作者：雅思写作组 张雨薇

Some people think that environmental problems are too big for individuals to solve. Others, however, believe that these problems cannot be solved if individuals do not take action. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Environmental crisis seems to be unprecedented in its pace and severity, presenting global threats. Some people argue that it is so big that individuals make no difference, while others believe that participation from individual citizens is essential for addressing this issue.

Those understating individuals’ roles may take the complexity of environmental concerns as their main argument. Admittedly, a variety of factors including industrialization and urbanization exacerbate the situation, and we human beings are now faced with serious problems such as increased pollution, accelerating loss of biodiversity and global warming, all of which need to be solved with official interference, sufficient financial support and advanced technology. Governments, the institutions enacting laws and collecting taxes, are generally regarded as ideal agents that could tackle these problems effectively. By contrast, average people can hardly reach a consensus on fund-raising, let alone know how to deal with environmental problems in a scientific way and ensure that everyone would behave properly. 

However, the impact that individuals make on environmental protection cannot be ignored. Firstly, human activities are the main sources of damage to the environment. The public often enjoy the convenience or make profits at the cost of the environment. For example, compared with public transport, private vehicles are always preferred, which leads to city’s crippling air pollution. And some species like pangolins are critically endangered because of illegal wildlife trade. Seen from this perspective, the crisis plaguing our planet won’t be combated if individuals do not regulate their own behavior. In addition, the effectiveness of governments’ efforts largely depends on public compliance. In other words, goals set by authorities can hardly be achieved if individuals do not follow rules. Case in point, some may risk slaughtering elephants for ivories even though it is officially banned. 

Personally, I believe that it takes collaborative efforts to deal with complex environmental problems. Definitely, the government plays leading roles for its legitimate power and resources, while endeavors of individual citizens also matter as they are main sources of damage and directly influence the effects of action taken by the government.