environment

Climate change

Changes in the Earth's weather patterns.

Acid rain

Rain that contains dangerous chemicals because of smoke from cars and factories.

Industrial waste

Damaged, defective, or superfluous material produced by industry.

Urbanization

The process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin living and working in central areas.

Biodegradable

Capable of being slowly destroyed and broken down into very small parts by natural processes, bacteria, etc.

Environmentalist / Environmental activist

A person who works to protect the natural world from pollution and other threats.

Natural disaster

A sudden and terrible event in nature (such as a hurricane, tornado, or flood) that usually results in serious damage and many deaths.

Hybrid cars

Cars in which two or more distinct types of power, such as an internal combustion engine and electric motor, are used.

Fertilizers

A substance (such as manure or a special chemical) that is added to soil to help the growth of plants.

Rainforest

A tropical forest that receives a lot of rain and that has very tall trees.

Chemicals

Substances obtained by a chemical process or producing a chemical effect.

Sustainable agriculture

The act of farming based on an understanding of ecosystem services, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment.

Adverse environmental effects

Abnormal, harmful, or undesirable impact on the environment.

Climate change mitigation

Actions to limit the magnitude or rate of long-term climate change.

Emissions

Substances discharged into the air (as by a smokestack or an automobile engine).

Exhaust fumes

Gases ejected from an engine as waste products.

To conserve energy

Use energy carefully in order to prevent loss or waste.

Toxic

Containing poisonous substances.

To recycle

To send used newspapers, bottles, cans, etc. to a place where they are made into something new.

The 3 Rs concept

Reducing, reusing, recycling.

Fossil fuels

Developed over millions of years, now available as coal, oil, and natural gas.

Landfill

An area of land that is used to dispose of waste.

Contamination

The presence of unwanted or foreign substances; may be natural or caused by human activities.

Endangered species

Those considered to be at risk of extinction.

Biodiversity

The variety of all living things on Earth, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.