The environment and climate
Words and collocations for environmental problems and solutions, from emissions and pollution to renewable energy, as used in the news and in essays.
When you need it
This is the vocabulary of news reports, school projects and one of the most common topics in B2 and C1 exams, both in essays and in speaking. You need it to understand an article about a heatwave, to discuss what a city should do about traffic, and to write a balanced opinion essay. At this level single words are not enough: examiners look for natural collocations such as cut emissions or tackle climate change, and this lesson focuses on them.
Core words
The problems. Environment takes the when it means the natural world around us: protect the environment. Climate /ˈklaɪmət/ is the usual weather of a region over many years; the weather is what happens today.
| Word | Note | Example |
|---|---|---|
| pollution | uncountable; air, water, noise pollution | Air pollution is a serious problem in big cities. |
| emission | usually plural: emissions of a gas | Transport is a major source of emissions. |
| greenhouse | greenhouse gases, the greenhouse effect | Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. |
| warming | global warming | Global warming is melting the ice. |
| drought | /draʊt/, a long period without rain | The drought destroyed the harvest. |
| flood | /flʌd/, noun and verb | The river flooded the town. |
| wildfire | a fire that spreads over land | Wildfires are becoming more frequent. |
| deforestation | cutting down forests | Deforestation destroys animals' homes. |
| habitat | the natural home of an animal or plant | Many species are losing their habitat. |
| extinction | adjective extinct | The species is close to extinction. |
| endangered | at risk of disappearing | The tiger is an endangered animal. |
| species | /ˈspiːʃiːz/, same form in singular and plural | This species lives only on one island. |
Causes and energy.
| Word | Note | Example |
|---|---|---|
| fossil fuel | coal, oil and gas; usually plural | We still depend on fossil fuels. |
| coal | uncountable | The town's last coal mine closed years ago. |
| carbon | carbon dioxide, often written CO2 | Trees absorb carbon dioxide. |
| renewable | can be replaced naturally | Renewable energy is getting cheaper. |
| solar | from the sun: solar panels, solar power | They put solar panels on the roof. |
| nuclear | /ˈnjuːkliə/ | Nuclear power produces very little carbon. |
| footprint | carbon footprint: the carbon your life produces | Flying increases your carbon footprint. |
Word families help you vary your writing and avoid repeating the same noun. From environment you get the adjective environmental (environmental problems) and the phrase environmentally friendly. From pollute you get pollution, polluted and polluter. From sustainable you get the noun sustainability. In an essay, a sentence such as pollution is increasing can become the air is becoming more polluted.
Solutions.
| Word | Note | Example |
|---|---|---|
| recycle | We recycle glass, paper and plastic. | |
| waste | uncountable; rubbish in British, garbage or trash in American | Too much household waste ends up in landfill. |
| plastic | uncountable as a material | Single-use plastic is being banned. |
| sustainable | can continue without damaging the planet | We need more sustainable transport. |
| conservation | protection of nature | She works in wildlife conservation. |
| biodiversity | the variety of living things in an area | Pesticides reduce biodiversity. |
Useful phrases
These collocations are what make a B2 text sound natural. Learn them as whole units.
- cut / reduce emissions The country has promised to cut emissions by half by 2035.
- tackle climate change Deal with a difficult problem: Governments must work together to tackle climate change.
- switch to renewable energy Many companies are switching to renewable energy.
- contribute to global warming Cattle farming contributes to global warming.
- be at risk of extinction Around a million species are at risk of extinction.
- raise awareness of The campaign aims to raise awareness of plastic waste.
- phase out Stop using something gradually: Petrol cars will be phased out.
- a rise in temperatures / sea levels A small rise in sea levels threatens coastal cities.
- take action It is time to take action, not just make promises.
Common mistakes
- ✗ The ecology in our city is very bad.
✓ The environment in our city is very polluted. / Air quality in our city is poor.
Ukrainian and Russian екологія / экология often means the state of nature, but English ecology is the science that studies living things and their environment. - ✗ The nature suffers from pollution.
✓ Nature suffers from pollution.
Used in the general sense, nature takes no article in English, like society or life. - ✗ The government must make measures.
✓ The government must take measures. / The government must take action.
Ukrainian вжити заходів and Russian принять меры suggest make or accept, but the English collocation is take measures. - ✗ The panda is an endangered specie.
✓ The panda is an endangered species.
Species ends in -s in the singular too; specie is a different, rare word meaning coins. - ✗ Factories throw out emissions into the air.
✓ Factories release emissions into the air. / Factories produce emissions.
Russian выбросы and Ukrainian викиди come from the verb for throwing, but English says release, produce or emit gases.
Try it
- Many countries have promised to ___ their emissions by half. (зменшити / сократить)
- The government must ___ action on air pollution.
- The snow leopard is an endangered ___.
- Solar and wind power are ___ sources of energy.
- A long period with no rain is called a ___.
- The campaign wants to raise ___ of plastic waste.