IELTS Task 2: The Importance of Environmental Protection – Band 6-9

Introduction

Environmental topics appear regularly in IELTS Writing Task 2 because they test your ability to discuss global issues, evaluate solutions, and present a clear position. Mastering this theme prepares you for a wide range of prompts, from international cooperation to the roles of individuals, governments, and corporations. In this lesson, you will learn how to handle environmental questions with confidence. You will see three complete sample essays (Band 5-6, 6.5-7, and 8-9), examiner-style band analyses, high-value vocabulary and grammar structures, and practical checklists to improve your timing and cohesion.

Verified past questions on this topic include:

• “Some people believe that individuals can do little to improve the environment; only governments and large companies can make a real difference. To what extent do you agree or disagree?” (featured on IELTS Liz; reported by IELTS-Blog)
• “Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say there are more important environmental problems.” (Cambridge IELTS 13)
• “Environmental problems are too large for individual countries to solve. In your opinion, is international cooperation essential to address these issues?” (reported by IELTS-Blog; discussed on IELTS Liz)

For readers who want a practical angle on daily actions, you can also explore how personal habits reduce emissions in The importance of carbon footprint reduction: internal_link: The importance of carbon footprint reduction.

1. Question & Analysis – The importance of environmental protection

Some people believe that individuals can do little to improve the environment; only governments and large companies can make a real difference. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

• Question type: Opinion (Agree/Disagree). You must present a clear position and sustain it throughout.
• Requirements: Address the claimed limitation of individuals and the influence of governments/corporations. Provide reasons, examples, and a logical structure.
• Key terms:
  • “Improve the environment”: reduce pollution, conserve biodiversity, mitigate climate change, manage waste, transition to clean energy.
  • “Real difference”: measurable, scalable outcomes (laws, infrastructure, corporate supply chains).
• Common pitfalls:
  • Sitting on the fence with no clear stance.
  • Listing environmental problems without linking to the question’s focus on “who makes a difference.”
  • Using vague examples or global claims without logic.
• Strategic approach:
  • Take a nuanced position (e.g., both matter but at different scales).
  • Use a two-pronged structure: Paragraph 1 for systemic power (policy, investment), Paragraph 2 for individual leverage (consumption, voting, social norms).
  • Add specific examples relevant to your context (e.g., single-use plastic bans, solar subsidies, household recycling).

To broaden your perspective on species and habitat, see how conservation links to exam topics in The importance of preserving wildlife: internal_link: The importance of preserving wildlife.

Student planning IELTS Task 2 environmental essay with mind map

2. Band 8-9 Sample Essay

Band 8-9 essays present a decisive position, sophisticated organization, precise vocabulary, and a high degree of grammatical control.

Essay (298 words)
In debates about environmental stewardship, it is often claimed that only governments and large corporations can deliver meaningful results. While their regulatory and financial power is undeniable, individuals exert catalytic influence that policymakers and firms cannot ignore.

At scale, governments set binding rules—from emissions targets to fuel standards—that reshape entire markets. When authorities tie public procurement to low-carbon criteria or subsidise home retrofits, they unlock investment that households could never mobilise alone. Similarly, corporations control energy-intensive supply chains; a single retailer’s demand for recyclable packaging can transform manufacturing norms across borders. These levers demonstrate why systemic actors are indispensable.

Yet, it is a mistake to underestimate individual agency. Consumer choices determine which products flourish; the rapid rise of plant-based alternatives and refill stores was not decreed by ministers, but pulled through by millions of purchases. Voters also pressure leaders: when urban residents demand cleaner air, mayors accelerate electric bus fleets and congestion pricing. Even small-scale actions—separating food waste, installing LEDs—aggregate into measurable reductions when adopted widely. Crucially, citizens pioneer social norms: once single-use plastic became socially unacceptable, legislation followed, not the other way around.

Therefore, the premise that individuals “can do little” is flawed. A pragmatic model recognises complementary roles: governments create the legal architecture; companies operationalise solutions; and individuals both finance and legitimise the transition through daily behaviour and the ballot box. If any one actor abdicates responsibility, progress stalls. When all three act in concert, environmental protection becomes unavoidable rather than aspirational.

