Environment Topic
Part 1 Questions
Short, personal questions. Answer directly, then add one extra sentence to extend your answer naturally.
1. Do you think people in your country care about the environment?
"To some extent, yes, particularly younger generations, though I think there is still a lot of room for improvement overall."
2. Do you try to live in an environmentally friendly way?
"I try to, yes, mainly through small habits like recycling and reducing plastic use, though I know I could still do more."
3. What environmental problems exist in your country?
"Air pollution in major cities is probably the most noticeable issue, largely caused by traffic and industrial activity."
4. Do you recycle at home?
"Yes, we sort our waste fairly consistently, since recycling collection is quite well organised where I live."
5. Is it easy to be environmentally friendly where you live?
"Reasonably, yes. There are good recycling facilities and public transport options, though sustainable products can sometimes be more expensive."
6. Do you think individuals can really make a difference to the environment?
"I believe so, especially collectively, though I also think meaningful large-scale change really requires action from governments and businesses too."
Part 2 Cue Card
You get 1 minute to prepare, then speak for up to 2 minutes.
Describe something you do to help protect the environment
You should say:
- What you do
- How often you do it
- Why you started doing it
- And explain how you think it helps
Full model answer
I'd like to talk about something fairly simple that I have been doing for the past couple of years, which is significantly reducing my use of single-use plastic.
In practice, this means carrying a reusable water bottle and shopping bags with me pretty much everywhere, and generally avoiding heavily packaged products when I have a reasonable alternative available at the supermarket. I also switched to a reusable coffee cup for my morning coffee, rather than accepting a disposable one every time.
I do this pretty much daily at this point, it has genuinely become second nature rather than something I have to consciously think about anymore. It took some adjustment in the beginning, mainly remembering to actually bring these items with me, but now I would feel strange without them.
I started doing this after watching a documentary about plastic pollution in the ocean, which honestly shocked me in a way that made the issue feel much more immediate and personal than just reading statistics ever had. It made me realise how much unnecessary plastic waste I was personally generating without really thinking about it.
As for how I think it helps, I will be honest that I know my individual impact alone is fairly small in the grand scheme of things. But I genuinely believe that small, consistent habits, especially when enough people adopt them, can add up to something meaningful, both in terms of actual waste reduction and in shifting broader social norms around what feels normal or acceptable. It has also made me generally more conscious of consumption in other areas of my life too, which I think is valuable in itself.
Part 3 Discussion
Deeper, more abstract questions. Give your opinion and explain your reasoning with an example.
1. What are the biggest environmental problems facing the world today?
Climate change is arguably the most pressing, given its far-reaching effects on weather patterns, sea levels, and ecosystems worldwide. Alongside that, deforestation, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss are also extremely serious issues that are closely interconnected with climate change itself.
2. Do you think governments or individuals bear more responsibility for protecting the environment?
I would say governments bear the greater share of responsibility, since they have the power to enforce regulations and drive large-scale change through policy. That said, individual choices still matter, both directly and in shaping the kind of collective demand that eventually influences government and corporate behaviour.
3. How can businesses be encouraged to operate more sustainably?
A combination of government regulation, financial incentives for sustainable practices, and genuine consumer demand can all push businesses towards more environmentally responsible operations. Public pressure and reputation now also play a significant role, since consumers increasingly favour environmentally conscious brands.
4. Do you think renewable energy will fully replace fossil fuels in the future?
I believe it is likely to become the dominant energy source eventually, given rapidly improving technology and falling costs, but a complete transition will probably take considerable time and require significant infrastructure investment, especially in developing countries.
5. What role does education play in tackling environmental issues?
Education is fundamental, since genuine long-term behavioural change relies on people actually understanding the consequences of their actions. Environmental education from an early age also helps normalise sustainable habits and creates a generation more likely to demand meaningful environmental action.
6. How might climate change affect future generations?
Future generations will likely face more extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and significant disruption to food and water supplies in many regions. This could also lead to increased displacement and conflict over dwindling resources, making it one of the most serious long-term challenges humanity currently faces.
Useful vocabulary for this topic
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