Environment

1. pollution – damage caused by water, air harmful substances, waste

2. pollute (verb)
3. extinct – no longer existing as an animal species
4. habitat – the natural environment of a plant, animal
5. smog – an extreme form of air pollution
6. biodiversity – variety of plants and animal life in a region
7. conservation – the act of preserving and protecting from loss, destruction or waste
8. deforestation – cutting down forests
9. endangered species – a species of plant or animal that is in danger of becoming extinct
10. (industrial) waste – poisonous unwanted material
11. toxic waste
12. domestic waste – household waste
13. fumes/emissions – gases that are produced by cars, factories that cause pollution
14. global warming – the increasing temperature of the world brought about by gases
15. contaminate – to make impure, to pollute
16. source of energy (collocation)
17. renewable energy – sources of energy such as wind power or solar power
18. natural resources – for example water, coal and gas
19. issue – problem
20. threat – sth that is a source of danger
21. be under threat – a danger that sth unpleasant might happen
22. fossil fuels – a collective term for coal, petrol and gas
23. recycling – using again
24. unleaded petrol
25. public transport
26. hybrid cars
27. ozone layer – a layer of air high above the earth which contains a lot of ozone and which
prevents harmful ultraviolet light from the sun
28. climate – the general weather condition in a particular place
29. climate change
30. disposable products – an item that is intended to be thrown after use
31. desertification – the process by which land changes into desert
32. acid rain – rain that contains large amounts of harmful chemicals as a result of burning
substances
33. wind turnibes – modern windmills used to create power from the wind
34. to litter: to throw rubbish in inappropriate places.
35. provide oxygen
36. die out (ph. v.) – become extinct
37. environmentally-friendly – behaviour and and products that do not harm the environment
38. environmetal awareness – understanding and being conscious about environmet
39. poaching – to hunt and kill animals illegally
40. air quality
41. consistent lack of rainfall
42. shortage of fresh drinking water
43. extreme temperature
44. preserve – to keep sth in its original state
45. pesticide – a chemical that is sprayed on crops to stop insects from destroying them
46. throw away (ph. v) – to get rid of sth you don`t want
 47. freeze over (ph. v) – turn into ice
48. wipe out – destroy sth completely Whole villages were wiped out by the flood (árviz).
49. cut down – kill trees
50. run out of – finish the supply of sth
51. dry up – (river or lake) lose all its water
52. go green (idiom) -to adopt an environmentally friedly lifestyle
53. a green belt – an area of land around large cities where no buildings are allowed in order to
protect the environment
54. bring someone down-to-earth – to help someone face reality

Questions

1. Are there environmental problems in your country?

2. What can you do to protect the environment?
3. Why is it important to have green areas in big cities?
4. What is the greatest threat to the Earth today?
5. Should people who litter be fined? How much is an appropriate fine?
6. Do you recycle? If so, what kinds of things do you recycle?
7. Do you try to buy environmentally friendly products? If so, please give some examples.
8. What is global warming?
9. Who is more responsible for pollution, individual or the government?
10. Are young people in your country taught to save energy or to protect their local
environment?
11. Do you think it is easier to learn about the environment when you are a child or when you
are older?
12. Do you think people should be encouraged to use public transport more?
13. Have you seen a television programme about the natural world lately?

Environmental Problems

 destruction of the rainforests (deforestation)

 melting of the icecaps
 extinction of many species (loss of biodiversity)
 destruction of the ozone layer
 global warming / the “greenhouse effect”
 rising sea levels
 pollution of land, sea and air
 increase of natural disasters eg, earthquakes, landslides, floods

Causes of Environmental Problems

 excessive emissions of greenhouse gases, eg carbon dioxide

 chemical and industrial waste
 emissions from cars and planes
 improper dumping of household waste
 overuse of non-renewable fossil fuels
 genetic modification
 over-consumption
 over-urbanisation
Solutions to Environmental Problems

 recycling
 using renewable sources of energy, eg solar heating, wind-farms
 replanting trees
 cutting carbon emissions
 cleaner waste disposal
 sustainable consumption and development
 buying products with less packaging
 buying organic products
 buying products made from recycled material / renewable sources
 using natural remedies as alternative medicine

Useful linkers for explaining cause & effect

 caused by
 due to
 because of
 as a result of

 leads to
 results in
 causes

http://ielts-up.com/speaking/ielts-speaking-vocabulary-environment.html

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/vocabulary-lesson-environment.php

https://www.englishclub.com/reading/environment/

https://www.ieltsspeaking.co.uk/ielts-vocabulary/

https://www.eslbuzz.com/phrasal-verbs-environment-health/