Plastic in the oceans: IELTS essay ideas

Plastic pollution in the oceans is a major environmental threat. Some people say that only governments can solve it, but I only partly agree: governments must lead, yet individuals also have an important role.

Governments have powers that nobody else possesses. They can ban single-use items such as plastic bags and straws, require manufacturers to use recycled materials and fund modern waste collection. Rwanda's strict ban on plastic bags, for example, has made its cities noticeably cleaner. Because much ocean plastic comes from rivers and coastal towns with poor waste systems, large-scale investment in infrastructure is essential, and only public money can pay for it. International agreements are also needed, since plastic drifts across borders and no single country can protect the sea alone.

Nevertheless, individuals should not be dismissed. The plastic that ends up in the sea starts as ordinary litter and unwanted packaging, so everyday habits matter. People who bring their own bottles and shopping bags, sort their rubbish carefully and join beach clean-ups reduce the amount of waste directly. Consumers also hold influence through their purchases: when shoppers choose products with less packaging, companies respond, often faster than the law does. Public attitudes also shape politics, because governments tend to act when voters demand it.

On balance, however, individual action alone is far too small to address a problem of this size. It works best when laws and facilities make the sustainable option the easy one.

In conclusion, governments are the main drivers of any real solution, but their efforts will succeed only if citizens change their behaviour and support the policies. I therefore believe that cooperation, not government action alone, is the answer.