Air travel continues to grow despite its environmental cost.
A full IELTS Writing Task 2 answer to this question, with a paragraph plan, ideas you can use, and the vocabulary that fits this topic.
The question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Air travel continues to grow despite its environmental cost.
What problems does this cause, and what measures could be taken to limit them?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
How to read this question
The honest complication, and the one that produces a strong answer, is that aviation is genuinely hard to decarbonise — unlike electricity or cars, there is no mature substitute for jet fuel at range. That means solutions built on "switch to clean technology" are weaker here than in almost any other sector, and the credible remedies are about demand and about who is actually flying.
Paragraph plan
Introduction — Paraphrase, then signpost: the problems are emissions with no available substitute and a cost borne by non-flyers; the solutions must target demand and the small minority generating most of it.
Body 1 — Problems — the physics of energy density leaves no near-term replacement, and the impact is concentrated among a small share of the population.
Body 2 — Solutions — tax frequency rather than flights, remove the fuel exemptions that make aviation artificially cheap, and substitute rail on short routes.
Conclusion — Since supply-side fixes are decades away, the realistic lever is demand — and it can be applied without restricting occasional travel.
Model essay
Band 8.5–9.0 model essay
330 words
Despite its considerable environmental cost, air travel continues to expand across the globe. However, a number of measures could be introduced to limit the resulting damage.
The foremost consequence of expanding air travel is its substantial contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. To clarify, aircraft burn vast quantities of fossil fuel per passenger compared with other forms of transport, releasing carbon dioxide directly into the upper atmosphere, where its warming effect is particularly pronounced. As international travel becomes increasingly affordable and accessible, the aviation sector's share of global emissions continues to climb, undermining international efforts to curb climate change agreed upon at successive summits. Furthermore, the constant expansion of airports to accommodate rising passenger numbers frequently encroaches upon surrounding communities, subjecting nearby residents to persistent noise pollution and diminished air quality that can affect their long-term health. Rural and coastal communities near major airports often bear these costs disproportionately, despite rarely benefiting directly from the growth in air traffic themselves.
To limit these effects, governments could introduce carbon taxes on airline tickets, reflecting the true environmental cost of flying and discouraging unnecessary short-haul journeys that could otherwise be completed by train. Simultaneously, substantial investment in sustainable aviation fuel and more fuel-efficient aircraft designs would allow the industry to reduce its emissions per flight over time. Encouraging travellers to choose high-speed rail for journeys under a few hundred kilometres, through competitive pricing and improved infrastructure, could also meaningfully reduce demand for short domestic flights. Airlines should additionally be required to invest a fixed proportion of profits in verified carbon offset schemes. Governments could also fund the electrification of ground operations at airports, further reducing emissions associated with each individual flight. Airport authorities could additionally prioritise slots for newer, quieter aircraft over older, less efficient models.
To conclude, the continued growth of air travel accelerates climate change and burdens communities near airports, yet carbon taxation, investment in cleaner aviation technology and a shift toward rail for shorter journeys could substantially mitigate these consequences.
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to read the rest of this essay and unlock every model on the site.
This is a problem and solution question. The essay above shows you what a strong answer looks like when it is finished. What it cannot show you is how to get there from a blank page in forty minutes.
That is what our Writing Study Library is for: the structure we teach for this exact question type, the paragraph pattern that goes with it, and the sentence openers for each stage — so the essay is planned before you start writing rather than assembled as you go.
Introduction: Introduction — paraphrase that air travel keeps growing despite its environmental cost, and note that measures could limit the damage.
Body 1: Body 1 — explain the problems: aviation contributes heavily to greenhouse gas emissions high in the atmosphere, and airport expansion brings noise pollution and poor air quality to nearby communities.
Body 2: Body 2 — explain the solutions: governments should introduce carbon taxes on flights, invest in sustainable aviation fuel and efficient aircraft, promote high-speed rail for short journeys, and require airlines to fund carbon offset schemes.
Conclusion: Conclusion — briefly summarise that growing air travel accelerates climate change and burdens nearby communities, but taxation, cleaner technology and rail alternatives could mitigate this.
Word or phrase
Meaning
Used in a sentence
greenhouse gas emissions
gases released that trap heat and warm the atmosphere
its substantial contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
fossil fuel
non-renewable fuel such as oil, coal or gas formed from ancient organisms
aircraft burn vast quantities of fossil fuel per passenger compared with other forms of transport.
upper atmosphere
the higher layers of Earth's atmosphere
releasing carbon dioxide directly into the upper atmosphere, where its warming effect is particularly pronounced.
noise pollution
harmful or excessive levels of noise in an environment
subjecting nearby residents to persistent noise pollution and diminished air quality.
carbon taxes
charges imposed on activities that emit carbon dioxide
governments could introduce carbon taxes on airline tickets.
short-haul journeys
relatively short trips, especially by plane
discouraging unnecessary short-haul journeys that could otherwise be completed by train.
sustainable aviation fuel
aircraft fuel produced from renewable sources with lower emissions
substantial investment in sustainable aviation fuel and more fuel-efficient aircraft designs.
carbon offset schemes
programmes that compensate for emissions by funding equivalent reductions elsewhere
Airlines should additionally be required to invest a fixed proportion of profits in verified carbon offset schemes.
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to see the ideas and vocabulary for this topic and unlock every model on the site.
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Common questions
Should I admit a problem is hard to solve?
Yes — it usually strengthens the essay. Acknowledging that aviation has no mature clean substitute shows you understand the constraint, and it makes your chosen solutions look chosen rather than borrowed from a general list about the environment.
How do I make a solution fair as well as effective?
Ask who currently causes the problem and who would bear the remedy. Noting that flying is concentrated among a small minority lets you propose a frequency levy rather than a flat tax — a solution that is targeted and defensible at the same time.
Is it acceptable to argue against reducing travel altogether?
Yes. Distinguishing discretionary from necessary demand is more precise than opposing flying in general, and it produces a policy that could actually be adopted. Examiners reward that kind of qualification.
