Environment & Climate Change

carbon footprint

the amount of carbon dioxide produced

renewable energy

energy from renewable sources that is naturally replenished, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.

climate crisis

serious problems caused by climate change

deforestation

cutting down large areas of trees

greenhouse gases

gases that trap heat in the atmosphere

biodiversity loss

decline in the variety of living things

eco-friendly

not harmful to the environment

to phase out

to gradually stop using sth

offset carbon emissions

balance the carbon produced

at the expense of

causing harm to sth else

bear the brunt of

suffer the most from sth bad

zero-emission vehicles

vehicles that don’t emit pollutants

melting polar ice caps

polar ice turning into water

devastating impact

very damaging effect

cut down on

reduce the amount of sth

contamination

the process of making something dirty or poisonous

marine ecosystem

biological community of marine organisms

solar panel

a device that changes light into electricity

habitat destruction

destroying the natural home of a species

fossil fuels

coal, oil, or gas formed from ancient plants or animals

preserve biodiversity

keep many species alive and safe

greenhouse effect

warming of the Earth due to trapped gases

ozone layer

layer of gas that protects Earth from harmful rays

exploit natural resources

use natural resources for human benefit

over-abuse of resources

using something far too much

deplete natural resources

use up supplies of natural resources

raise awareness

help people know more about an issue

log forests

cut down trees in forests

threaten natural habitats

put living areas of animals/plants in danger

tackle environmental issues

deal with environmental problems

efficacious

producing the desired result

environmentally friendly

good for the environment

biodegradable

able to decompose naturally

excessive waste

more waste than necessary

endangered species

species in danger of disappearing forever

compostable materials

materials that turn into compost

soil erosion

gradual loss of soil by water or wind

acid deposition

acid particles falling to Earth

radioactive waste

dangerous nuclear waste

illegal dumping

throwing waste in unauthorized places

overpopulation

when too many people live in an area

desertification

land turning into desert

renewable energy

energy from natural sources like sun, wind

global plastic waste crisis

serious global plastic pollution

ozone depletion

loss of ozone layer

go green

adopt environmentally friendly habits

cut down on

reduce something

wipe out

destroy completely

phase out

gradually stop using

intensive farming

farming using a lot of chemicals and machinery

heatwave

a period of unusually hot weather

drought

a long time with little or no rain

storm

very bad weather with strong wind and rain

cyclone

a violent tropical storm

wildfire

a big fire spreading in nature

flooding

water covering dry land

erosion

gradual destruction by wind or rain

landfill

a place to bury waste materials

litter

throw rubbish in public places

biodegradable packaging

packaging that can decompose naturally

man-made disaster

disaster caused by human activity

wildlife conservation

protecting wild animals

reduce the reliance on fossil fuels

use less fossil fuels

exhaust fumes

gases released from engines

urbanization

growth of cities and towns

industrialization

development of industries

construction activities

building work, especially in urban areas