Climate change is a very common topic in IELTS generally and for Task 2 Writing in particular.

Read this sample answer and complete the vocabulary exercises below it in quizlet.

Check out the links to articles and videos to become more familiar with a topic that will probably come up somewhere on your IELTS test!

If you want to read another sample answer you can check out this one on Leadership.

Here are all my sample answers!

The recent questions from the IELTS writing task 2 exam are here, task 1 is here and the speaking questions and topics are here.

Be sure to avoid the mistakes that most students make on writing by signing up for my exclusive IELTS Ebooks here on Patreon.

Dave

Task 2 IELTS Sample Question

Climate change is a phenomenon that affects countries all over the world. Many people strongly believe that it is the responsibility of individuals, rather than corporations and governments, to deal with this problem.

To what extent do you agree?

Sample Answer

Climate change is a very real danger that threatens not only our lives but also the quality of life of future generations. To combat this I strongly disagree that individuals need to take responsibility because governments, in cooperation with private companies have both a greater responsibility and capacity in this matter.

Climate change cannot simply be the responsibility of private citizens because they do not have the ability to affect large systemic changes in the way that governments in conjunction with corporations do. People can only contribute in small ways; for every person who recycles there are several people who do not and there is no certain way to change this. Governments, on the other hand, can enact legislation requiring both individuals and large corporations to abide by certain restrictions. Laws for corporations are the real solution as they contribute by far the most to climate change and by reducing how much waste produced and how they treat that waste, climate change can be seriously countered.

The second reason governments should be responsible for combating climate change is that governments are responsible for global problems while individuals should only have to deal with local and personal problems. A person should only concern themselves with their job and personal life because that is the extent of their responsibility. Governments are responsible for various things related to their citizens including security, health care in some cases, and education. Included in security is the environment because it impacts citizen’s well-being; therefore this falls under the remit of governmental responsibility.

Individuals will never be able to have the effect government will and it is not their responsibility at any rate. In my opinion, governments, by taking measures to rein in corporate and private waste are taking up their rightful burden.

Analysis

Introduction: 1. Climate change is a very real danger that threatens not only our lives but also the quality of life of future generations. 2. To combat this I strongly disagree that individuals need to take responsibility because governments, in cooperation with private companies have both a greater responsibility and capacity in this matter.

1. The first sentence simply restates the topic and adds an extra detail to make it more powerful.

2. The second sentence clearly states my opinion, which necessary to get at least a Band 5 for Task Achievement.

Body Paragraph 1: 1. Climate change cannot simply be the responsibility of private citizens because they do not have the ability to affect large systemic changes in the way that governments in conjunction with corporations do. 2. People can only contribute in small ways; for every person who recycles there are several people who do not and there is no certain way to change this. 3. Governments, on the other hand, can enact legislation requiring both individuals and large corporations to abide by certain restrictions. 4. Laws for corporations are the real solution as they contribute by far the most to climate change and by reducing how much waste produced and how they treat that waste, climate change can be seriously countered.

1. The first sentence is a topic sentence that includes my main idea for the whole paragraph (governments can effect more change).

2. The second sentence further supports my main idea by pointing out that individuals will not be able to have a large impact on the environment.

3. The third sentence further supports my main idea by saying what governments can do to have a large impact.

4. The fourth sentence provides more detail about what the government can do specifically (enact legislation).

Body Paragraph 2: 1. The second reason governments should be responsible for combating climate change is that governments are responsible for global problems while individuals should only have to deal with local and personal problems. 2. A person should only concern themselves with their job and personal life because that is the extent of their responsibility. 3. Governments are responsible for various things related to their citizens including security, health care in some cases, and education. 4. Included in security is the environment because it impacts citizen’s wellbeing; therefore this falls under the remit of governmental responsibility.

1. The first sentence is a topic sentence that includes my main idea for the whole paragraph (governments are more responsible).

2. The second sentence further supports my main idea by pointing out that individuals should only have to worry about personal problems.

3. The third sentence further supports my main idea by saying that governments have many responsibilities towards their citizens.

4. The fourth sentence further supports this by saying that protecting the environment is part of the basic security the government owes to all its citizens.

Conclusion: 1. Individuals will never be able to have the effect government will and it is not their responsibility at any rate. 2. In my opinion, governments, by taking measures to rein in corporate and private waste are taking up their rightful burden.

1. The first sentence restates the main ideas from the sample answer.

2. The second sentence adds an extra detail (a solution) that is needed to get above a Band 7 for Task Achievement according to some, but not all, examiners.

Vocabulary Practice

Quizlet is one of the best websites on the internet that you are not using (unless if you are using it – then good!)

Don’t believe me? Click on the link below and use it to easily learn some high-level vocabulary from the sample answer above:

Quizlet Vocabulary Study

Climate Change Articles

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/science/climate-change/

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/07/climate-change-earth-too-hot-for-humans.html

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/kids-climate-change-case-to-go-to-trial/

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/11/the-zombie-diseases-of-climate-change/544274/

https://dustysojourner.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/slavoj-zizek-ecology-is-the-new-opiate-of-the-masses/

Climate Change Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JwhyiyN-aY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv7OHfpIRfU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zo7wTOdc_M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUKh9NWYqt8

Example Notes

Here are some notes taken by one of our students, Nguyen: (from our Instagram page)

Now it’s Your Turn! Comment below:

Should governments or individuals be more responsible for climate change?

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