Environmental Problems & Global Warming Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering nouns, adjectives, verbs, collocations, and idioms related to environmental problems and global warming.

acid rain

Rainfall containing harmful acids which can damage historical monuments and forests.

atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding the Earth that protects it from harmful solar radiation.

carbon dioxide ($CO_2$)

A gas produced by burning carbon and organic compounds; it is absorbed by trees.

carbon footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by human activities, such as driving or industrial processes.

catastrophe

An event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster.

climate change

A long-term change in the Earth's climate, especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature.

consequence

A result or effect of an action or condition, such as the melting of polar ice due to global warming.

contaminant

A polluting substance that makes something impure or unsuitable for use.

deforestation

The action of clearing a wide area of trees, which is a primary cause of habitat loss.

degradation

The process of something becoming worse in quality, such as soil becoming difficult to grow crops in.

depletion

A reduction in the number or quantity of something, such as the ozone layer.

drought

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

emission

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

exhaust fumes

Gases ejected from an engine as waste products, often inhaled in heavy traffic.

fossil fuel

A natural fuel such as coal or oil, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.

global warming

The long-term heating of Earth's climate system observed since the pre-industrial period.

greenhouse effect

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

greenhouse gas

A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, such as methane.

heatwave

A prolonged period of abnormally hot weather.

impact

The effect or influence of one person, thing, or action, on another.

industrial waste

Waste produced by industrial activity which includes any material that is rendered useless during a manufacturing process.

pollutant

A substance that pollutes something, especially water or the atmosphere.

pollution

The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects.

sea level

The level of the ocean's surface, which can rise as a direct result of melting glaciers.

catastrophic

Involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.

devastating

Highly destructive or damaging.

detrimental

Tending to cause harm or damage to something.

eco-friendly

Not harmful to the environment.

extreme

Reaching a high or the highest degree; very great, often used to describe harsh weather conditions.

harmful

Causing or likely to cause harm, such as UV rays to the skin.

irreversible

Not able to be undone or altered.

renewable

Not depleted when used, such as solar or wind energy.

sustainable

Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level; conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.

toxic

Poisonous or very harmful.

unprecedented

Never done or known before; occurring on a scale not previously seen.

absorb

To take in or soak up a substance, typically by chemical or physical action.

contaminate

To make something impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance.

cut down

To reduce the size, amount, or number of something, or to fell a tree.

damage

To inflict physical harm on something so as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function.

destroy

To put an end to the existence of something by damaging or attacking it.

emit

To produce and discharge something, especially gas or radiation.

exacerbate

To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.

harm

To physically injure or cause damage to someone or something.

pollute

To contaminate water, air, or a place with harmful or poisonous substances.

release

To allow or enable to escape from confinement; to set free.

threaten

To be likely to cause damage or a negative effect to something.

take action

To do something to deal with a situation or problem.

raise awareness

To increase people's knowledge or understanding about a particular subject or issue.

run out of

To use up the entire supply of something.

die out

To become extinct; to disappear completely.

pose a threat to

To represent a danger to someone or something.

tackle a problem

To make a determined effort to deal with a difficult situation.

be at risk of

To be in a situation where something bad or unpleasant might happen.

cope with

To deal effectively with something difficult.

wipe out

To eliminate or destroy something completely.

lead a sustainable lifestyle

To live in a way that minimizes one's use of the Earth's natural resources.

a drop in the ocean

A very small amount compared to what is needed or expected.

(be on) thin ice

To be in a risky or dangerous situation.

the calm before the storm

A period of unusual stability or peace before a period of violent activity or chaos.

the tip of the iceberg

A small visible part of a much larger and more complex problem.

a hot potato

A controversial issue or situation that is difficult to deal with.

the point of no return

The stage at which it is no longer possible to stop or reverse a process.