Speaking Boost · C1 · Lesson 31 of 50
Speaking Boost C1 · Block 7: Environment and Responsibility

Is individual action enough?

Recycling, cycling and eating less meat help, but many people ask whether personal choices can solve a global problem. Discuss individual and collective responsibility, and learn passive reporting structures: It is estimated that…, Temperatures are expected to rise, The firm is said to have ignored the warnings.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Climate action

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. What do you do every day to protect the environment?
  2. Is recycling really useful?
  3. Would you give up flying or eating meat?
  4. Do you think governments or individuals should do more?
  5. Have you ever changed a habit because of climate change?
  6. Which green action is hardest for you?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about climate action.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. Planting trees may part of a flight's emissions by absorbing carbon elsewhere.
  2. Many experts say the problem is , built into how energy, transport and food are organised.
  3. Rising of goods and energy drives emissions upward.
  4. Coal, oil and gas are known as fuels.
  5. Wind and solar power are energy sources.
  6. Several countries made a to reach net zero by 2050.
  7. Advertising that makes a company look greener than it is is called .
  8. Fighting climate change requires action by governments, businesses and individuals together.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a carbon footprint is the amount of
    caused by a person
  2. systemic = built into the whole
  3. renewable energy can be
  4. a pledge is a serious
  5. greenwashing = making a company look
  6. collective = done by a
    together
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to report what is believed, estimated or expected.

  • It is estimated that...За оцінками,...It is estimated that transport produces a quarter of emissions.
  • It is widely believed that...Широко вважається, що...It is widely believed that action is needed.
  • Temperatures are expected to...Очікується, що температури...Temperatures are expected to rise further.
  • The firm is said to have...Кажуть, що фірма...The firm is said to have ignored warnings.
  • Glaciers are believed to be...Вважається, що льодовики...Glaciers are believed to be melting faster.
  • It has been reported that...Повідомлялося, що...It has been reported that emissions fell last year.
  • The policy is thought to have...Вважається, що політика...The policy is thought to have reduced pollution.
  • Responsibility is not only personal.Відповідальність не лише особиста.Responsibility is not only personal; it is collective.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Personal action and the planet

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Is individual action enough?

Is individual action enough? Many of us have been told to recycle, to fly less and to eat less meat. These choices matter, and it is estimated that a typical person in a wealthy country produces several times more emissions than a person in a low-income country. Yet critics argue that focusing on personal behaviour can distract from larger forces.

The idea of a personal carbon footprint is often said to have been popularised by an advertising campaign of an oil company in the early 2000s, although historians of the term disagree about its origins. A 2017 report on large producers concluded that about a hundred companies were responsible for most industrial greenhouse gas emissions since 1988, which is often used to show that the problem is systemic. Others reply that these companies sell energy that consumers and governments choose to use.

Research on personal choices points to a few high-impact actions. A well-known 2017 study suggested that living without a car, avoiding long flights and eating a plant-based diet reduce emissions much more than recycling. At the same time, individual actions are believed to spread: neighbours who see solar panels on a roof are more likely to install them.

In the end, climate scientists say that the world must cut emissions sharply this decade. Global average temperature is estimated to have risen by about 1.1 to 1.2 degrees Celsius since the late nineteenth century, and temperatures are expected to rise further unless emissions fall quickly. That needs collective action: rules, investment and fair prices on carbon.

So is individual action enough? On its own, almost certainly not. But it is often seen as a starting point, and voters and customers can push for change.

What one change could you make this year?

3.2

True or false?

  1. The text says that personal actions have no effect at all.
  2. A 2017 report linked about a hundred companies to most industrial emissions since 1988.
  3. The text says that recycling is the highest-impact personal action.
  4. Temperatures are expected to rise further if emissions do not fall.
  5. The text concludes that individual action is certainly enough.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Is it fair to blame individuals?
  2. Which actions have the biggest effect?
  3. Should governments force changes in behaviour?
  4. Can individual actions inspire others?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Passive reporting structures

With verbs like say, believe, think, estimate, expect, report, know and consider, use It is + past participle + that + clause, or Subject + is + past participle + to-infinitive. Use to be + -ing for something in progress and to have + past participle for something that happened earlier.

It is estimated that transport produces a quarter of emissions. Temperatures are expected to rise further. Glaciers are believed to be melting faster. The firm is said to have ignored warnings.

Choosing the structure

Use the It structure when the subject is long or the statement is general. Use the subject structure to focus on the person or thing. Add widely, generally or commonly to show that many people agree.

It is widely believed that action is needed. Action is widely believed to be needed. The policy is thought to have reduced pollution. It has been reported that emissions fell.

