Climate change is one of the most frequently tested topics in IELTS Writing Task 2. However, many candidates rely on basic, overused vocabulary such as “global warming,” “pollution,” or “climate crisis,” which leads to repetitive and less sophisticated essays.
To achieve Band 7+, you need to demonstrate the ability to use precise, high-level collocations that show lexical resource, accuracy, and flexibility. This guide provides a carefully curated list of advanced collocations for discussing climate change in a natural and academic way.
1. Collocations for Causes of Climate Change
- emit greenhouse gases
Many heavy industries continue to emit greenhouse gases at an alarming rate. - rely heavily on fossil fuels
Countries that rely heavily on fossil fuels tend to produce far more carbon emissions. - accelerate global warming
Deforestation is one of the major factors that accelerate global warming. - contribute significantly to carbon emissions
Air travel contributes significantly to carbon emissions worldwide. - destroy natural habitats
Illegal logging destroys natural habitats and disrupts ecosystems. - intensify extreme weather events
Rising global temperatures intensify extreme weather events like storms and droughts.
2. Collocations for Effects and Consequences
- rising sea levels
Rising sea levels pose a serious threat to coastal communities. - severe environmental degradation
Industrial activities often cause severe environmental degradation. - loss of biodiversity
Global warming leads to the loss of biodiversity in fragile ecosystems. - frequent climate-related disasters
Many countries now suffer from frequent climate-related disasters. - food and water scarcity
Prolonged droughts can result in food and water scarcity. - irreversible damage to the planet
If no action is taken, climate change may cause irreversible damage to the planet.
3. Collocations for Solutions and Government Actions
- implement strict environmental regulations
Governments should implement strict environmental regulations to reduce industrial emissions. - invest in renewable energy
Investing in renewable energy is essential for sustainable development. - promote eco-friendly alternatives
Authorities should promote eco-friendly alternatives such as electric public transport. - enforce carbon-reduction policies
Many nations are beginning to enforce carbon-reduction policies. - develop sustainable infrastructure
Cities must develop sustainable infrastructure to combat climate change. - transition to a low-carbon economy
International cooperation is needed to transition to a low-carbon economy.
4. Collocations to Express Opinion and Evaluation
- take urgent action
Governments need to take urgent action to address climate change. - raise public awareness
Schools and media campaigns can raise public awareness about environmental protection. - shoulder environmental responsibility
Corporations must shoulder environmental responsibility instead of prioritising profit. - adopt a long-term approach
Tackling climate change requires adopting a long-term approach. - strike a balance between development and conservation
Policymakers should strike a balance between development and conservation.
5. Sample Sentences Using Band 7+ Collocations
- Governments that rely heavily on fossil fuels should transition to a low-carbon economy as soon as possible.
- Deforestation accelerates global warming and leads to the loss of biodiversity.
- To reduce emissions, cities need to develop sustainable infrastructure and promote eco-friendly alternatives.
- Without urgent action, many countries will experience frequent climate-related disasters and severe environmental degradation.
- Businesses must shoulder environmental responsibility rather than contributing to irreversible damage to the planet.
