IELTS WRITING TASK 2 - DISCUSS BOTH VIEWS - HARSHITH REDDY

Some say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems. 

Discuss both views and give your opinion. 

In this contemporary world where modern civilisation is fueled by blatant exploitation of natural resources, it is conspicuous that planet earth is in grave danger. The loss of natural habitats due to intensive agriculture as well as urbanisation has put the survival of many species of plants and animals under threat. While this is certainly a major concern, is this the most pressing environmental problem that we should deal with? It is also argued by many that there are other issues such as climate change which require more attention. I shall discuss both views in the following paragraphs and cite my opinion at the end. 

To start with, increasing populations around the world have led to a drastic reduction in forest perimeters, resulting in a wide scale destruction of vivid ecologies. Many species across the globe are becoming extinct at an alarming rate and I certainly feel that humanity has a moral obligation to safeguard them. The loss of any species is permanent and means that future generations will not be able to appreciate the wonders of a diverse natural world. Furthermore, we are part of a natural food chain and extinction of species causes significant imbalance and might leave us with no food in the future.   

However, there is a far wider problem that needs to be addressed i.e. global warming. As a result of emissions of greenhouse gases, such as CO2 and methane, global temperatures are rising. This will lead to a number of problems, including flooding, extreme weather and drought, but also the extinction of species. Indeed, polar bears are already struggling to survive because of the loss of polar ice caps due to rising temperatures. 

In conclusion, there are many ways in which humans are wreaking havoc on the planet and it is hard to say that one is worse than another because it overlooks the fact that both of them are interconnected. In fact any problem related to ecosystems can be wired back to global warming and such problems will continue to recur until substantial reforms are not soughted.