Block 7 preview

Grammar you will use in this block.

passive reporting structures (L31) · fronting for emphasis (L32) · linking devices: addition and contrast (L33) · linking devices: reason and concession (L34) · review and summarising (L35)

Common mistakes: use it is + participle + that or subject + is + participle + to-infinitive. Use to be + -ing for something in progress and to have + past participle for something earlier. ✗ It is estimating that → It is estimated that. ✗ Temperatures are expecting to rise → are expected to rise. ✗ The firm is said ignoring → is said to have ignored. ✗ Glaciers are believed melting → believed to be melting.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. It
    that transport produces a quarter of emissions.
  2. Temperatures are
    further.
  3. The company is
    ignored warnings.
  4. Glaciers are
    faster than before.
  5. It
    that emissions fell last year.
  6. The policy is
    pollution.
  7. The company is
    planning a new plant.
  8. It
    that action is needed.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. It is estimating that transport produces a quarter of emissions. →
  2. Temperatures are expecting to rise further. →
  3. The firm is said ignoring the warnings. →
  4. Glaciers are believed melting faster. →
  5. The policy is thought reducing pollution. →
  6. It reported that emissions fell. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use passive reporting structures.

  1. What is generally believed about the effect of recycling?
  2. What is expected to happen if emissions are not cut?
  3. Which company is said to be doing the most for the climate?
  4. What is estimated to be the biggest source of emissions in your country?
  5. What is thought to be the best way to cut your own emissions?
  6. What was reported in the news recently about the environment?
5

Three views and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three views on personal action

Three people discuss personal action on climate. Compare them. Who trusts individual action most? Who trusts collective action most? Whose view is closest to yours?

Person 1

Dr Haas, 50

  • Is a climate scientist
  • Says systems must change
  • Believes individuals can inspire others
  • Admits that choices are limited
Person 2

Liam, 34

  • Is a cyclist and vegan
  • Says every action counts
  • Thinks governments are too slow
  • Feels that guilt is not helpful
Person 3

Mrs Torres, 57

  • Runs a small factory
  • Says energy prices matter more than slogans
  • Is investing in solar panels
  • Worries about costs
5.2

Mini-talk: what I can do

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: describe what you do for the environment.
  3. Part 2: say whether individual action is enough (use at least three passive reporting structures).
  4. Part 3: say what governments should do.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Do you recycle?
  2. Do you try to save energy at home?
  3. How do you usually travel?
  4. Would you eat less meat?
  5. Have you changed a habit for the planet?
  6. Do you buy second-hand things?
  7. Do you feel guilty about your carbon footprint?
  8. What would be hardest to give up?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family cares about the environment?
  2. Who inspired you to make a change?
  3. Who in your life is not interested in climate change?
  4. Who should lead the fight against climate change?
  5. Who is responsible for the largest emissions?
  6. Who do you trust to explain climate science?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is it fair to ask individuals to change?
  2. Should flights be rationed?
  3. Should meat be taxed?
  4. Is guilt a good motivator?
  5. Are green choices only for the rich?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Persuading a friend

You

Speaker

A friend (your teacher) says that personal choices do not matter:
  • listen to the view
  • give a reason why they do matter
  • give a reason why systems matter
  • use passive reporting structures
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use passive reporting structures.
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. My actions make no difference.
  2. Is that really true?
  3. What should we do?
  4. I will think about it.
7.2

Debating personal action

You

Speaker

You are in a debate (your teacher):
  • state your view
  • give evidence
  • respond to an objection
  • use It is estimated that... or ... is believed to...
You do most of the talking. Use: It is estimated that... · is expected to... · is said to have...
Your teacher

Opponent

Says things like:
  1. Only companies matter.
  2. What is your evidence?
  3. But people have power.
  4. So what is the solution?
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

offsetsystemicconsumptionfossilrenewablepledgegreenwashingcollective
  1. Planting trees may part of a flight's emissions by absorbing carbon elsewhere.
  2. Many experts say the problem is , built into how energy, transport and food are organised.
  3. Rising of goods and energy drives emissions upward.
  4. Coal, oil and gas are known as fuels.
  5. Wind and solar power are energy sources.
  6. Several countries made a to reach net zero by 2050.
  7. Advertising that makes a company look greener than it is is called .
  8. Fighting climate change requires action by governments, businesses and individuals together.
H2

Choose the correct form

  1. It that the fund will grow.
  2. Prices are soon.
  3. The mayor is changed his mind.
  4. The ice is quickly.
  5. It that the plant closed.
  6. The scheme is many people.
  7. She is visiting the site.
  8. It that emissions must fall.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. It is estimated that transport produces a quarter of emissions.
  2. It is estimating that transport produces a quarter of emissions.
  3. Temperatures are expected to rise further.
  4. Temperatures are expecting to rise further.
  5. The firm is said to have ignored warnings.
  6. The firm is said ignoring warnings.
  7. Glaciers are believed to be melting faster.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. It is estimated that
  2. It is widely believed
  3. Temperatures are expected
  4. The firm is said
  5. Glaciers are believed
  6. It has been reported
  7. The policy is thought

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