The document summarizes the key causes and impacts of global warming as well as potential solutions. The main causes are emissions of CO2 from burning fossil fuels and deforestation, which release large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. Impacts include rising sea levels, more extreme weather, melting ice caps and glaciers, and damage to coral reefs and plankton. Solutions proposed are reducing dependence on fossil fuels, promoting renewable energy, and individual lifestyle changes such as using less car transportation and energy efficient appliances.

1. Speaking
http://www.slideshare.net/ManishGoyat/ielts-writing-task-2-24695608
So you must answer these three things in order to fully answer it:
1. What are the causes of global warming?
2. What can governments do about it?
3. What can individuals do about it?
This essay has been divided into two paragraphs.
However, you could write a separate paragraph about each of the above points if you
wanted.
Take a look at the model answer and examine how it has been organized.
IELTS Global Warming Essay
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Global warming is one of the most serious issues that the world is facing today.
What are the causes of global warming and what measures can governments and
individuals take to tackle the issue?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
experience or knowledge.
Write at least 250 words.
IELTS Global Warming Essay - Model Answer

2. Probably the most worrying threat to our planet at the present time is global warming.
This essay will examine the reasons why global warming is occurring and discuss some
possible solutions.
The predominant factors resulting in the warming of the earth are the emissions of CO2
and deforestation. CO2, which damages the ozone layer, comes from several sources,
but the most problematic are those coming from the burning of fossil fuels from power
plants. This releases thousands of tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere every year.
Another cause of these emissions is the burning of gasoline for transportation, which
continues to increase because of our demand for cars and also our increasing
worldwide consumption, resulting in an increasing need to transport goods. Also, forests
store large amounts of carbon, so deforestation is causing larger amounts of CO2 to
remain in the atmosphere.
Nevertheless, there are potential ways to solve these problems, or at least reduce the
effects. Firstly, governments need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and
promote alternatives. Plant-derived plastics, biodiesel, wind power and solar power are
all things that are a step in the right direction, but governments need to enforce the
limits on CO2 emissions for the polluting industries in their countries for these to be
effective. Also, individuals can play a part by making lifestyle changes. People should
try to buy cars with the best fuel economy, and only use their car when really necessary.
They can also switch to energy companies that use renewable energy rather than fossil
fuels. Finally, small things like buying energy efficient light bulbs, turning off electricity in
the house, and planting trees in the garden can help.
To conclude, although global warming is a serious issue, there are steps that
governments and individuals can take to reduce its effects. If we are to save our planet,
it is important that this is treated as a priority for all concerned.
Global Warming Impacts
Many of the following "harbingers" and "fingerprints" are now well under way:
1. Rising Seas--- inundation of fresh water marshlands (the everglades), low-lying
cities, and islands with seawater.
2. Changes in rainfall patterns --- droughts and fires in some areas, flooding in
other areas. See the section above on the recent droughts, for example!
3. Increased likelihood of extreme events--- such as flooding, hurricanes, etc.

3. 4. Melting of the ice caps --- loss of habitat near the poles. Polar bears are now
thought to be greatly endangered by the shortening of their feeding season due
to dwindling ice packs.
5. Melting glaciers - significant melting of old glaciers is already observed.
6. Widespread vanishing of animal populations --- following widespread habitat
loss.
7. Spread of disease --- migration of diseases such as malaria to new, now
warmer, regions.
8. Bleaching of CoralReefs due to warming seas and acidification due to
carbonic acid formation --- One third of coral reefs now appear to have been
severely damaged by warming seas.
9. Loss of Plankton due to warming seas --- The enormous (900 mile long)
Aleution island ecosystems of orcas (killer whales), sea lions, sea otters, sea
urchins, kelp beds, and fish populations, appears to have collapsed due to loss
of plankton, leading to loss of sea lions, leading orcas to eat too many sea
otters, leading to urchin explosions, leading to loss of kelp beds and their
associated fish populations.
Environmental Problems
● destruction of the rainforests (deforestation)
● melting of the icecaps
● extinction of many species(loss of biodiversity)
● destruction of the ozone layer
● global warming / the “greenhouse effect”
● rising sea levels
● pollution of land, sea and air
● increase of natural disasters eg, earthquakes, landslides,
floods
Causes of Environmental Problems
● excessive emissions of greenhouse gases,eg carbon
dioxide

4. ● chemical and industrial waste
● emissions from cars and planes
● improperdumping of household waste
● overuse of non-renewable fossilfuels
● genetic modification
● over-consumption
● over-urbanisation
Solutions to Environmental Problems
● recycling
● using renewable sources of energy, eg solar heating, wind-farms
● replanting trees
● cutting carbon emissions
● cleaner waste disposal
● sustainable consumption and development
● buying products with less packaging
● buying organic products
● buying products made from recycled material / renewable sources
● using natural remedies as alternative medicine
● fossil fuels should be removed ...
http://www.ieltsspeaking.co.uk/ielts-environment-vocabulary/
http://www.nmsea.org/Curriculum/Primer/Global_Warming/fossil_fuels_and_global_war
ming.htm
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/climate_law_institute/energy_and_global_w
arming/