I nte r nati o nal e n g LI s h lan g uag e testi n g syste m

The world’s air pollution levels are rising year on year. What are the most 

pressing causes and effects of this disturbing trend?

Increasing levels of airborne pollutants have proved to be a major obstacle for 

humanity in the 21st century. This trend is predominantly caused by consumption 

patterns associated with rising global affluence, namely the increasing demand 

growing economies have for fossil fuels. These triggers and the effects rising rates 

of atmospheric pollution have on the planet will be examined in this essay.

Most experts agree that airborne pollution is caused by the burning of fossil fuels, 

and that growing economies around the world make it possible for increasingly large 

numbers of people to contribute to current global pollution levels. For example, the 

affluence of more than two billion people between India and China has been rising for 

decades, and with this has come a spike in the number of pollution causing vehicles