Are you worried about climate change? Do you want to save the planet (and save humanity?) Check out these 20 essential words to talk about the environment in English. They’re divided into environmental themes such as climate change, energy, waste and being environmentally-friendly.
Climate Change
Climate change = the idea that the weather is changing
“Extreme weather is one sign that we’re experiencing climate change.”
Global warming = when the whole world is getting hotter
“People say that by 2050, global warming will have made some parts of the world too hot for humans.”
“People say that by 2050, global warming will have made some parts of the world too hot for humans.”
Reforest = plant
trees to create a forest
“The government want to reforest this area.”
“The government want to reforest this area.”
Energy
Fossil fuel = energy from “fossils”, such as wood, coal or oil
“We need to phase out our use of fossil fuels to reduce pollution.”
“We need to phase out our use of fossil fuels to reduce pollution.”
Renewable energy / Clean fuel = energy which is naturally re-occuring, such as wind power, solar
energy, etc
“We’re gradually moving to renewable energy.”
“We’re gradually moving to renewable energy.”
Carbon emissions (carbon = carbon dioxide) = the amount of gas which is released by
burning fossil fuels
“Carbon emissions create high levels of pollution.”
“Carbon emissions create high levels of pollution.”
Carbon footprint = the amount of carbon dioxide you add to the atmosphere when you
travel
“Have you ever measured your own carbon footprint?”
“Have you ever measured your own carbon footprint?”
Carbon neutral = when you balance the carbon emissions you are responsible for by
doing environmentally-friendly things
“Tree-planting is one way to be carbon neutral.
“Tree-planting is one way to be carbon neutral.
Conserve = to not use
too much of something
“You can conserve water by having a shower rather than a bath.”
“You can conserve water by having a shower rather than a bath.”
Offset = when you balance
something bad by doing something positive
“You can offset carbon emissions by planting trees.”
“You can offset carbon emissions by planting trees.”
Zero emissions = some forms of transport don’t create pollution or release carbon
dioxide
“This car produces zero emissions.”
“This car produces zero emissions.”
Waste
Recycle = use again
“How much rubbish do you recycle?”
“How much rubbish do you recycle?”
Bio-degradable = when something can be absorbed into the earth
“Fruit and vegetables are bio-degradable, but plastic isn’t.”
“Fruit and vegetables are bio-degradable, but plastic isn’t.”
Zero waste = when you
don’t produce any waste at all
“The kitchen in that restaurant claims to be zero-waste. They re-use everything.”
“The kitchen in that restaurant claims to be zero-waste. They re-use everything.”
Environmentally-friendly
Environmentally-friendly = when you do things that are good for the planet
“Reducing the amount of plastic you use is environmentally-friendly.”
“Reducing the amount of plastic you use is environmentally-friendly.”
Cut down on = reduce
“Have you cut down on your car journeys?”
“Have you cut down on your car journeys?”
Go vegan / meat-free =
become a vegan (eat no meat, fish or dairy)
“A lot of people have gone vegan.”
“A lot of people have gone vegan.”
Biodiversity = when there
is a wide variety of plants and animals
“Biodiversity is essential for our survival.”
“Biodiversity is essential for our survival.”
Eco-warrior = an
activist who “fights” to protect the environment
“There were lots of eco-warriors at the demonstration.”
“There were lots of eco-warriors at the demonstration.”
Rewilding = when you
restore wild nature
“Wolves will return to the UK as part of a rewilding project.”
“Wolves will return to the UK as part of a rewilding project.”