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Task 2 Band 7

Cambridge IELTS 17 Academic Writing Test 1 Task 2 Band 7 Model Answer

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write at least 250 words.
Some people think that environmental problems are too big for individual countries and human beings to solve, as a result we cannot do anything about them. Other people think that if individuals take action, this can make a difference.Discuss both these views and give your opinion.Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
The escalating severity of environmental degradation, from climate change to plastic pollution, has sparked a debate about who bears the responsibility for solutions. While some argue that these problems are so immense that individual or national efforts are futile, others contend that collective individual action can generate meaningful change. This essay will discuss both perspectives before concluding that, although systemic change is essential, individual actions are a crucial and effective component of the broader solution.

On the one hand, the view that environmental issues are insurmountable for individuals or single nations holds some validity. Problems like global warming are inherently global in nature, requiring coordinated international cooperation to reduce emissions on a massive scale. For example, the carbon footprint of a single person is minuscule compared to the output of large industrial corporations or the deforestation occurring in the Amazon. Furthermore, a country that unilaterally adopts strict environmental policies might suffer economic disadvantages if its neighbours do not follow suit. This perspective suggests that meaningful change can only be driven by powerful governments and international treaties, such as the Paris Agreement, making individual efforts appear insignificant in the grand scheme.

On the other hand, there is a compelling argument that individual actions, when multiplied across millions of people, are indispensable and can drive significant progress. Consumer choices exert powerful market pressure on corporations; for instance, the rising global demand for electric vehicles has compelled major car manufacturers to shift their production strategies towards more sustainable models. Similarly, grassroots movements, like community-led recycling programmes or bans on single-use plastics, have demonstrably reduced local pollution and raised public awareness. These examples illustrate that individual initiatives not only have a direct environmental impact but also create a cultural shift that incentivises governments and businesses to adopt greener policies.

In my opinion, these two views are not mutually exclusive, but rather interdependent. While I acknowledge that individuals cannot solve the climate crisis alone, I firmly believe that they are far from powerless. The collective power of conscious consumers and engaged citizens is a driving force that holds governments and corporations accountable. For example, public pressure has been instrumental in pushing many countries to commit to net-zero emission targets. Therefore, individual action is not a replacement for systemic change but a vital catalyst for it.

In conclusion, although environmental problems are indeed too vast for individuals to tackle in isolation, this does not render their actions meaningless. Personal choices, when aggregated, create a powerful momentum that influences policy and industry. Ultimately, a combination of top-down governmental regulation and bottom-up individual responsibility is the most effective pathway towards a sustainable future.
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Student Comments From Evaluate Writings

  • Kunal Saini 1 week ago

    Band Score 6Environment related issues are one of the biggest concern for individual countries and human beings to solve. While some people firmly believed that there is no solution to this problem whereas, others argue that individuals actions make a significant differences when millons of people contributed. This essay will discuss both perspectives and provide valid reasons with relevent examples. On the one hand, it is difficult for individual countries and human beings to solve environmental issues. Problems such as air pollution, climate change and global warming are fastly spreading all over the world. Individuals often lack the resources and authority to deal with major environmental problems. for instance, an ordinary person cannot control the emissions of large factoriesor change national energy policies. These decisions are only made by governments and large corperations. Furthermore, environmental problems are often caused by economic activities on a huge scale, such as industrial production, deforestation and intensive farming. Therefore, individual efforts alone may not enough to solve them. On the other hand, individual behaviours can influence businesses and governments.

  • 4Uba Puba 3 weeks ago

    Band Score 6.5Some people believe that environmental problems is so huge that individual countries and human beings cannot solve them. They think that only big international organisations or governments can make changes. Other people argue that if every person do small actions, it can have big impact. In this essay I will discuss both views and give my opinion. On the one hand, there are reasons why people feel hopeless. Climate change, air pollution and deforestation are global problems. One country alone cannot stop global warming because greenhouse gases come from many places. For example, if one country reduce its emissions but another country continue to burn coal, the problem still exist. Also, big companies and industries cause most pollution, so individual action seems very small. This make people think they cannot do anything important. On the other hand, individual actions can make a difference. When many people change their habits, the effect is big. For instance, if millions of people use public transport instead of cars, the air quality improves. Also, consumers can pressure companies to be more eco-friendly by buying green products. In my country, many people started to use reusable bags and bottles, and shops reduced plastic waste. Furthermore, when individuals vote for green parties, governments are forced to make stronger environmental laws. In my opinion, both views have some truth, but I agree more with second view. Although environmental problems are too big for one person or one country alone, this does not mean we should do nothing. Small actions together can create big changes. If everyone think that they cannot help, then nothing will improve. Governments and industries also respond to public opinion. Therefore, individual action is not useless; it is first step to solving environmental problems. In conclusion, while environmental issues are serious and global, I believe individual actions are important and can lead to larger changes. We should not give up.

