Use of English

Encouraging Green Habits

Governments often claim that lasting environmental progress depends not only on major industrial reform but also on the everyday choices made by ordinary citizens. For that reason, many public campaigns are designed to (0) BRING about small changes in behaviour that, taken together, can have a significant effect. Some measures rely on financial incentives, such as tax reductions for households that install insulation or switch to cleaner forms of transport. Others are intended to (1) .......... people away from wasteful habits by making greener alternatives more convenient and affordable. However, policy-makers are increasingly aware that information alone is rarely enough. Simply telling people what they should do does not always (2) .......... in meaningful action. As a result, some governments have turned to behavioural science in order to make sustainable choices seem normal rather than exceptional. Recycling, for instance, is more likely to become routine if bins are clearly labelled and easy to reach. Critics argue that such policies can (3) .......... on personal freedom, especially when penalties are introduced. Supporters, by contrast, insist that the aim is not to control private life but to (4) .......... responsibility on a wider scale. In the end, the success of any green policy may (5) .......... on public trust. If citizens believe rules are fair and effective, they are far more likely to (6) .......... with them. Without that confidence, even well-designed schemes may fail to (7) .......... off, leaving governments under pressure to come (8) .......... with better solutions.