Though the country is a huge polluter, it leads the world in the clean technologies that could make this feasible, says Barbara Finamore, author of Will China Save the Planet?

This is one of the many articles I’ve listened to or read this week which feature heavily in the IELTS test.

Why should I invest time in reading

A good awareness of IELTS topic areas indicates in your writing and speaking that your opinions can be relevant. Being prepared means that you are better positioned to give an opinion on any number of popular topic areas. This is especially the case in writing; the ability to generate ideas under the pressure of the exam is usually down to a lack of knowledge around the key topic areas.

Common IELTS Topics

So, I’ve created a page for IELTS worthy reading and listening articles. These will be featured around the most common topic areas I have seen in IELTS reading, writing and listening. Using some of these resources is not only good for increasing vocabulary levels, reading comprehension and speed, but will help provide a foundation of ideas important for topic awareness and idea generation.

If you want a list of the main topic areas and the subheadings, you can find out more here but this is the new link I am creating.

I recommend you identify areas you’re not familiar with and flick through some of the topics postings below. Choose a few to read or listen and if your vocabulary is a weak spot, note down words and phrases you can reuse in the future.

IELTS Reading – The Environment

I’ve noticed that this topic area can be subdivided into the following areas.

Articles for Topic development

The incredible rise and remarkable fall of plastic

The extraordinary story of how plastic became a major player before its fall from favour.

Knowledge of medicinal plants at risk as languages die out

Loss of linguistic diversity means less chance to discover age-old remedies not known to science, study warns

BBC Radio 4 - 39 Ways to Save the Planet - Podcast

39 ideas to relieve the stress that climate change is exerting on the planet.

Would you use public transport if it was free?

Would you ditch your car if public transport was free? Here’s what researchers have found

Fare free public transport exists in at least 98 cities and towns around the world.

The world’s first ‘infinite’ plastic

The way we normally recycle plastics is a downward spiral of waste and degraded materials, but there is another option – turning plastic back into the oil it was made from.

Built environment planning reforms to make cities dense but more pleasant

Where should we build new homes?

Government proposals in the UK to introduce planning reforms have been met with a mixed reaction.

China’s Unexpected commitment to becoming Zero-carbon by 2060

China pledges to become carbon neutral before 2060

Unexpectedly forthright pledge will boost UN efforts to galvanise action on climate crisis

Global policies need to be connected on environmental areas

The ocean is swimming in plastic and it’s getting worse – we need connected global policies now

What groups like the G20 can do to help fix the problem.

Ranked: the environmental impact of five different soft drink containers

Here’s how to quench your thirst in an environmentally responsible way.

‘I’m seen as the fool’: the farmers putting trees back into the UK’s fields

It’s hoped a 12-year trial in Devon will persuade policymakers to back silvopasture to benefit the soil, livestock and climate

Experts identify ‘super-plant’ that absorbs roadside air pollution

Bushy variety of cotoneaster works best in areas of heavy traffic, say researchers, while other plants can cool buildings or reduce flooding

Biodegradable standard set for plastic

New British standard for biodegradable plastic introduced

Products will have to prove they break down into harmless wax containing no microplastics

The the problem with plastic?

What is the problem with plastic? - CBBC Newsround

More than eight million tonnes of plastic goes into the world’s oceans each year. That’s a lot of plastic which can harm animals and the environment. So what’s being done about it?

What China’s climate plans means for the world.

What China’s plan for net-zero emissions by 2060 means for the climate | Barbara Finamore

Though the country is a huge polluter, it leads the world in the clean technologies that could make this feasible, says Barbara Finamore, author of Will China Save the Planet?

Are fake plants bad for the environment?

Are fake plants bad for the environment? - BBC Sounds

Peter Gibbs investigates the trend for fake turf and artificial plants.

How the environment effects behaviour

Air pollution increases crime in cities – here’s how

Pollutants can increase stress levels, which in turn affects judgment and makes some people more likely to commit crime.

Glitter litter

Glitter litter ‘could be damaging rivers’

Glitter contains microplastics, which can get into rivers and seas, taking years to degrade.

Does planting a tree make a difference?

How much difference does planting a tree make? - BBC Sounds

There has been a sudden surge in nations encouraging mass tree planting and reforestation

Overconsumption rather than plastic is the problem

The war against plastic is distracting us from pollution that cannot be seen

We need to focus on causes like overconsumption, not the material itself.

Reasons we fell in love with plastic

Eight reasons we fell in love with plastic

An exploration of the importance of plastic and how it came to pervade our lives.

The design of building might effect our behavior

Shopping mall design could nudge shoplifters into doing the right thing – here’s how

Architects should experiment with cues that encourage potential thieves to make unconscious decisions not to steal.

