IELTS Band 9 Essay About Reducing global environmental damage handled by governments
Here we take a look at a band 9 ielts writing task 2 sample about “Reducing global environmental damage handled by governments”. This sample then will be further analyzed for its vocabulary, grammar and format, so we see how it has qualified for such band score. We also suggest over 200 band 9 IELTS samples released in 2025.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Sample Answer (Band 9)
Reducing global environmental damage should be handled by governments rather than individuals.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The question of whether reducing global environmental damage should be handled by governments rather than individuals is a subject of intense debate. While individuals can play a significant role in mitigating environmental issues, I firmly believe that governments are the key drivers in addressing global environmental degradation. This essay will explore both perspectives and argue in favor of governmental responsibility.
One of the primary reasons why governments should be at the forefront of environmental protection is their ability to implement comprehensive policies that have a widespread impact. Governments are capable of passing regulatory laws that enforce environmental standards, such as carbon emissions limits, renewable energy mandates, and restrictions on deforestation. For instance, in many European countries, government policies have led to substantial reductions in pollution levels, demonstrating the effectiveness of top-down interventions. Such large-scale measures are beyond the capacity of individual efforts and require the coordinated action of multiple stakeholders, including industries and local authorities.
In contrast, while individual actions such as recycling or reducing personal carbon footprints are important, they often fall short of producing significant change. The magnitude of global environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss necessitates large-scale, systematic changes that only governments can facilitate. Individuals can certainly contribute, but their efforts are often fragmented and lack the resources and authority to drive substantial change on a global scale. Furthermore, individuals may be reluctant to make the necessary sacrifices unless governments create incentives or enforce policies that make such actions more feasible.
In conclusion, reducing global environmental damage should primarily be the responsibility of governments, as they have the power to implement effective, far-reaching policies. While individuals can contribute, without governmental intervention, the global community will struggle to overcome environmental challenges.
Academic Vocabulary in the sample for reducing global environmental damage handled by governments
- Comprehensive [ˌkɑːmˈprɛhənsɪv]
Sentence: The university offers a comprehensive program for international students. - Regulatory [ˈrɛɡjʊləˌtɔːri]
Sentence: The government has implemented regulatory measures to ensure safety in the workplace. - Coordinated [kəʊˈɔːdɪˌneɪtɪd]
Sentence: The charity organized a coordinated effort to provide aid to the victims of the earthquake. - Systematic [ˌsɪstɪˈmætɪk]
Sentence: The company is using a systematic approach to improve its customer service. - Resources [ˈriːsɔːrzɪz]
Sentence: The project requires significant resources to complete on time.
Grammar Structures:
- Relative Clauses
The sentence “Governments are capable of passing regulatory laws that enforce environmental standards” uses a relative clause (“that enforce environmental standards”) to give more information about the laws, making the sentence more specific and detailed. - Modal Verbs of Obligation
In “Governments should be at the forefront,” the modal verb “should” expresses the obligation and necessity of government involvement. This adds authority and clarity to the argument. - Passive Voice
The sentence “In many European countries, government policies have been implemented” uses the passive voice to emphasize the action (policy implementation) rather than the agent (the government), which is a common structure in academic writing. - Complex Sentences with Subordinating Conjunctions
The sentence “While individuals can play a significant role, I firmly believe that governments are the key drivers” uses the subordinating conjunction “while” to show contrast and make the sentence more nuanced, which is a typical feature of high-level writing. - Noun Phrases
The phrase “large-scale, systematic changes” uses noun phrases effectively to condense complex ideas into a concise structure, improving both readability and precision.
Why These Help Achieve a Higher Band:
- Relative Clauses and Noun Phrases help to elaborate on ideas, making the argument more precise and academically sound.
- The use of Passive Voice adds an impersonal tone, which is typical in academic writing, making the response more formal.
- Modal Verbs of Obligation demonstrate clear opinions and the strength of the writer’s argument.
- Complex Sentences with Subordinating Conjunctions show the writer’s ability to handle more intricate sentence structures, which is essential for higher band scores.
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