IELTS Writing Task 2 — Environment & Climate Essay

IELTS Writing Task 2 — Environment & Climate Essay

Environment topics appear in roughly 30% of IELTS Writing Task 2 tests — making it the second most common topic after society/education. The good news: the vocabulary is learnable, the arguments are predictable, and with the right preparation you can write a confident Band 7 essay without knowing much about ecology.

The 5 Most Repeated Environment Question Types

1. Causes and solutions: "Many species of plants and animals are becoming extinct. What are the causes? What measures should be taken?"
2. Responsibility: "Individuals should do more to protect the environment, not governments. To what extent do you agree?"
3. Trade-off: "Economic development is more important than protecting the environment. Do you agree?"
4. Global vs. local: "International cooperation is the only way to solve environmental problems. Discuss."
5. Specific issue: "Car use in cities causes pollution and traffic. What problems does this cause? What are the solutions?"

Essential Environment Vocabulary (Band 7+)

Instead of "pollution," try:
- environmental degradation / ecological damage / carbon emissions
- greenhouse gas accumulation / air and water contamination

Instead of "destroying nature," try:
- habitat destruction / biodiversity loss / deforestation
- ecosystem collapse / species extinction

Solutions vocabulary:
- renewable energy sources (solar, wind, tidal)
- carbon taxation / cap-and-trade schemes
- international climate agreements (Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol)
- sustainable consumption patterns / circular economy

The "Responsibility" Question: A Framework

This is the trickiest type because students want to say "both are responsible," which can lead to an unfocused essay. Here's how to handle it cleanly:

Thesis: Individual action matters, but systemic change requires government intervention.

Body 1 — What individuals can do (and its limits):

"On an individual level, choices such as reducing meat consumption, using public transport, and minimising single-use plastics can collectively reduce a household's carbon footprint by up to 30%. However, the impact of individual action is constrained by structural factors — if fossil fuels are subsidised and public transport is inadequate, even motivated citizens face barriers to sustainable living."

Body 2 — Why governments must lead:

"Governments possess tools that individuals simply do not: the ability to set legally binding emissions targets, invest in renewable infrastructure, and regulate corporations that produce the majority of industrial pollution. A 2021 Carbon Disclosure Project report found that just 100 companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions — a scale of problem that only policy can address."

Connecting Phrases for Environment Essays

• "A contributing factor to this crisis is…"
• "Unless urgent action is taken…"
• "One of the most effective solutions would be to…"
• "While individual responsibility plays a role, the primary burden falls on…"
• "If left unchecked, the consequences would include…"

Practice Question

"Some people believe that it is the responsibility of individuals to protect the environment. Others believe that it is the responsibility of governments and large corporations. Discuss both views and give your own opinion."

Write 270 words. Remember: the "discuss both views" task requires you to present both sides before giving your opinion.