【雅思寫作｜主題攻略】環境與能源：污染、棲地、資源開發與能源轉型，從列問題到做比較

支持（物種最重要）論點 1｜物種消失會直接威脅人類的糧食供應

Point → 物種消失不只是動物的問題，它會透過生態系影響人類的生存。

解釋 → 人類的食物來源依賴生態系運作，例如許多作物需要昆蟲授粉才能結果；某一個物種大量減少，會連鎖影響到依賴它的植物和動物，最後影響到人類的餐桌。

例子 → 我在物種消失那篇用的是蜜蜂：植物、蔬菜和水果的生長都仰賴蜜蜂授粉。這是很好的例子，因為它把「物種」直接連到「食物」。

Many food crops depend on insects for pollination, so the decline of species such as bees could threaten food production itself.

支持（其他問題更重要）論點 2｜氣候變遷的影響範圍更廣，而且是物種消失的原因之一

Point → 全球暖化比物種消失更根本，因為它影響所有人，也是造成物種消失的原因之一。

解釋 → 海平面上升、極端氣候會直接威脅沿海城市和農業；同時，氣溫變化讓許多動植物失去適合的棲地。換句話說，處理氣候變遷，等於同時處理一部分物種問題。

例子 → 我在同一篇寫了海平面上升、極端氣候。可以再加一個連結：北極熊棲地因海水溫度上升而縮小，說明暖化是物種消失的「上游」。

Climate change is arguably a more fundamental problem, because it is itself one of the main causes of habitat loss and species extinction.

反對過度開發論點 3｜開發帶來的短期收入，抵不過棲地的長期損失

Point → 為了經濟開採森林或礦產，長期成本往往大於短期收益。

解釋 → 開發可以帶來就業和稅收，但棲地一旦被破壞，物種可能永遠消失，土壤和水源也需要很長時間才能恢復；當資源被開採完，當地反而失去原本的觀光或農業收入。

例子 → 假設性例子：一座山區小鎮為了開礦砍伐森林，十年後礦產採完，土石流風險增加，原本的生態旅遊也無法恢復。

Although mining may create jobs in the short term, the damage to forests and water sources can last for generations.

支持再生能源論點 4｜再生能源長期更穩定，也降低對進口燃料的依賴

Point → 政府應該加速發展再生能源，因為它能減少排放，也能提升能源自主。

解釋 → 化石燃料燃燒會釋放大量二氧化碳，而且許多國家需要進口煤、石油和天然氣，價格容易受國際局勢影響；太陽能、風力一旦建置完成，燃料成本幾乎為零，也比較不怕國際價格波動。

例子 → 我在發電來源圓餅圖那篇看到的資料剛好可以當背景：二十年間法國的核能發電大幅增加，澳洲則更依賴煤。寫大作文時不能引用小作文數據，但這種「不同國家選擇不同能源路線」的概念可以用。

Renewable energy not only reduces carbon emissions but also makes a country less dependent on imported fuels whose prices can rise sharply.

反對全面取代論點 5｜轉型太快，會衝擊就業和電力穩定

Point → 全面淘汰化石燃料並不實際，因為轉型會帶來失業和供電問題。

解釋 → 煤礦、火力發電廠支撐了許多地區的就業；如果短時間內關閉，這些勞工很難立刻轉職。此外，太陽能和風力受天氣影響，在儲能技術還不夠成熟之前，仍需要穩定的電源當作後盾。

例子 → 我在筆記裡記過一個想點：傳統能源現在仍用來發很多電，全面淘汰會讓很多人失業。寫的時候可以把它推到「所以需要逐步轉型和再培訓」。

Closing coal power stations too quickly could leave thousands of workers unemployed and cause power shortages on days without wind or sun.

支持（有條件）生質燃料論點 6｜生質燃料理論上能形成碳循環，但需要土地

Point → 生質燃料可以作為交通能源的替代選擇，但它不是沒有代價。

解釋 → 植物生長時吸收二氧化碳，製成燃料燃燒後再釋放，理論上形成一個循環；但種植能源作物需要大量土地，可能與糧食生產搶地，甚至造成伐林。

例子 → 我寫過的乙醇流程圖就是這個循環：植物吸收陽光和二氧化碳生長、收成、處理成纖維素和糖、加入微生物製成乙醇，用在汽車、卡車、飛機上，再釋放二氧化碳。

Biofuels are often described as carbon-neutral because the plants absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, yet growing them requires land that could otherwise produce food.

