Environment terms from High Band IELTS Vocabulary

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment.

Sustainable

Capable of being maintained over the long term without harming the environment. 15

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Deforestation

The action of clearing forests.

Carbon Footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by human activities.

Renewable Energy

Energy from sources that are not depleted when used, such as wind or solar power.

Erosion

The process of eroding or being eroded by wind, water, or other natural agents.

Habitat

The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organisms. 16

Greenhouse Effect

The trapping of the sun's warmth in the planet's lower atmosphere.

Pollution

The presence or introduction of contaminants into the environment causing harm.

Conservation

The preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment and wildlife.

Endangered Species

A species of animal or plant that is seriously at risk of extinction.

Recycling

The action or process of converting waste into reusable material.

Biodegradable

Capable of being decomposed by natural agents. 17

Fossil Fuels

Natural fuels such as coal or gas, formed from the remains of living organisms.

Ecology

The study of the interactions between organisms and their environment.

Global Warming

The gradual increase in the Earth's temperature due to the greenhouse effect.

Ozone Layer

A layer in the Earth's stratosphere containing a high concentration of ozone, which absorbs most of the sun's ultraviolet radiation.

Climate Change

Long-term changes in the average weather patterns over a significant period.

Overpopulation

The condition of having a population so dense as to cause environmental deterioration.

Wetlands

Areas where water covers the soil or is present at or near the surface for varying periods.

Non-Renewable Resources

Natural resources that cannot be replenished within a human timeframe.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

Hydroelectric Power

Power derived from the energy of falling or fast-running water.

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert as a result of various factors, including drought or deforestation.

Reforestation

The process of replanting an area with trees.

Compost

Organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment.

Emission

The production and discharge of something, especially gas or radiation.

Hazardous Waste

Waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that cause harm to the ecosystem into which it is introduced. 20

Landfill

A site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment.

Natural Resources

Resources that exist without any human intervention like air, water, oil, etc.

Pesticides

Chemicals used to kill pests, especially insects.

Solar Energy

Radiant light and heat from the sun that is harnessed using various technologies.

Tidal Energy

A form of hydropower that converts energy obtained from tides into useful forms, mainly electricity.

Toxic

Poisonous; of or relating to poison.

Vegetation

Plants considered collectively, especially those in a particular area or habitat.

Watershed

An area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.

Wind Energy

The use of wind to provide mechanical power through wind turbines to turn electric generators.

Acid Rain

Rainfall that has been made acidic by atmospheric pollution, causing environmental harm.

Carcinogen

A substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue. 22

Decompose

Break down or decay into constituent parts, or cause something to do this.

Drought

A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water.

Ecological Footprint

A measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems.

Eco-friendly

Not harmful to the environment.

Extinct

No longer in existence; lost or especially having died out leaving no living representatives.

IELTS Luminary

Fracking

The process of injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks to force open fissures and extract oil or gas.

Geothermal Energy

Energy derived from the heat in the interior of the Earth.

Glacier

A slowly moving mass of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles.

Greenhouse Effect

The trapping of the sun's warmth in the planet's lower atmosphere due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet's surface.

Biodiversity

The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat.

Biodegradable

Capable of being decomposed by natural biological processes.

Carbon Footprint

The total emissions caused by an individual, event, organization, or product.

Climate Change

Long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place.

Conservation

Preservation and protection of resources.

Deforestation

The action of clearing a wide area of trees.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Endangered

At risk of extinction. 25

Energy Efficiency

Using less energy to provide the same level of energy service.

Fossil Fuels

Natural fuels like coal or gas, formed from the remains of living organisms.

Global Warming

The long-term heating of Earth’s climate system due to human activities.

Habitat

The natural environment in which a species lives.

Hydroelectric Power

Electricity generated using the energy of moving water.

Non-renewable

Not able to be replaced or replenished within a human lifetime.

Ozone Layer

A layer in the Earth's stratosphere that contains a high concentration of ozone and blocks most ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Pollution

The presence or introduction of harmful substances into the environment.

Recycle

To convert waste into reusable material.

Renewable Energy

Energy collected from renewable resources, such as sunlight, wind, and rain.

Sustainability

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations.

Water Conservation

The careful management and use of water resources. 27

Wetlands

Areas where water covers the soil or is present either at or near the surface of the soil.

Wildlife

Wild animals collectively; the native fauna of a region.

Wind Turbine

A device that converts wind's kinetic energy into electrical energy.

Zero Emissions

An absence of emissions, particularly of carbon dioxide.

Eco-friendly

Not harmful to the environment.

Natural Resources

Raw materials supplied by nature.

Air Quality

The cleanliness or pollution level of the air we breathe.

Reforestation

The process of replanting an area with trees.

Solar Energy

Radiant energy emitted by the sun.

Toxic Waste

Hazardous waste material that can cause death or injury.

Urbanization

The process of making an area more urban.

Overfishing

The removal of a species of fish from a body of water at a rate that the species cannot replenish.

Pesticides

Chemicals used to kill pests, especially insects.

Afforestation

Planting trees in an area where there were none before.

Composting

The natural process of recycling organic material into a rich soil conditioner.

Geothermal Energy

Energy derived from the heat in the interior of the earth.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that cause harm to the ecosystem into which it is introduced.

Landfill

A site for the disposal of waste materials by burial.

Organic Farming

Farming without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

Overpopulation

Having too many people for the amount of food, materials, and space available.

Rainforest

A type of dense forest found in tropical areas with consistent heavy rainfall.

Recyclable

Materials that can be processed and used again.

Renewable Resource

A substance of economic value that can be replaced or replenished in the same amount or less time as it takes to draw the supply down.

Smog

Fog or haze intensified by smoke or other pollutants.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.

Veganism

The practice of abstaining from the use of animal products.

Water Cycle

The cycle of processes by which water circulates between the Earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land.

Water Pollution

The contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities.

Wind Energy

The use of wind to provide mechanical power through wind turbines to turn electric generators.