IELTS Writing Task 2: Protecting the Environment

Question. Some believe that protecting the environment is the responsibility of individuals, while others think it is the job of governments. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Band 9 model answer

Responsibility for the environment is often placed on either citizens or the state. This essay considers both perspectives and concludes that meaningful progress requires action from both.

On one hand, individuals clearly shape environmental outcomes through daily choices. Reducing plastic use, saving electricity, and choosing public transport all lower a person’s carbon footprint, and collectively these habits matter enormously in densely populated countries such as Bangladesh.

On the other hand, governments hold powers that no individual has. They can legislate against pollution, invest in renewable energy, and penalise industries that dump waste into rivers. Without such regulation, individual effort is easily overwhelmed by large-scale industrial harm.

In conclusion, while individuals must adopt responsible habits, only governments can drive systemic change; therefore the two must work together to protect the planet effectively.