  • Jasschoudhary4798 4 weeks ago

    Band Score 5.5In this contemporary era, due to human experiments environment of earth has become worst. so that why, it is thought by few individuals environmental issue has become extra large for individual nations to tackle. while, other people consider that unless individual take action, we can not make changes and solve issue. Moreover, i would like to discuss both views with relevant example as well as i will give my point of view in the coming paragraphs. To begin with that .there is major reason why people think that First and Foremost, earthquake is biggest problem which is difficult to solve by a country because there is no any technology which can stop to earthquake and it is natural it can come any time government can estimate about it through the modern technology. For instance, Japan a country there are lot of biggest earthquakes have been seen for years which is hard tackle for government. On the other hand, there are to many causes why people think that they can do something which can make difference in environment. firstly, Floods which is major nature problem and it is difficult to stop it but if individuals starts to save trees and grow new trees which can make little bit change and slow to this problem, because trees can slow to water and they

  • Αλέξανδρος Μάτα 1 month ago

    Band Score 5.5Some people think that environmental problems are too big for individual countries and for human beings to solve, other people think that if individuals take action could have a difference. I am writing in order to express myself on this matter. To begin with, I would like to establish that every person after the age of eighteen is responsible for his actions, yet younger children have also individual responsibility but they lack in knowledge. In my opinion, I believe that regarding the environmental problems every person should contribute to a healthier planet. I would like to address some possible solutions that every person who is not public and government official can do in daily basis. Buy products from recycled materials, recycle every possible article that he has in his house. These actions lead to economical concerns by the companies. If they don't comply with the instructions of the government, nobody will buy their products due to awareness of the mass. Another solution is for the public to protest, protesting is the most strong action from the common people. A peaceful yet demanding protest is always a clear message to the government for healthier environment. On the other hand, there is countries where they're public cannot say or oppose to the government policies due dictatorship. In satuations like that, the common people have no say, countries that are ruled from dictators apply to one man's word. Either is a wise or a right choice everybody has to comply with the decisions of one man, or woman. To sum up, I strongly believe that every person is responsible for a healthier environment because every person can do something to archive it regardless the amount of effort but there is certain exceptions that an individual cannot oppose his superior public and government officials.

  • SHOAIB Gujjar 1 month ago

    Band Score 5.5Several people though that environmental problems are gigantic for individual states and humans to control, as an outcome we are not able to sleuth them. Other people have opinions that if individuals agree to take steps, this can make an obvious difference. Actually i am in favor of first category of people that we can not overcome from the proliferation of environmental problems individually because these problems are accumulatively affected by the majority of individuals in world so individuals can not cope with this issue. Entire world is responsible for these issues, so we can't cope with these without removal of cause of these. Nowadays almost every person is playing their role in growth of pollution in multiple ways like thrashing of wastage in outdoor places, excessive and unnecessary usage of individual transportation. These issues are widespread and we have to stop these by our mutual contribution. For instance, peoples are causing for global warming by unnecessary usage of fuel for transportation on daily basis. The solutions of this problem require the global intervention like to overcome from global warming we can grow the trees. Suppose if a single or some states or persons do plantation, this will cause a minimal effect on global warming on the other side, mutual contribution can result in substantial and significant changes. In conclusion, i am pondering that these are global problems so their removal also required the global attention.

  • Prabhjotkaura1818 1 month ago

    Band Score 6It is true that environment is polluting day by day with human activities. It is argued by some that governments have responsibility to protect the environment, while others consider that humans should also participate to mitigate environmental problems. Although, governments need to take actions to protect the ecosystem, I personally believe that individuals should also take part in this. One the one hand, government can play an important role in environment protection. As authorities can regulate the public with strict laws and policies and imposing fines will also be helpful to reduce unwanted activities by humans. Apart from that providing free bins to every house for biodegradable or non-biodegradable will help to reduce the air and soil pollution because separated waste will decompose quickly. For example, in developed countries people put rubbish in different colors of bins, which lead to control the waste. On the other hand, people can help to save the environment because problems are starting from the individual level. As a responsible citizen; if, people start putting their rubbish in bins instead of throwing it on roads will helps to solve the problem. This means that illegal dumping leads to cause environmental degradation because it mixes with soil and sometimes, runoff with water. For example, the Ganga River in India is contaminated with waste materials, which is harmful for water and air. Hence, individuals are also responsible for environment protection with governmental strategies. In conclusion, environment protection not only the responsibility of governments, but individuals should also take part in this campaign.

