The Question
Some people think that individuals can do very little to reduce climate change and that it is governments and large corporations that must act. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
How to approach this question
State your position clearly in the introduction. Devote both body paragraphs to supporting your view with specific examples and reasoning. Avoid sitting on the fence — examiners reward a clear, consistent position.
Climate change is widely regarded as the defining challenge of the 21st century, yet there is genuine disagreement about who bears the primary responsibility for addressing it. I largely agree that systemic change driven by governments and corporations is more decisive than individual action, though personal choices also play a meaningful role.
The case for institutional responsibility is compelling. Energy, transport, and industrial systems — which account for the vast majority of global greenhouse gas emissions — are built and maintained by corporations and regulated by governments. An individual cannot single-handedly decarbonise the electricity grid, retire coal-fired power stations, or accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles at scale. Only coordinated policy instruments — carbon pricing, building efficiency standards, and subsidies for renewable energy — can drive the wholesale infrastructure transformation that stabilising the climate requires. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change consistently emphasises that national-level commitments under frameworks like the Paris Agreement are essential to limiting warming to 1.5°C.
Nevertheless, dismissing individual action entirely would be a mistake. Consumer choices cumulatively shape markets: growing demand for plant-based foods, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient appliances has accelerated private investment in these sectors far beyond what regulation alone achieved. More importantly, individuals who adopt sustainable habits tend to support political leaders and businesses committed to environmental action, creating a feedback loop between personal values and systemic change.
In conclusion, while individual choices matter, the structural nature of climate change means that government legislation and corporate accountability remain far more decisive in determining outcomes. Personal responsibility should be encouraged but never presented as a substitute for the institutional action that the scale of the problem demands.
269+ words · Targets Band 7.5
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