GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 154
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
It is often argued that demand for gas and oil is increasing and so finding new sources in remote and untouched areas is a necessity.
Do the advantages of searching for new resources in remote areas outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer: [View – disadvantages outweigh its advantages]
Rapid economic expansion and population growth have prompted an increase in energy demand. Many people argue that we should therefore facilitate the exploitation of remote and untouched areas so as to meet the growing demand for fossil fuels. In my opinion, the setbacks outweigh its benefits.
The benefits of drilling for gas and oil in untapped remote regions relate to poverty eradication and safety. Energy deficiency remains a crucial issue in many parts of the world, such as India and Africa. So, the new sources of fossil fuels will alleviate the power scarcity and an economic boom will be fuelled accordingly. And undoubtedly, it will leave millions of people out of poverty and enlarge the middle-class base. Besides, the extraction of fossil fuel in remote areas means human beings are protected from potential accidents. A case in point is Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Rig. The similar disaster could have killed thousands of people if it was located in a densely populated urban area.
However, the drawbacks are particularly pertinent to adverse impact on the environment. Extraction phase of fossil fuel can create a disastrous impact on biodiversity. To illustrate, extraction activity takes a devastating toll on landscapes and the ecosystem as well. Generally, it occupies a vast land for infrastructures like access roads, wells, and pipelines as well as facilities for processing, waste disposal, and waste storage. In consequence, many wildlife habitats, crucial for migration and breeding, become fragmented and get destroyed. Apart from that, active oil and gas wells emit large quantities of carbon dioxide. As a result, carbon dioxide emissions generate heat in the atmosphere and thereby leading to climate change.
In conclusion, economic prosperity does not eclipse the environmental damages caused by remote gas and oil exploitation especially at a time when the global climate is rapidly getting deteriorated. Therefore, we should look for alternative energy sources.