Responsibility for protecting the environment lies with politicians, not individuals, because individuals can do too little.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Responsibility for protecting the environment lies with politicians, not individuals, because individuals can do too little.

Responsibility Protecting Environment Lies Politicians Not Individuals - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 8 ยท 404 words.

There has been considerable debate among members of society over whether the responsibility for protecting the environment rests primarily with politicians because individual actions alone are insufficient. While many people hold the belief that small actions taken by ordinary citizens can make a significant difference, I concur with those who assert that politicians play a pivotal role in environmental protection because they possess greater financial resources and legislative authority. Nevertheless, the role of ordinary people should not be underestimated.

First and foremost, politicians serve as vital figures who promote environmental protection by providing financial support. One notable example of such support is the funding of large-scale environmental projects such as reforestation programs and renewable energy initiatives, which help tackle air pollution, water pollution and biodiversity loss. Furthermore, the establishment of new nature reserves can ensure the protection of wildlife, particularly by safeguarding endangered species and vulnerable marine ecosystems. Preserving wildlife is a major environmental priority because the loss of species can disrupt ecosystems and food chains.

Secondly, government officials can directly influence social behaviour through legislation and public policies. Many environmental laws can be introduced and implemented by politicians, thereby contributing to environmental protection. For instance, they can increase environmental awareness by incorporating environmental education into school curricula. Moreover, educating youngsters can be beneficial for preserving the environment by shaping students' minds and broadening their horizons regarding environmental issues. Consequently, government policies can generate long-term environmental benefits.

Meanwhile, the role of ordinary people remains significant, as collective individual actions can also produce meaningful environmental improvements over time. People can contribute to protecting the environment through their daily actions, such as devoting their time to cleaning up local streets with neighbours or at least to avoiding activities that contribute to pollution. Additionally, they can purchase more durable, long-lasting items instead of single-use plastic products, which often end up as waste. Apart from that, individuals could buy electric cars to reduce the environmental damage caused by the widespread use of petrol-powered vehicles.

In conclusion, many people consider that environmental damage can be mitigated through individual actions, whereas others contend that politicians are the main contributors to protecting the environment. I personally believe that policymakers are uniquely positioned to drive large-scale environmental change through legislation and public investment since they have direct access to government funding and greater ability to influence public behavior, but meaningful environmental progress ultimately requires the combined efforts of both government and citizens.

Examiner feedback

This is a high-level response that demonstrates strong control over academic writing conventions. The arguments are logical, the language is precise and varied, and the essay is structured in a way that is easy for the reader to follow. Only slight improvements in addressing the nuance of the prompt's negative constraint on individuals are needed for a perfect score.

Task Response - 8

- The response sufficiently addresses all parts of the task, providing a well-developed argument for both government and individual roles. - The position is clear throughout, supporting the idea that while politicians are pivotal, individual efforts are also necessary. - Main ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, though deeper analysis of the 'limitations' of individuals mentioned in the prompt could have pushed this to a Band 9.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Information is sequenced logically with a clear progression from the introduction to the final conclusion. - Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively, facilitating a smooth flow of ideas between and within paragraphs. - Each paragraph has a clear central topic that is consistently developed throughout.

Lexical Resource - 8

- The essay utilizes a wide range of vocabulary (e.g., 'legislative authority', 'biodiversity loss', 'vulnerable marine ecosystems') fluently. - Collocations are used naturally and effectively to convey precise meanings. - Rare minor inaccuracies in word choice do not detract from the overall high quality of the lexical resource.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- A wide range of complex structures is used with flexibility and precision. - The majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating high control over grammar and punctuation. - Minor errors are extremely rare and do not interfere with the clarity of the arguments.

Related prompts

Start Practice