Band Score Analysis

Criteria	Band	Justification
Task Response	9	Clear stance; fully addresses both sides; well-chosen examples; insightful conclusion.
Coherence & Cohesion	8.5	Logical two-pronged structure; strong topic sentences; cohesive devices are varied and natural. Minor density of ideas per paragraph.
Lexical Resource	8.5	Precise lexis (retrofits, procurement, legitimise, catalytic); accurate collocations; no awkward phrasing.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	8.5	Flexible complex structures, participle phrases, and parallelism; virtually error-free.

Why it excels (examples)

• Strong thesis: “individuals exert catalytic influence.”
• Clear topic sentences signposting government/corporate vs individual roles.
• High-level collocations: “binding rules,” “operationalise solutions,” “legal architecture.”
• Concrete policy examples: congestion pricing, electric bus fleets.
• Cohesive summary framing “complementary roles.”
• Precise hedging: “indispensable,” “at scale,” “aggregate into measurable reductions.”

For an industry-specific case study that mirrors policy–consumer dynamics, compare with The importance of ethical fashion in reducing environmental damage: internal_link: importance of ethical fashion in reducing environmental damage.

Annotated high-scoring IELTS environmental essay page

3. Band 6.5-7 Sample Essay

Band 6.5-7 essays are well-structured with a clear position, reasonable development, and mostly accurate language, though less sophisticated and with occasional lapses.

Essay (262 words)
Some people argue that only governments and big companies can protect the environment effectively. I partly agree because they control laws and investment, but ordinary people still play an important role in daily life and politics.

On the one hand, the state can pass strict rules that change national behaviour. For example, when a city bans old diesel cars or increases taxes on polluting factories, emissions fall faster than if individuals simply try to recycle more. Likewise, large firms can switch to renewable energy at scale and reduce packaging across thousands of stores, which is far beyond the capacity of a single household. These actions show why powerful institutions are essential.

On the other hand, individuals influence the system in several ways. Consumer demand pushes companies to offer greener products; if many shoppers choose reusable bags and local food, businesses will follow the money. People also elect leaders who promise clean air and public transport, so politicians have to respond. Finally, small actions add up. While one family’s solar panel is limited, a million rooftops can cut national electricity demand.

In conclusion, governments and corporations have the biggest tools, but citizens are not powerless. The best results come when all sides move in the same direction: leaders set fair rules, companies implement them efficiently, and people make smart choices that reward sustainability.

Band Score Analysis

Criteria	Band	Justification
Task Response	7	Clear position with balanced development and relevant examples. Some ideas could be more specific.
Coherence & Cohesion	7	Logical progression; standard linking; paragraphing is clear though transitions are sometimes predictable.
Lexical Resource	6.5	Adequate range; some repetition (e.g., “companies,” “people”); mostly accurate collocations.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	7	Mix of simple and complex sentences; minor errors or plain structures in places.

Direct comparison with Band 8-9

• Thesis: 8-9 “individuals exert catalytic influence” vs 7 “I partly agree…” (less vivid, more generic).
• Examples: 8-9 “congestion pricing, public procurement” vs 7 “taxes on polluting factories” (broader).
• Collocations: 8-9 “legal architecture, operationalise” vs 7 “biggest tools, smart choices” (simpler).
• Cohesion: 8-9 uses parallelism and strategic hedging; 7 relies on standard transitions.

4. Band 5-6 Sample Essay

Band 5-6 essays address the task but have limited development, noticeable language errors, and repetitive or unclear ideas.

Essay (256 words)
Many people think normal citizens cannot do anything about environment, and only government and giant companies can change things. I disagree partly, but my view is not completely clear because it depends that what country we talk about.

Firstly, governments have power to make laws. They should ban plastic completely and punish hard, then pollution will stop. Big companies also can change quickly because they have money, they can build solar energy very fast and make every product eco-friendly. If these two actors act, the result is fast and strong.

However, individuals are important too. People should buy green things and don’t waste water, this will save the planet many problems. Also, if citizens protest a lot, government must listen them. In some places, people even clean the beach every weekend and plant a lot of trees, which is good but it cannot solve every problems.

