topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Develop your main idea.
3. Use real examples.
4. If your sentences are long, it is ok to have just 4 in one paragraph.

1. In conclusion, though people today bear little responsibility for climate change, they must commit to reversing its effects. 2. Leaving this problem for the children of the future will put them in a potentially unwinnable situation.

1. Repeat your opinion and summarise both your main ideas.
2. Add a final thought.

Vocab Highlights

• environmentalists people who care about the environment
• responsibility duty
• ensure make sure
• left in good condition remain in good quality
• future generations people who come later
• duty responsibility
• unfair unjust
• nonetheless regardless
• burden duty
• taken up take responsibility for
• argue against object to
• sentiment feeling
• justly assign blame elsewhere correctly find fault with others
• main contributors biggest causes
• climate change global warming
• current cataclysmic warnings dire predictions about the future
• large industrial powers big companies, nations
• 20th century 1900 – 2000
• two leading drivers main forces behind
• fossil fuel consumption burning oil
• link connections
• surging populations increasing number of people
• advances in medicine new medical procedures and technology
• contributed greatly add a lot to
• over-production making too much
• mass consumption using too much
• defines constitutes
• objectively unfair definitely not right
• primarily mainly
• entering the workforce getting jobs
• suffer hurt from
• thoughtlessness not thinking about
• wanton industrialisation thoughtless expansion of industry
• regardless nonetheless
• present generation people alive today
• take heed consider
• potentially dire warnings possible really bad predictions
• intentionally meaning to do it
• unintentionally unaware not knowing what they were doing
• repercussions effects
• excuses reasons
• rapidly deteriorating polar ice caps icebergs melting quickly
• directly impacting having a clear effect on
• natural habitats where animals live
• uptick increase
• natural disasters hurricans, earthquakes, fires, etc.
• man-made cause by humans
• ecosystem habit
• set the world on this path main cause
• remedy their mistakes fix what they did
• resent be angry about
• current one right now
• steps are not taken no measures enacted
• drastic reforms sweeping changes
• bear little responsibility not their duty
• commit be serious about
• reversing its effects fixing
• leaving this problem ignoring the issue
• children of the future future generations
• potentially unwinnable situation possibly no solution to it

Sample Answer 3

In recent times, our planet has been plagued by numerous environmental issues, such as rampant pollution and global warming. Some believe that the best way to remedy this is for the current generation to sacrifice their comfortable life for future generations’ advantage. In my opinion, while changes must certainly be made to current lifestyles to save the environment, this may not require the people today to live a less comfortable life and may even benefit and enrich both the current and future generations.

Recent government policies and actions have made it easy for the current generation to make lifestyle changes that would benefit the environment at no significant burden to them. For example, many governments have improved the mass transportation options available and kept the rates low. People today can opt to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce environmental pollution by not using cars to travel, and relying instead on public transport such as trains and buses. In fact, this change in lifestyle may be beneficial as people would incur fewer costs from not having to maintain their individual cars, save time from not having to battle traffic jams as well as make a significant positive impact on the environment.

In addition, progress in technology and products available also make it easy for the present generation to save the environment at no significant cost to them. For example, new biodegradable plastics have recently been invented to replace old plastics that pollute the environment and have been adopted by manufacturers of single-use plastic bags at no additional cost. The end product of these new materials functions in exactly the same fashion as the older items. As such, the present consumer would not be disadvantaged by the change made whilst still managing to contribute to protecting the environment.

In conclusion, whilst I believe that the present generation needs to make lifestyle changes to reduce environmental issues, I strongly disagree that these changes will be a burden to the present generation. This is because governmental policies and actions, as well as technological advances, will ensure that the lifestyle changes are adopted seamlessly and easily by the present generation.