  • さん田村 2 months ago

    Band Score 5.5Some people think that environmental problems are too big for individual countries and human being to address, while others consider that if individuals take action, this can make a difference and I believe that it is essential to take action for individuals to solve environmental problems. There are two different views on the issue. One major benefit of taking action by individuals is that a lot of people today are struggling to address environmental problems such as reducing the amount of plastic products or trying to use recycled products, which may play a vital role in environmental problems. That is why, some people think that individuals action can contribute to sustainable society. In addition, some countries are allocating budget, which finally has negative impact on nation. This is because many people think that such budget should be allocated for other problems such as economic or educational problems. Therefore, it is beneficial to take action by individuals. On the other hand, there are also difficulties of the trend. One major problem of the trend is that More and more people now rely on harmful resource such as carbon dioxide, which is regarded as hard to reduce. In order to solve it, other resources such as natural gas or recycled resources should be made use of in our society. Moreover, some studies show that individuals action does not bring significant result in environment. So, governments need to consider solutions to address environmental problems. In conclusion, although individual action is hard to bring benefit to environment, it is better to consider environmental problems for human beings. For these reasons stated above, I strongly believe that taking individual action is essential to address the problems

  • Thinhle29092009 2 months ago

    Band Score 5.5Despite the development of technology and economy, environment becomes more and more negative, when there are a lot of problems in today's society, such as pollution, climate change and other natural disasters. While many people believe that these issues are too devastating for small countries and humans to solve. Others, however, argue that there will be a difference if individuals take action. Both views have some truth, but the second view is more convincing. The negative view is understandable because environmental issues originally stem from the humans' behavior, but they seldom realize that. Apparently, with advanced steps in the technology, people are more likely to use a large investment in automation and artificial intelligence, contributing to the support for society in the future. However, these policies often gain a lot of drawbacks, so these behaviors seem time-consuming, leading to a limitation in national budgets. Consequently, there is not enough money and time for environmental improvements, leading to more and more disastrous consequences for residents and properties, showing the limited education for people about natural world. As a result, other subsequent generations continue implementing ineffective policies and making natural disasters more seriously. Nevertheless, it would be too simple to say that we cannot do anything to solve these problems. In many ways, nowadays, governments increasingly encourage schools to not only teach students about academic knowledge, but also social expertise, assisting them in having a clearer opinion about the future of humanity than before. Therefore, people rarely use plastic product and deforest more to enhance the requirements of agriculture and industry, which play a significant role in limiting the spread of contamination and global warming in the world. Thanks to these contributions, students and adults will have awareness of the importance of balance between development and preservation in their own life, encouraging individuals to have a green lifestyle. In conclusion, the society can be more illustrious, even though there are lots of negative impacts on environments, if people take actions to protect their lives and habitats. Therefore, natural disasters will not be dangerous as we predict, these issues are merely disastrous when we only think about them, and we don't start taking actions.

  • Thinhle29092009 2 months ago

    Band Score 6Despite the development of technology and economy, environment becomes more and more negative, when there are a lot of problems in today's society, such as pollution, climate change and other natural disasters. While many people believe that these issues are too devastating for small countries and humans to solve. Others, however, argue that there will be a difference if individuals take action. Both views have some truth, but the second view is more convincing. The negative view is understandable because environmental issues originally stem from the humans' behavior, but they seldom realize that. Apparently, with advanced steps in the technology, people are more likely to use a large investment in automation and artificial intelligence, contributing to the support for society in the future. However, these policies often gain a lot of drawbacks, so these behaviors seem time-consuming, leading to a limitation in national budgets. Consequently, there is not enough money and time for environmental improvements, leading to more and more disastrous consequences for residents and properties, showing the limited education for people about natural world. As a result, other subsequent generations continue implementing ineffective policies and making natural disasters more seriously. Nevertheless, it would be too simple to say that we cannot do anything to solve these problems. In many ways, nowadays, governments increasingly encourage schools to not only teach students about academic knowledge, but also social expertise, assisting them in having a clearer opinion about the future of humanity than before. Therefore, people rarely use plastic product and deforest more to enhance the requirements of agriculture and industry, which play a significant role in limiting the spread of contamination and global warming in the world. Thanks to these contributions, students and adults will have awareness of the importance of balance between development and preservation in their own life, encouraging individuals to have a green lifestyle. In conclusion, the society can be more illustrious, even though there are lots of negative impacts on environments, if people take actions to protect their lives and habitats. Therefore, natural disasters will not be dangerous as we predict, these issues are merely disastrous when we only think about them, and we don't start taking actions.

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