Unit Review & Progress Test

Unit review — Climate Policy & International Agreements

Al finalizar esta unidad, deberías ser capaz de participar en debates complejos sobre políticas medioambientales utilizando un registro académico formal. Habrás perfeccionado el uso de la nominalización para elevar el tono de tus argumentos, pasando de descripciones simples a conceptos abstractos y precisos, algo esencial para el nivel C1.

Asimismo, habrás adquirido el vocabulario especializado necesario para discutir tratados internacionales, acuerdos climáticos y medidas de mitigación. Deberías sentirte cómodo utilizando colocaciones avanzadas y estructuras gramaticales complejas para expresar causas, consecuencias y propuestas de política global de manera coherente y profesional.

Grammar consolidation

Part 1: Sentence Transformation Rewrite the sentences using the word in brackets so that the meaning remains the same. You must use between three and six words.

1. The government decided to implement stricter carbon taxes. (IMPLEMENTATION) The ________ stricter carbon taxes was a controversial move.
2. It is widely believed that international treaties are difficult to enforce. (BELIEF) There is ________ that international treaties are difficult to enforce.
3. Because the sea levels rose, many coastal cities face risks. (RISE) The ________ has put many coastal cities at risk.

Part 2: Error Correction Identify and correct the grammatical error in each sentence to maintain a formal academic register.

4. The reduction of emissions are the main goal of the Paris Agreement.
5. There was a significant growth in renewable energy investments last year. (Rewrite to use a more formal noun phrase structure).
6. The fact that the treaty was signed caused much debate. (Rewrite using nominalisation to make it more concise).

Part 3: Controlled Rewriting Rewrite the following sentences to make them more formal and academic by using nominalisation.

7. If we continue to pollute the oceans, marine ecosystems will collapse. (Start with: The continued...)
8. They expanded the protected areas, which helped biodiversity. (Start with: The expansion...)
9. We need to regulate industries more strictly to prevent further damage. (Start with: Stricter...)
10. Because the climate is changing rapidly, we must act now. (Start with: Rapid...)

Vocabulary activation

Part 1: Collocations Complete the sentences with the correct word to form a C1-level collocation.

1. The nations involved must reach a binding ______ agreement to ensure compliance.
2. Governments are under pressure to implement ______ measures to combat global warming. ly
3. The transition to green energy requires a ______ amount of investment.
4. Many activists argue that current policies are merely ______ measures that do not address the root cause.

Part 2: Word Formation Use the word in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap.

5. The ______ of the treaty was delayed due to political disagreements. (RATIFY)
6. We are facing an unprecedented environmental ______ in the next decade. (CATASTROPHE)
7. The ______ of fossil fuels must be accelerated to meet net-zero targets. (PHASE)
8. There is growing ______ regarding the effectiveness of carbon credits. (CONTROVERSY)

Part 3: Register Choice Choose the most appropriate academic term to replace the underlined informal phrase.

9. The policy was a big deal for the local economy. a) a significant development / b) a huge thing
10. We need to look at the impact of deforestation. a) check out / b) examine
11. The agreement wasn't enough to stop the damage. a) proved insufficient / b) was too small
12. The leaders talked about the new regulations. a) deliberated on / b) chatted about

Integrated skills task

Source Text: The Challenge of Global Compliance

The primary obstacle to effective climate policy is not a lack of scientific understanding, but rather the difficulty of enforcing international agreements. While the Paris Agreement set ambitious targets, it lacks a legal mechanism to penalise nations that fail to meet their commitments. This creates a "free-rider" problem, where some countries benefit from the global reduction in emissions while others continue to prioritise industrial growth.

Furthermore, the economic disparity between developed and developing nations complicates negotiations. Wealthier nations, historically responsible for the majority of cumulative emissions, are expected to lead the transition. However, developing nations argue that they require financial assistance to bypass fossil-fuel-based development. Without a robust framework for wealth transfer and technological sharing, international climate policy remains a collection of voluntary promises rather than a cohesive global strategy.

Writing Task

Instrucciones: Basándote en el texto anterior, escribe una respuesta de entre 180 y 220 palabras. Debes presentar un argumento que evalúe si los acuerdos internacionales son realmente efectivos o si la soberanía nacional siempre prevalecerá sobre los objetivos climáticos. Utiliza un registro formal y emplea la nominalización para estructurar tus ideas.

Speaking checkpoint

1. Compare: Compare the effectiveness of local environmental regulations versus international climate treaties.
2. Speculate: How might the global economy change if all nations successfully achieved net-zero emissions by 2050?
3. Evaluate: Evaluate the statement: "Economic growth and environmental protection are mutually exclusive goals."
4. Justify: Just enough to justify the implementation of heavy taxes on carbon-intensive industries.
5. Discuss: Discuss the role of individual responsibility versus corporate accountability in solving the climate crisis.
6. Hypothesise: If international law were strengthened to enforce climate targets, what would be the most likely consequence for global politics?

Self-assessment rubric

Answer key

Grammar consolidation 1. implementation of 2. a widespread belief 3. rise in sea levels 4. The reduction of emissions is... 5. There was a significant increase/growth in... (or: There was significant growth...) 6. The signing of the treaty caused much debate. 7. The continued pollution of the oceans will lead to the collapse of marine ecosystems. 8. The expansion of the protected areas helped biodiversity. 9. Stricter regulation of industries is necessary to prevent further damage. 10. Rapid climate change necessitates immediate action.

Vocabulary activation 1. binding 2. stringent 3. substantial 4. stop-gap / superficial 5. ratification 6. catastrophe 7. phase-out 8. controversy 9. a) a significant development 10. b) examine 11. a) proved insufficient 12. a) deliberated on