There Are Things Individuals Can Do To Help Prevent Global Climate Change - IELTS Task 2 Sample Essays

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Sample Essay 1

Some argue that individuals can take meaningful steps to mitigate global climate change, while others believe that only governments and major corporations have the power to enact real change. In my view, although institutional actions carry more weight, the role of individuals remains critical and should not be underestimated. This essay will explore the structural power of governments and corporations, but will also demonstrate how individual choices collectively drive demand, influence policy, and shape long-term environmental outcomes.

Governments and large companies possess the authority and resources to enforce regulations, fund research, and shift national infrastructures toward sustainability—capabilities far beyond the reach of individuals. For example, legislation banning single-use plastics or transitioning energy grids to renewable sources can reduce emissions on a massive scale. Similarly, corporations with global supply chains can drastically cut carbon output by investing in green technologies. The scale and coordination required to combat climate change demand top-down action. No matter how eco-conscious individuals may be, without systemic reforms—such as subsidies for clean energy or penalties for heavy polluters—their efforts may be rendered inconsequential. Hence, institutional action forms the backbone of any effective climate strategy.

However, dismissing the role of individuals overlooks the reality that consumer behaviour directly shapes market trends and policy agendas. When large numbers of people adopt sustainable habits—such as reducing meat consumption, choosing eco-friendly products, or supporting green political candidates—corporations and governments are pressured to respond. For instance, the rise in demand for plant-based diets has already pushed multinational food companies to diversify their offerings, reducing the environmental impact of animal agriculture. Similarly, grassroots environmental campaigns have led to legislative changes in several countries. Individuals also create cultural momentum: public consciousness influences elections, corporate branding, and even international climate negotiations. Thus, while individual actions may seem modest in isolation, their aggregate impact creates the societal and political climate necessary for systemic reform.

In conclusion, although the machinery of climate action is largely controlled by governments and corporations, individual contributions are far from irrelevant. They drive the demand that powers reform and create the social pressure essential for institutional change. A sustainable future depends not on one sector alone, but on the synchronized efforts of both individuals and powerful institutions.

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Sample Essay 2

Some contend that individual actions play a vital role in addressing climate change, while others believe only governments and corporations hold the power to make meaningful progress. I firmly support the latter view. Although personal responsibility is morally admirable, it is insufficient in the face of a crisis that is systemic, industrially entrenched, and geopolitically complex. This essay will argue that the scale of environmental damage requires legal enforcement and international cooperation, and that individual efforts often fall prey to structural limitations beyond personal control.

The first and most compelling reason large-scale institutional action is indispensable lies in the global scale and systemic nature of environmental damage, which individual efforts cannot realistically counter. Climate change is driven by deeply embedded economic systems—such as fossil fuel dependency, globalized trade logistics, and deforestation for industrial agriculture—that require legal, economic, and diplomatic tools only governments can wield. For example, while an individual may choose to cycle to work, that effort is negligible in the face of unchecked emissions from oil companies or coal-powered industries. Only governments can impose emissions caps, enforce carbon taxation, or phase out fossil subsidies through legislation. Additionally, meaningful change often requires multilateral treaties—such as the Paris Agreement—which are far beyond the reach of any citizen, no matter how environmentally committed.

Moreover, individuals are frequently constrained by infrastructure, socio-economic conditions, and market availability, making personal environmental choices either inaccessible or ineffective. A consumer may wish to buy organic, local produce, but in many regions, such products are overpriced or unavailable due to supply chains controlled by large corporations. Similarly, a person might want to use renewable energy, but may live in a rented apartment with no control over energy sources. Even basic lifestyle changes—like reducing plastic—are compromised by packaging monopolies and poor waste management systems. In contrast, governments can mandate green infrastructure, regulate supply chains, and subsidize sustainable alternatives, thus enabling environmentally sound choices to become viable for the majority.

In conclusion, while individual efforts can reflect moral intent and raise awareness, they are neither scalable nor structurally empowered to tackle the root causes of climate change. Institutional actions—backed by law, economic leverage, and international cooperation—are the only realistic path to impactful and lasting environmental transformation.

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