IELTS Reading Practice | The Environment & Net Zero Policies
Topic: The Environment
The Truth About Net Zero Policies: Game-Changers or Greenwashing Distraction?
Net Zero policies, aimed at achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere, have been gaining traction in political discourse. Politicians worldwide have been increasingly obsessed with these policies, viewing them as the paramount solution for climate change. They argue that the transition to Net Zero will not only mitigate global warming but also spur economic growth by fostering green industries.
However, critics argue that this fixation on Net Zero overlooks the intricacies of the climate crisis. They claim that the focus on reducing emissions to zero diverts attention from other equally important environmental issues, such as biodiversity loss and pollution, which require different solutions. Furthermore, the emphasis on Net Zero, they argue, can lead to the implementation of unsustainable measures, such as relying heavily on carbon offsetting, which simply shifts the problem elsewhere rather than solving it.
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TRUE: if the information agrees with the information
- FALSE: if the information contradicts the information
- NOT GIVEN: if there is no information on this.
Explanation: The text mentions that politicians argue the transition to Net Zero will "spur economic growth by fostering green industries." Therefore, the statement is in agreement with the information provided in the reading passage.
Explanation: The text does not state that Net Zero policies are the only solution for climate change. It mentions that politicians view these as a "paramount solution," but it also points out critics arguing that the focus on Net Zero "diverts attention from other equally important environmental issues." which implies other solutions also need attention.
Explanation: The statement aligns with the information provided in the reading passage: "carbon offsetting, which simply shifts the problem elsewhere rather than solving it."
Explanation: The text mentions that critics argue the focus on Net Zero diverts attention from other equally important environmental issues, such as biodiversity loss and pollution. This implies that Net Zero policies may prioritize reducing greenhouse gas emissions over these other issues.
Explanation: The text mentions that critics argue the emphasis on Net Zero can lead to the implementation of unsustainable measures, such as relying heavily on carbon offsetting. This implies that critics do not believe these policies can lead to sustainable measures to address climate change.