C1 Course - Unit 11 - Environmental issues

Desensitized - Society is desensitized to environmental catastrophes.

A gradual loss of emotional sensitivity to shocking events

Complacent - Complacency is a major barrier to climate action.

A feeling of self-satisfaction, often while unaware of dangers or deficiencies

Short-sighted - Short-sighted policies harm long-term sustainability.

Lacking foresight or planning for the future

Apathetic - Many remain apathetic despite clear evidence of climate change.

Lacking interest or concern; indifferent

Disillusioned - Young activists are increasingly disillusioned with political inaction.

Disappointed and disillusioned by reality

Outraged - Communities are outraged over government negligence.

Extremely angry and offended

Disenfranchised - Indigenous populations are often disenfranchised in environmental decisions.

Deprived of rights or privileges

Overwhelmed - People feel overwhelmed by the scale of the climate crisis.

Feeling defeated by a large, complex problem

Cynical - There's a growing cynicism about corporate environmental promises.

Distrustful of human sincerity or integrity

Polarized - Environmental debates have become highly polarized.

Divided into opposing groups

Accelerating - Glacier melt is accelerating at an unprecedented rate.

Increasing in speed or intensity

Deteriorating - Air quality is deteriorating in major cities.

Becoming worse or declining

Exacerbate - Deforestation exacerbates the effects of climate change.

To make a problem worse

Mitigate - Efforts to mitigate climate risks must be intensified.

To make something less severe

Amplify - Rising temperatures amplify drought conditions.

To increase the strength or effect of something

Undermine - Weak policies undermine environmental progress.

To weaken or damage

Erode - Pollution erodes natural habitats.

To slowly wear away

Disrupt - Extreme weather events disrupt food supply chains.

To disturb or interrupt

Dire - The Amazon faces a dire future if deforestation continues.

Extremely serious or urgent

Bleak - The outlook for biodiversity loss is bleak.

Gloomy and without hope

Urgent - There's an urgent need for international cooperation.

Needing immediate action

Critical - Coral reefs are at a critical tipping point.

Extremely important or vital

Volatile - Climate-induced migration is creating volatile social conditions.

Unstable and likely to change quickly

Fragile - Fragile ecosystems must be protected at all costs.

Delicate and easily broken

Viable - Building large-scale solar farms is seen as a viable solution to reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Capable of working successfully

Feasible - Is large-scale reforestation still feasible?

Possible to do easily or conveniently

Holistic - A holistic approach to climate policy is essential.

Considering all factors in a situation

Innovative - Innovative farming methods can reduce emissions.

New and original

Sustainable - Sustainable urban planning is the way forward.

Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level

Tokenistic - Some corporate initiatives are merely tokenistic gestures.

Done as a symbolic gesture or to appear to comply with a rule, but without any genuine intention to make lasting changes

Pragmatic - A pragmatic approach is necessary to balance interests.

Practical and realistic

Visionary - We need visionary leadership to tackle environmental issues.

Having or showing clear ideas about the future

Disproportionate - Climate change has a disproportionate impact on the Global South.

Out of proportion to something else

Tip of the iceberg - Melting ice caps are just the tip of the iceberg.

A small visible part of a much larger problem

Face the music - We have to face the music regarding our unsustainable habits.

To acknowledge and accept the consequences

Throw caution to the wind - Ignoring environmental regulations is throwing caution to the wind.

To act recklessly or take unnecessary risks

On thin ice - Humanity is on thin ice when it comes to global warming.

To be very close to disaster

Momentum - Momentum is building for climate justice movements.

Driving force for progress or change

Setback - The cancellation of the biodiversity summit was a major setback for conservationists.

Minor reversal or obstacle

Ripple effect - Extreme weather events create a ripple effect across economies.

Small chain reaction causing broader consequences

Fallout - The environmental fallout of oil spills is devastating.

Negative consequences or side effects

At a crossroads - Humanity is at a crossroads regarding environmental policy.

A situation where you must make an important decision

Tipping point - Melting permafrost could trigger a climate tipping point.

The point where a situation changes dramatically for the worse

Open Pandora's box - Genetic modification of species could open Pandora's box.

The result of major changes causing many unpredictable effects

A drop in the ocean - Recycling one bottle feels like a drop in the ocean.

Having a small amount of impact

Irreversible damage - Deforestation is causing irreversible damage to ecosystems.

Severe damage that cannot be reversed

Phase out - Single-use plastics should be phased out globally.

Gradually stop using something

Phase in - New emissions standards will be phased in over the next decade.

Gradually introduce something new

Clamp down on - Authorities must clamp down on illegal logging activities.

Intense effort to limit illegal or harmful activities

Red flag - The collapse of bee populations is a red flag for ecosystem health.

A strong warning sign that action is needed

Ramp up - Governments are ramping up investment in green technologies.

To increase the amount or intensity of something

Fall short - Most countries are falling short of their emissions targets.

To fail to achieve a goal or standard

Drag one's feet - Governments keep dragging their feet on climate legislation.

To delay or avoid taking action

At the forefront - Young people are at the forefront of climate activism.

To be in a leading position or ahead in efforts

Back on track - We need to get back on track with our sustainability goals.

To return to a desired path or progress

Take a stand - We have to take a stand against deforestation.

To take strong action or express a clear opinion

Ticking time bomb - Climate migration is a ticking time bomb.

A serious situation that will cause problems if not dealt with

Wake-up call - Wildfires serve as a wake-up call about environmental neglect.

An event or situation that alerts people to danger

Bury their heads in the sand - Many politicians bury their heads in the sand about climate change.

To avoid dealing with a difficult situation

Pull one's weight - All countries must pull their weight in reducing emissions.

To distribute responsibilities equally

Pass the buck - Politicians often pass the buck when facing difficult climate decisions.

To shift blame or responsibility to someone else

Rock the boat - Environmental activists are willing to rock the boat to push for real change.

To disrupt a stable situation

Tread carefully - We must tread carefully when negotiating international climate agreements.

To be very cautious because the situation is risky

Tread a fine line - Leaders must tread a fine line between development and conservation.

To balance carefully between two difficult choices