IELTS Task 2: Individuals and the Environment
The Question
Some people think that individuals can do very little to protect the environment and that it is governments and large corporations that must take responsibility. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Write at least 250 words.
How to approach it
- •Decide your position clearly: fully agree, partially agree, or disagree
- •Arguments that systemic actors matter most: regulation, emissions standards, large-scale infrastructure, industrial pollution
- •Arguments that individuals matter: collective consumer demand, voting, lifestyle choices that scale up
- •A balanced position (individuals matter but systemic change is decisive) is acceptable if argued consistently
Sample Band 8 Response
215 wordsWritten by EduForEveryone — for guidance only. Not an official examiner response.
It is sometimes claimed that ordinary individuals can do little to protect the environment and that the real responsibility lies with governments and large corporations. While I agree that systemic actors are decisive, I disagree that individual action is insignificant.
There is much truth in the view that governments and corporations hold the greatest power. Only governments can pass and enforce environmental laws, set emissions standards, and invest in clean infrastructure such as renewable energy and public transport. Likewise, large industries are responsible for a substantial share of global pollution, so changes to their practices have a far greater impact than anything a single household could achieve.
Nevertheless, I do not accept that individuals are powerless. Collectively, the choices of millions of consumers shape what companies produce; rising demand for recycled goods and electric vehicles, for example, has pushed entire industries to adapt. Individuals also influence policy through how they vote and the causes they support, while everyday habits such as reducing waste and saving energy add up significantly when adopted widely.
In conclusion, although governments and corporations must lead the fight against environmental damage because of their unique scale and authority, individual action remains an important complement. Real progress, in my view, depends on the two working together rather than one replacing the other.