In summary, government and companies is more stronger for environmental protection, but people are helping too. We need all of them works together to make the world green again.

Band Score Analysis

Criteria	Band	Justification
Task Response	6	Addresses the question but offers limited, sometimes simplistic development and unclear stance at start.
Coherence & Cohesion	5.5	Basic paragraphing; some run-ons and repetitive ideas; cohesion is mechanical.
Lexical Resource	5.5	Frequent repetition; imprecise or awkward collocations (“punish hard,” “make every product eco-friendly”).
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	5.5	Noticeable errors in agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries; some fragments and run-ons.

Learning from Mistakes

Mistake	Error Type	Correction	Explanation
it depends that what country	Grammar (structure)	it depends on which country	“Depend on” + which-clause is required.
They should ban plastic completely and punish hard	Collocation/Adverb	They should introduce strict plastic bans and impose heavy penalties	Natural collocations for legal context.
they can build solar energy very fast	Word choice	they can build solar plants very quickly	“Solar energy” is not something you build; “plants” or “facilities” is correct.
government and companies is more stronger	Agreement/Comparative	governments and companies are stronger	Plural subject; comparative without “more” when using “stronger.”
We need all of them works together	Grammar (verb form)	We need all of them to work together	Infinitive form after “need.”

How to improve from Band 6 to 7

• Clarify your stance in the introduction and return to it in the conclusion.
• Replace vague claims with specific policy or product examples.
• Use accurate academic collocations (impose penalties, enact legislation, transition to renewables).
• Fix sentence boundaries; prefer two concise sentences over a long run-on.

5. Essential Vocabulary for The importance of environmental protection

Word/Phrase	Type	Pronunciation	Definition	Example and Collocations
environmental stewardship	n	ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmɛntl ˈstuːwədʃɪp	responsible management of natural resources	Corporate environmental stewardship can reduce lifecycle emissions.
binding regulations	n	ˈbaɪndɪŋ ˌrɛgjʊˈleɪʃənz	laws that must be obeyed	Governments introduce binding regulations on vehicle emissions.
public procurement	n	ˈpʌblɪk prəˈkjʊəmənt	government purchasing of goods/services	Green public procurement favours low-carbon materials.
decarbonise	v	diːˈkɑːbənaɪz	reduce carbon emissions from activities	Cities decarbonise transport via electric bus fleets.
lifecycle emissions	n	ˈlaɪfsaɪkl ɪˈmɪʃənz	total emissions from production to disposal	Measuring lifecycle emissions informs better design.
congestion pricing	n	kənˈdʒɛstʃən ˈpraɪsɪŋ	charging drivers to reduce traffic	Congestion pricing cuts pollution and funds transit.
aggregate	v	ˈægrɪgeɪt	combine into a total	Small actions aggregate into national savings.
legitimate/legitimise	v	lɪˈdʒɪtɪmeɪz	make acceptable or official	Public support legitimises ambitious climate policy.
impose penalties	v phrase	ɪmˈpəʊz ˈpɛnəltiz	apply punishments or fines	Authorities impose penalties for illegal dumping.
enact legislation	v phrase	ɪˈnækt ˌlɛdʒɪsˈleɪʃən	make a new law	Parliament enacted legislation to phase out coal.
transition to renewables	v phrase	trænˈzɪʃən tuː rɪˈnjuːəblz	shift to renewable energy sources	Utilities transition to renewables to stabilise costs.
scalable solutions	n	ˈskeɪləbəl səˈluːʃənz	solutions that work at larger sizes	We need scalable solutions for waste management.
moreover / furthermore	linker	mɔːˈrəʊvə / ˈfɜːðəˌmɔː	add information	Moreover, public awareness accelerates change.
not only… but also…	linker	nɒt ˈəʊnli… bʌt ˈɔːlsəʊ	emphasize two points	Policies not only cut emissions but also create jobs.
mitigate / alleviate	v	ˈmɪtɪgeɪt / əˈliːvɪeɪt	reduce the severity of	These measures mitigate urban air pollution.

For learners interested in environmental justice perspectives, consider how community rights connect with resource conservation in The need for indigenous rights protection: internal_link: The need for indigenous rights protection.

