IELTS Writing Task 2 Environment Topics: Questions, Ideas & Vocabulary
Environment prompts show up constantly in Task 2 — city air, plastic, renewables vs fossil fuels, who should fix climate change, tourism damage, food miles. When we mark these scripts, the weak ones usually do not fail because the student “knows nothing about the planet.” They fail because every body could fit any topic: Pollution is bad for the environment with no mechanism, no actor, and no answer to who should do what.
Use this page as a topic bank: pick a question, outline in five minutes, write under time, then score. Precise collocations (carbon emissions, renewable energy, sustainable policies) beat vague praise. Related theme banks: education topics · technology topics. Full Task 2 map: complete guide.
Last updated: July 25, 2026
On this page (question types, 15 prompts, vocabulary, sample outline, practice, FAQ)
Common environment question types
Task 2 is not one format. Environment prompts still fall into the usual five groups: opinion, discussion, advantages/disadvantages, problem–solution, and two-part. Identify the type before you plan — wrong template is a fast Task Response leak.
| Type | Example stem |
|---|---|
| Causes + solutions | What causes X and how can it be solved? |
| Opinion | Do you agree governments should ban plastic bags? |
| Discuss both views | Some think individuals should solve climate change; others say only governments can. |
| Advantages/disadvantages | Do benefits of nuclear energy outweigh risks? |
| Problem + effects | What problems does deforestation cause? |
Always ask who must act — individuals, companies, or governments. Many environment prompts hinge on that actor. For openings by type, see introduction paragraph examples. Structures: Task 2 structure & format.
I notice students get stuck when they treat every environment essay as “agree that pollution is serious.” One timed draft on individuals cannot improve the environment never named a workable personal action or a real limit of individual effort — so TR stayed thin even with tidy Furthermore scaffolding. After the outline forced household waste / transport choices against regulation and industrial standards, the lean finally answered the prompt instead of recycling save the planet.
15 practice questions
- Many countries are experiencing serious air pollution in cities. What are the causes and what measures can be taken?
- Some believe economic development should be prioritised over environmental protection. To what extent do you agree?
- Individuals cannot improve the environment — only governments and large companies can. Do you agree?
- Waste from households and factories is increasing. What are the causes and solutions?
- Global warming is one of the biggest threats facing the world. What causes global warming and what can be done?
- Some countries invest in renewable energy; others rely on fossil fuels. Discuss both approaches and give your opinion.
- Plastic packaging is essential for modern life. Do the advantages outweigh the environmental disadvantages?
- More people are eating food transported long distances. What are the environmental impacts and how can they be reduced?
- Water scarcity is growing in many regions. What are the causes and what solutions should governments adopt?
- Some cities charge congestion fees for cars. Is this an effective way to reduce pollution?
- Tourism can damage natural environments. How can tourism be made more sustainable?
- Should environmental crimes be punished as severely as other serious crimes?
- Some argue that vegetarian diets are necessary to protect the environment. To what extent do you agree?
- Technology will solve environmental problems without changes in lifestyle. Do you agree?
- Children should be taught environmental responsibility at school. Do you agree?
Practice method: Choose one → five-minute outline → full timed essay → free essay checker. If Task Response is soft, check whether every part of the question got real space before you chase fancier nouns.
Vocabulary and collocations
Climate and emissions
- carbon emissions / greenhouse gases
- climate change mitigation
- net-zero targets
- global temperatures are rising
Pollution and waste
- air quality deteriorates
- industrial discharge
- landfill waste / recycling rates
- single-use plastics
Energy and transport
- renewable energy sources (solar, wind)
- fossil fuel dependence
- public transport infrastructure
- low-emission zones
Conservation
- biodiversity loss
- deforestation / habitat destruction
- sustainable agriculture
- marine ecosystem damage
Policy verbs
- impose regulations / enforce standards
- incentivise green investment
- subsidise renewable projects
- penalise polluters
Band 6 trap → clearer wording
- bad for environment → harmful to ecosystems / environmentally damaging
- clean energy → renewable / low-carbon energy
- save the planet → reduce emissions / limit environmental damage (keep it plain)
Use new words only where they fit. Forced “advanced” vocabulary still lowers the score — environmentally detrimental only helps if the sentence around it is clear.
Sample outline
Question: Air pollution in cities is increasing. What are the causes and what solutions can be suggested?
This is problem–solution — both halves required. You do not need I agree.
Map: Main causes are transport emissions and industrial activity; solutions need government policy plus behaviour change.
Body 1 — Causes
- Private car use → exhaust emissions
- Factories near urban areas
- Construction dust / weak enforcement
Body 2 — Solutions
- Expand public transport; low-emission zones
- Stricter factory standards
- Individuals: cut unnecessary car trips
Conclusion: Policy plus behaviour — no new big idea in the last three lines.
Turn the outline into a full essay with structure templates. Compare with environment-related models in Band 7+ samples. Check criteria against the band descriptors guide.
How to practise these prompts
Two or three scored essays beat seven unmarked ones. Between full essays, keep short mixed work in the same sitting — outline who acts, swap vague environment words, rewrite one thin body — rather than a “vocab week” then an “essay week.” That habit matches Personalized Practice: Practices 1–15 mix drills; Practices 16–20 are timed essays; Practices 1–2 are free.
A simple loop for this bank:
- Pick question #1 or #5 (classic exam shapes)
- Write about 40 minutes, aim 280+ words
- Score TR / CC / LR / GRA on the free checker
- If TR is under 7, confirm you covered all parts (e.g. causes and solutions)
- Rewrite the weakest paragraph once — then rescore
Also useful: 20-practice study plan · other theme banks: education topics · technology topics.
Questions students ask
Do I need scientific facts for environment essays?
No. Examiners do not fact-check invented percentages. Use general, plausible examples (many cities, in several countries). From the scripts I mark, fake-precise numbers often look less trustworthy than a clear cause–effect chain.
Is environment the most common Task 2 topic?
It sits with education and technology among the themes that keep returning. Prep collocations for environment and education together — and notice both force you to name who acts.
Can I reuse this vocabulary in Speaking Part 3?
Yes — the same collocations transfer well orally. Just do not paste a written mini-essay into a short spoken answer.
What if my environment essay sounds serious but scores low on TR?
I notice that pattern when the lean is vague (pollution is crucial) and the bodies never answer the exact demand — individuals vs governments, causes vs solutions, advantages vs disadvantages. Go back to the stem, underline every part, then rebuild the outline before polishing vocabulary.
After you check your score
Most free tools stop at another band estimate. EssayGradeWise adds criterion drills inside a 20-practice plan (TR, CC, LR, GRA) so you practise the weak spot — not another full essay at random.
- Free IELTS essay checker — no login for score-only
- Try Practices 1–2 free
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