Language Hub – unit 6.2 English Vocabulary in Use – units 28 and 33 English Collocations in Use – unit 31

(reduce our )carbon footprint

amount of carbon dioxide created by a person/business

absolutely vital

essential

alternative energy sources

a source of energy other than the burning of a fossil fuel, e.g. solar heating

ancestors

relatives from earlier times: we are our ancestors' descendants

arid

dry

at the forefront

in an important position

biodiversity

variety of different types of biological species

carbon (dioxide) emissions

carbon dioxide gas from factories, cars, etc.

cereals

type of grass cultivated to produce a grain, e.g. a food plant like rice, wheat or maize

changing weather patterns

increasing severity and frequency of storms, flooding, droughts

climate change sceptics

people who do not believe that climate change is a serious issue

Climatic Changes

changes in weather/climate

coniferous

trees that are evergreen and produce cones

contaminating

poisoning (something)

crave uncharted territory

to strongly desire experiences, situations, or challenges that are completely new, unfamiliar, or unexplored

cut your teeth on sth

to get your first experience of doing something and learn the basic skills

damage

to harm

deciduous (trees)

lose their leaves in winter

demographic projections

forecasts about the population

dense

Closely packed together; thick

depleting resources

resources that are reducing

developed

with a modern, industrial economy

developing

describes a country that is poor and does not have a modern, industrial economy

dire consequences

extremely serious

disposal of

the act or means of getting rid of something

Disposal of household waste

the process of getting rid of household waste

drought

long period without rain

to dump toxic waste

to throw away poison from factory/business

easier said than done

more difficult than you think

eco--friendly design

environmentally friendly design, ecologically friendly design

ecological balance

balance of natural relationships in the environment

emigrant

someone who leaves a country

engineered species

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

environmental catastrophe

environmental disaster

evergreen

in leaf all year around, e.g. trees

exert (severe) pressure on

put great pressure on; formal

fall by the wayside

not be successful or effective any longer; fail to make it

finite resources

limited resources that will eventually run out/be exhausted

food miles

distance food has to travel between where it is grown or made and where it is consumed

fossil fuels

coal, oil, etc.

generate

produce/create

get the scoop on sth

To obtain the most current details or information about someone or something

Global Reach

The technology reaches across national boundaries, around Earth

global warming

steady rise in average world temperatures

green credentials

reputation for positive support of the environment and for making policies that reflect this

green taxes

taxes relating to the protection of the environment

greenhouse effect

warming of the Earth's surface caused by pollution, where resources that will eventually run out/be exhausted

grow exponentially

grow extremely rapidly

harmful to the environment

damaging to the environment

household waste

waste or garbage created through household activities

hybrid car

a car can alternate between different energy sources (e.g. petrol and battery)

immigrant

someone who moves to live in a country

in the face of seemingly indomitable odds

confronting massive, terrifying, or near-impossible challenges that look like they cannot possibly be beaten, yet continuing to push forward anyway

indigenous (tribes)

existing naturally in that place

inquisitive mind

curious

Instant Gratification

the desire or tendency to experience pleasure, satisfaction, or a reward immediately, without waiting or working hard for it

introduce green taxes

financial levies imposed by governments on activities, products, or services that harm the environment

irreversible climate change

irreversible damage, change etc is so serious or so great that you cannot change something back to how it was before

jet off to

to go by an airplane to a destination

to look further afield

expanding one's search or consideration beyond immediate options.

manufacturing

producing foods in large numbers

migrants

people who move to live in another country or another part of their own country (often for reasons of economic need)

mixed, temperate forests

forests and woodlands dominated by broad-leaved deciduous or mixed with needle-leaved tree growth forms

offset carbon emissions

pay for an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide to be saved elsewhere

offshore (wind farms)

at sea, away from the coast

oil supplies run dry

If an oil well runs dry, it no longer produces any oil.

paddy fields

fields planted with rice growing in water

polar ice melting

the physical process where frozen water—such as glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice—at Earth's North and South Poles transitions from a solid state into liquid water due to rising global air and ocean temperatures

prairies

flat grasslands in Canada and northern USA (similar to steppes in Asia or pampas in South America)

precious commodity

very valuable substance

pristine environments

perfectly clean/untouched/unspoilt area

prone to

tending to have a particular negative characteristic

prophets of doom and gloom

people who always make the most depressing or pessimistic predictions about the future

public health

the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, communities, and individuals

rainfall

the amount of rain that falls, for example in a month or in a year

recycle waste

to collect and treat rubbish to produce useful materials which can be used again.

reduce food miles

decreasing the distance that food travels from where it is grown or produced to where it is consumed

reduce your carbon footprint

decrease the total amount of greenhouse gases—especially carbon dioxide—released into the atmosphere by your daily activities, lifestyle, or consumption

remote Pacific Island

an island in the Pacific Ocean that is far away from major continents, cities, and shipping lanes, making it very difficult and time-consuming to reach.

renewable energy

a resource that can be replaced when needed; energy produced using sun, wind, or crops rather than coal or other fuels which cannot be replaced once used;

rising sea levels

(n) the increased height of the level of seas and oceans

searing heat

extreme heat

see things through to their conclusion

to continue working on a task, project, or difficult situation until it is completely finished or resolved, no matter how hard it gets.

settled

made their homes

severe pressure

experiencing a very great, intense, or damaging amount of stress, strain, force, or difficult demands

shrinking habitats

places where animals live and breed which are decreasing in size

slip through the cracks

to not be noticed or dealt with by a system; to go unnoticed, get overlooked, or be unintentionally neglected by a system, process, or organization that is supposed to handle, track, or protect you

soar (about temperatures)

rise

solar heating

solar heating

spark your curiosity

to make someone feel interested, hopeful etc

sparse vegetation

plants that grow naturally at widely spaced intervals (spread out)

stay on course

remain there until you are successful

sustainable development

development of industry, etc. which does not damage the environment or social and economic stability, and which can continue over a period of time

Taiga

a region of evergreen, coniferous forest below the arctic and subarctic tundra regions

temperatures soar

temperatures rise

tenacity

especially when facing difficulties, obstacles, or slow progress

tend

take care of

the worst--case scenarios

the worst possibilities for the future

to be descended from

to be related to someone who lived in the past

to change our ways

Change our way of life