Environment_useful vocab

pollution

damage caused to water, air etc. by harmful substances or waste

extinction

a situation in which somebody no longer exists

exhaust fumes

gases ejected from an engine as waste products

nuclear waste

unwanted, dangerously radioactive material that is made when producing nuclear power

starvation

the state of having no food for a long period, often causing death

drought

a period when there is little or no rain

flood

a large amount of water covering an area

carbon footprint

the measurement of somebody's amount of carbon dioxide that their activities produce

solar panel

a device that changes energy from the sun into electricity

shortage

a situation in which there is not enough of something

endangered species

types of animals/plants which are in danger of no longer existing

global warming

steady rise in average world temperatures

deforestation

destruction/clearing of forests

pristine environments

perfectly clean/untouched/unspoilt areas

fossil fuels

coal/oil etc.

greenhouse effect

warming of the Earth's surface caused by pollution

renewable energy

energy or natural sources that are replaced naturally or controlled carefully and can therefore be used without the risk of using it all up

sewage

used water and waste substances that are produced by human bodies

fertiliser

a natural or chemical substance added to soil to make plants grow more successfully

pesticide

a chemical substance used to kill insects, small animals or other unwanted organism