Some people think the actions of individuals can’t make a difference in protecting the environment. Others think that individuals can protect their environment. Discuss both view and state your opinion

It is often argued by some that steps taken by individuals to protect the surroundings cannot make a difference. Others,
in contrast
, are of the opinion that individual
actions
can lead to protection of the
environment
.
While
the latter position seems soundly argued, I agree with the former view because the average person lacks the political power required to ensure effective environmental protection. On the one hand,
actions
taken by individual community members may lead to a clean and safe habitat.
That is
, community members can undertake individual activities that may prevent the destruction of the
environment
,
thus
protecting it.
For instance
, ordinary citizens living off the coast of Accra, Ghana, organize weekly clean-up campaigns on its beaches to clear the white sands of plastic waste.
This
prevents the plastics from ending up in our oceans
consequently
protecting aquatic life from its harmful effects.
On the other hand
, individual
actions
do not make a difference in effectively protecting the
environment
because they do not have the state power to tackle the widespread negative activities destroying our
environment
. Confronting the key issues affecting our environs will require governments to take strong decisive decisions and
actions
.
For instance
, following the publication of research in 1970 which concluded that the protective ozone layer was being depleted at a rate of 3% annually,
as a result
of carbon emissions, most nations passed laws targeted at reducing emissions in a bid to protect the ozone.
Consequently
, the rate of ozone depletion was halved a decade later. In conclusion, whilst some argue that individual
actions
can protect the
environment
, I believe that these activities do not a difference because ordinary citizens do not have the state strength to undertake the quantum of
actions
required to produce the desired impact.
Submitted by 1kanbliswik2 on

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introduction conclusion present
Ensure the introduction clearly presents the topic and outlines the structure of the essay, including a thesis statement that presents your opinion.
logical structure
Work on creating a more logical flow between ideas by using a range of cohesive devices and organizing paragraphs around central ideas.
supported main points
Support main points with more developed and specific examples, and make sure they are fully relevant to the thesis statement.
complete response
Make sure to address all parts of the task by discussing both views in detail and providing a clear, well-supported argument for your own opinion.
clear comprehensive ideas
Develop your ideas more fully to ensure a comprehensive discussion of the topic, and clearly articulate the rationale behind your opinion.
relevant specific examples
Provide specific and detailed examples that are directly relevant to the topic to support your arguments and enhance the response.

Include an introduction and conclusion

A conclusion is essential for IELTS writing task 2. It is more important than most people realise. You will be penalised for missing a conclusion in your IELTS essay.

The easiest paragraph to write in an essay is the conclusion paragraph. This is because the paragraph mostly contains information that has already been presented in the essay – it is just the repetition of some information written in the introduction paragraph and supporting paragraphs.

The conclusion paragraph only has 3 sentences:

  • Summary
  • Restatement of thesis
  • Prediction or recommendation

Example:

To summarize, a robotic teacher does not have the necessary disciple to properly give instructions to students and actually works to retard the ability of a student to comprehend new lessons. Therefore, it is clear that the idea of running a classroom completely by a machine cannot be supported. After thorough analysis on this subject, it is predicted that the adverse effects of the debate over technology-driven teaching will always be greater than the positive effects, and because of this, classroom teachers will never be substituted for technology.

Start your conclusion with a linking phrase. Here are some examples:

  • In conclusion
  • To conclude
  • To summarize
  • Finally
  • In a nutshell
  • In general

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Topic Vocabulary:
  • sustainability
  • environmental stewardship
  • ecological footprint
  • greenhouse gases
  • carbon emissions
  • renewable resources
  • biodegradable
  • conservation
  • sustainable development
  • recycling
  • upcycling
  • pollution
  • climate action
  • conservation efforts
  • zero-waste lifestyle
  • eco-friendly
  • sustainable living
  • clean energy
  • environmental impact
  • natural resources
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