China will become nearly Zero Carbon

China pledges to be ‘carbon-neutral’ by 2060

Surprise move at UN by world’s biggest emitter increases pressure on US over climate commitments

Should we worry about ‘microplastics‘?

Microplastics: Seeking the ‘plastic score’ of the food on our plates

Microplastics are everywhere, but how worried should we be? Scientists are on a mission to find out more.

Are weeds more important than we realise?

Are weeds more important than we realise?

A pavement safari in search of weeds and plants tucked into the cracks of our urban areas.

Reducing the carbon footprint of the home

Five cost-effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint at home

As the UK heads into a recession, here are some simple - and cheap - tips to reduce utility bills and make less of an impact on the planet.

What the world is able to learn from clean energy transitions in India, China and Brazil

What the world can learn from clean energy transitions in India, China and Brazil

Research has identified three key lessons.

The vegan food trends that are bad for the environment

The vegan food trends that are bad for the environment - BBC Sounds

Food writer Joanna Blythman gives her opinion on the rush to adopt a plant-based diet.

How can white good be made greener

How can we make our white goods greener - BBC Sounds

Reporter Dougal Shaw visits a recycling plant in the UK handling 700,000 fridges a year.

Poverty and politics are drivers towards conflict, not climate change

Climate change is not a key cause of conflict, finds new study

We looked at ten countries in East Africa and found poverty and politics were much more important drivers of conflict and displacement than climate change.

The environment and making citizens feel safer

The science of street lights: what makes people feel safe at night

Street lighting may not actually reduce crime – but it can make people feel safer at night.

China to the Rescue

Business Daily - China to the rescue?

Has President Xi just fired the starting gun on a global race to decarbonise the economy?

Cheap plastic is flooding developing countries –new biodegradable materials to help

Cheap plastic is flooding developing countries – we’re making new biodegradable materials to help

By combining plastic waste with durian wood sawdust, we may have found a way to slow the rise of plastic pollution in Indonesia.

How the lockdown has helped bees

Why bees are finally getting a break

Lockdowns have put a number of insect-harming practices on hold, creating a friendlier world for wild bees – and conservationists hope some of these changes could be here to stay.

Can industry be used to protect oceanic environments?

Protecting ocean habitats isn’t easy when industries are booming – but can they be part of the solution?

Multiple ocean industries are rapidly growing, but efforts to protect vulnerable habitats are stalling.

How we can make the planet a more sustainable place

Future Planet

As we face the world’s greatest environmental challenges, what we need most is solutions. Future Planet brings you stories of the people who are working to make the world a sustainable place.

Turning waste plastic into a building material

Why plastic waste is an ideal building material

What if we turned the world’s growing wastelands of disused plastics into a new kind of sustainable building?

Autonomous transport is shaping the environment we live in

Driverless cars are forcing cities to become smart

Cities are adapting to the needs of driverless cars. Here’s how.

Do low emission zones work?

Do low emission zones work? - BBC Sounds

What are low emission zones targeting, and are we able to measure if they’re working?

India’s solar farms that avoid using valuable land

The ‘solar canals’ making smart use of India’s space

Solar energy is clean, but it usually takes up huge tracts of land. In India, an alternative is turning the country’s canals into glittering trails of solar panels.

What net-zero carbon might really mean?

What ‘net-zero carbon’ really means for cities

A city historically known for its lethal 20th-Century smogs has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – how will London get there?

Trees that can reduce pollution

The best trees to reduce air pollution

Urban trees can help cut air pollution from New York to Beijing, but which trees do the best job? Future Planet weighs up the options.

Can holidays be made sustainable?

Five ways to make your holidays more sustainable

Here’s how to travel with purpose and be a more responsible tourist.

Could this electric car be India’s pollution solving solution?

Delhi’s inventive answer to the electric car

The rise of the electric three-wheeler could help to reduce India’s emissions and improve air quality, but how can this niche vehicle compete on Delhi’s busy streets?

IELTS Topic Areas - Crime and Punishment

IELTS Topic Articles that feature in the IELTS test for Vocabulary and Topic Awareness Without topic awareness, you can’t fully answer the question Without vocabulary, the question can’t be fully answered I’ve prepared a selection of good articles to read according to their topic area. I am adding to this list all the time. This […]

IELTS Topic Areas - Education

IELTS Reading – Topics and Articles that feature in the IELTS test. ″Without topic awareness, you can’t fully answer the question Without vocabulary, the question can’t be fully answered″ I’ve prepared a selection of good articles to read according to their topic area. I am adding to this list all the time. This is one […]

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IELTS Reading – Topic Articles that feature in the IELTS test.