支持政府主導論點 7｜個人行動有限，制度改變才有規模

Point → 環境保護主要應由政府負責，因為只有制度能改變大規模的排放來源。

解釋 → 個人少用一根吸管的影響很小，真正的排放大戶是發電、工業和交通；這些只有透過法規、稅制和公共建設才能改變。政府也能讓環保選擇變得更便宜，個人才會自然跟進。

例子 → 我在筆記整理過：大眾運輸便宜方便時，上班族自然會改搭公車或捷運。這說明政府提供選項，比要求個人自律更有效。

Individual efforts matter, but only governments can change the largest sources of emissions, such as power generation and transport.

反對價格手段論點 8｜提高油價或機票價格，效果可能被替代行為抵消

Point → 單靠提高價格來減少污染，效果有限，而且對低收入者不公平。

解釋 → 如果搭飛機變貴，有些旅客會改開車或搭其他交通工具，一樣消耗能源；而油價上漲對必須通勤的低收入家庭負擔最重，富人卻不太受影響。

例子 → 我在筆記整理過「限制飛機後，旅客改開車或搭鐵路，同樣消耗能源、造成塞車」。可以再補一句：價格政策要搭配替代方案（例如改善大眾運輸）才有效。

Raising fuel prices may simply shift people to other polluting forms of transport, while placing the heaviest burden on low-income commuters.

原文：第二個主體段（我支持的一方）

Other environmental problems get more attention due to several reasons. Primarily, global warming is so imperative that should not be ignored, since it definitely poses a threat to people’s lives. A wide range of unpleasant consequences, such as rising sea levels, extreme climate, and the greenhouse effect will happen because of global warming. Even though those issues will not influence individuals directly, they make the environment unsuitable for human beings, further lowering the quality of life. Furthermore, pollution is another hot issue, which threatens a wide range of daily necessities including food, land, water, and air. To be more specific, pollution can be harmful to not only the environment but also individuals, so its importance needs to be highlighted.

改寫示範（第一個理由）

Others, including myself, argue that climate change is a more pressing problem. This is because it affects every part of the planet and is itself one of the main causes of species loss. As temperatures rise, many animals lose the habitats they depend on; the shrinking sea ice of the Arctic, for example, has left polar bears with fewer places to hunt. In other words, tackling climate change would also help to protect endangered species, whereas the reverse is not necessarily true.

原文：乙醇流程圖第二個主體段

As for the remaining stages, firstly, sugars are made after the processing stage. Following this, microbes are added into the product, and eventually ethanol is made successfully. The final product are used for a wide range of purpose, including automobiles, trunks, and airplanes. Three mode of transportation all lead to the release of carbon dioxide in the air, finishing the period as well as starting new process simultaneously.

原文：發電圓餅圖澳洲段

Regarding Australia, in 1980, the highest proportion of production was coal, accounting for 50%. Following this, the amount of hydro power and natural gas contributed equally, each constituting 20% of the total. By contrast, in 2000, coal increased its dominance, which made up 130 units of the total of 170 units. Besides that, a slightly amount can be seen at oil and natural gas, with the figure for 2 units each.

示範（主體段，約 140 字）

[Point] Although I support the shift towards renewable energy, I believe fossil fuels should be phased out gradually rather than replaced all at once. [解釋] Solar and wind power depend on the weather, and until storage technology becomes cheaper, countries still need a reliable source of electricity for periods without sun or wind. [延伸] A sudden ban on coal and gas could therefore lead to power shortages and sharp increases in electricity bills, which would hit low-income households hardest. [例子] For instance, a country that closed all its coal plants within a few years might have to import expensive electricity from its neighbours during a cold, windless winter. [收尾] A gradual transition, combined with retraining programmes for workers in the fossil fuel industry, would achieve the same goal at a much lower social cost.

Practice 1. Governments should ban all single-use plastic products. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Practice 2. Some people think that economic development is more important than protecting the environment. Others disagree. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Practice 3. Many wild animals are losing their natural habitats. What are the causes of this problem, and what can be done to solve it?