6. High-Scoring Sentence Structures

1. Complex subordination

• Formula: Although/While + clause, main clause
• Example: While their regulatory and financial power is undeniable, individuals exert catalytic influence.
• Why it scores well: Balances two ideas and clarifies stance.
• Additional examples:
  • Although industrial policy drives scale, consumer demand sustains it.
  • While recycling is helpful, upstream design changes matter more.
• Common mistake: Using “despite” followed by a clause (use “despite + noun/gerund”).

2. Non-defining relative clauses

• Formula: Noun, which/whose + clause, main clause
• Example: Corporations control supply chains, which can transform manufacturing norms across borders.
• Why: Adds precise, non-essential information smoothly.
• Additional examples:
  • Carbon pricing, which internalises external costs, shifts investment.
  • Rooftop solar, whose costs have fallen, is now competitive.
• Mistake: Omitting commas around non-defining clauses.

3. Participle phrases

• Formula: V-ing/ed phrase, main clause
• Example: Aggregating small actions across households, nations can cut demand.
• Why: Concise cause-effect linking.
• Additional examples:
  • Driven by consumer pressure, firms reduced plastic.
  • Investing in transit, cities improved air quality.
• Mistake: Dangling participles that do not modify the subject.

4. Cleft sentences (It is/What… is…)

• Formula: It is/was + focus + that + clause
• Example: It is the combination of policy and behaviour that makes change unavoidable.
• Why: Emphasises the key element of your argument.
• Additional examples:
  • What matters most is enforcement, not announcements.
  • It is consumer loyalty that rewards greener brands.
• Mistake: Overusing clefts; use sparingly for emphasis.

5. Advanced conditionals

• Formula: If + present, modal + base; If + were to, would + base
• Example: If any one actor abdicates responsibility, progress stalls.
• Why: Shows logical consequences clearly.
• Additional examples:
  • If subsidies targeted insulation, bills would fall.
  • If cities were to price congestion, commuters would shift modes.
• Mistake: Mixing tenses inconsistently within the conditional.

6. Inversion for emphasis

• Formula: Only when/Not until + clause + auxiliary + subject + verb
• Example: Only when policy, markets, and citizens align do emissions fall rapidly.
• Why: Advanced, emphatic structure demonstrating control.
• Additional examples:
  • Not until standards tightened did air quality improve.
  • Rarely have voters been so united on clean energy.
• Mistake: Forgetting subject–auxiliary inversion after the fronted phrase.

Mind map of high-scoring grammar for IELTS Task 2

7. Self-Assessment Checklist

Before writing

• Identify the question type (opinion/problem/advantages) and underline keywords.
• Decide your position in one sentence and think of 2 main reasons with specific examples.
• Note topic vocabulary and 2-3 advanced structures you will use.

While writing

• Start with a clear thesis and topic sentences.
• Use one central idea per paragraph; support with logic and a concrete example.
• Vary linking: moreover, consequently, by contrast, not only…but also.

After writing

• Check for off-topic sentences and repetition; cut or replace them.
• Circle verbs and check tense/subject agreement; fix article/preposition errors.
• Ensure a concluding sentence restates your stance and synthesises key points.

Time management tips

• Plan 5-6 minutes; write 30 minutes; check 4-5 minutes.
• If stuck, write the example first, then build the topic sentence around it.
• Aim for 270–310 words for clarity without rushing.

Conclusion

The importance of environmental protection makes this topic a reliable guest in IELTS Task 2 and an excellent opportunity to show mature reasoning. You learned how to interpret common prompts, structure nuanced arguments, and write at Bands 5-6, 6.5-7, and 8-9 with clear examples, accurate vocabulary, and advanced grammar. Progress comes from consistent practice: rewrite the Band 6 essay toward Band 7 using the structures above, then model your next attempt on the Band 8-9 sample. A realistic timeline is 4–8 weeks of guided practice to move half a band, depending on feedback and reading.

If you care about social dimensions of sustainability, you may find useful parallels in The importance of human rights protection: internal_link: The importance of human rights protection. Share your own essay attempts, compare them with the scoring tables here, and iterate. Keep your planning disciplined, your examples specific, and your language precise—the score will follow.