Topic:
Governments should be responsible for solving environmental problems, rather than individuals.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Band 7+ Sample Essay:
As environmental threats continue to escalate globally, the debate intensifies over who should bear the primary responsibility for addressing them. This essay will argue that governments must take the lead because only they have the legislative power and financial capacity to implement impactful change.
On one hand, individuals play an essential role in cultivating eco-conscious behavior. Through everyday actions—such as recycling, reducing plastic use, or choosing sustainable transportation—citizens can reduce their personal carbon footprints. Moreover, when a large number of people act together, these small efforts can accumulate into noticeable results. Public awareness campaigns and grassroots movements often start at the individual level and can influence broader social change.
On the other hand, only governments can enact policies that produce large-scale, measurable outcomes. From enforcing emission limits on industries to investing in renewable energy infrastructure, state intervention is both powerful and necessary. For example, the banning of single-use plastics in certain countries has significantly curbed plastic pollution. Additionally, financial incentives such as tax breaks for green businesses can accelerate innovation and make sustainable practices the norm rather than the exception.
In my view, government intervention is indispensable. Although individuals contribute to the solution, without overarching policy and institutional support, their efforts remain limited. Therefore, I believe that while individual actions are valuable, the primary responsibility lies with governments to drive systemic environmental reform.
Useful Vocabulary for This Essay (IELTS Essay Vocabulary – Environment):
- Escalate – to become more serious (e.g., Environmental problems have escalated in recent years.)
- Carbon footprint – the amount of carbon dioxide released due to individual activities
- Eco-conscious – environmentally aware (e.g., Eco-conscious consumers are choosing to go plastic-free.)
- Grassroots movement – a campaign that begins with ordinary people rather than leaders
- Legislative power – the authority to make laws
- Sustainable practices – habits that do not harm the environment long-term
- Financial incentive – a benefit such as a tax cut that motivates people or businesses
- Systemic reform – a complete and structural change of a system
IELTS 5 to 6 