Environment – lingvoalma

Environmental problems and dangers

acid rain, air/ land/water pollution, climate change, deforestation, endangered species, genetic modification of crops, global warming, loss of biodiversity, natural resource depletion, ocean acidification, ozone layer depletion, overpopulation, species extinction, urban sprawl, waste disposal

Nouns/ Noun expressions

carbon-dioxide, carbon footprint, conservation, a conservation group/environmental organization, domestic/household waste, ecosystem, emission, environmental problems, a food chain, a fossil fuel, greenhouse gases, a habitat, natural resources, oil spills, overfishing, the ozone layer, pesticides, poaching, protection, reforestation, toxic waste, wildlife

Adjectives

eco-friendly, energy-efficient, environmental, renewable, sustainable, toxic

Verbs

to ban, to carpool, to clear-cut, to compost , to consume, to destroy, to emit, to fertilize, to minimize, to pollute, to preserve, to protect, to recycle, to reduce, to reuse, to waste

Verbal expressions

to be under threat, to become extinct, to exhaust fumes

Phrasal verbs

to cut down on, die out (to become extinct), to throw away (to dump), to use up

Additional Vocabulary

Exercises

1. Name the environmental problems illustrated in the pictures.

2. Match the problems to their descriptions

climate change, waste disposal, urban sprawl, overpopulation, natural resource depletion, overfishing, loss of biodiversity, acid rain, ocean acidification, water pollution

The planet’s population grows by 1.13% per year, which works out to 80 million people.
It is a direct impact of excessive production of CO2. 25% of CO2 is produced by humans. The main impact is on shellfish and plankton in the same way as human osteoporosis.
It poisons and weakens trees, damages leaves and limits their available nutrients.
Statistics created by NASA state that global temperatures have risen by 1.7 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880.
It results in land degradation, increased traffic, environmental issues and health issues in rural areas.
Human activity is leading to the extinction of species. Eco systems, which took millions of years to perfect, are in danger.
Plastic, fast food, packaging and cheap electronic wastes threaten the well-being of humans. It is one of urgent current environmental problem.
Industrial development is filling our rivers, seas and oceans with toxic pollutants which are a major threat to human health.
It is estimated that 63% of global fish stocks are now considered overfished.
Recent studies have shown that humanity uses so many natural resources that we would need almost 1.5 Earths to cover our needs.

3. Name the items you can see in the pictures

4. Match the expressions to the definitions.

*1. food chain*	a) global changes in temperature, wind patterns, rainfall etc.
*2. carbon footprint*	b) a measurement of the amount of carbon-dioxide a person adds to the atmosphere
*3. habitat*	c) rain that contains harmful chemicals that collect in the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned
*4. greenhouse gas*	d) the protection and preservation of the environment and resources
*5. domestic waste*	e) rubbish from a house or apartment
*6. pollution*	f) animals or plants in danger of becoming extinct
*7. acid rain*	g) the order in which organisms in an ecosystem eat one another
*8. endangered species*	h) a gas in the atmosphere that stops heat from escaping into space
*9. climate change*	i) the place in which a species normally lives
*10. conservation*	j) the contamination of the environment, esp. by industrial waste products and chemicals like pesticides

5. Choose the right word.

What can we do to protect the environment?

1) Switch off/turn on the lights when you leave a room.

2) Try to reuse/protect things instead of throwing them away.

3) Buy things in packaging/covers that can easily be recycled.

4) Walk or cycle instead of driving a car. This way you’ll increase/reduce the air pollution.

5) Plant/waste trees.

6) Throw away/compost food leftovers. You can then use it as a fertilizer.

7) Cut down on/consume the amount of paper you use.

8) Use your own reusable/ environmental bags for every shopping trip.

9) Volunteer with a conservation/reservation group, such as Greenpeace. If you don’t have the resources to volunteer your time, you can donate money.

10) Allow hair to air dry instead of using a hair dryer. You’ll waste/save on electricity use.

6. Complete the gaps with the following words

climate change, sea levels, food security, populated areas, emissions, atmosphere, rise, issue, extreme, extinction

Global warming is a long-term 1) … in the average temperature of the Earth’s climate system. It is an aspect of 2)… The term commonly refers to the continuing increase in average air and ocean temperatures since 1900 caused mainly by 3)… of greenhouse gases in the modern industrial economy.

The main causes include massive use of fossil fuels, deforestation, intensive farming, waste disposal, mining and overconsumption.

Future climate change effects are expected to include rising 4)… , ocean acidification and expansion of deserts in the subtropics. Surface temperature increases are greatest in the Arctic, with the continuing retreat of glaciers and sea ice. Predicted regional effects include more frequent 5) … weather events such as heat waves, droughts, wildfires, heavy rainfall with floods and heavy snowfall. Effects directly significant to humans are predicted to include the threat to 6)… from decreasing crop yields, and the abandonment of 7)… due to rising sea levels. Environmental impacts are likely to include the 8)… or relocation of ecosystems as they adapt to climate change, with coral reefs, mountain ecosystems, and Arctic ecosystems most immediately threatened. It is predicted that greenhouse gases will remain in the 9)… for a long time. The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon. However, the increase in greenhouse gases is linked to human activities.

Globally, a majority of people consider global warming a very serious 10)...

(abridged from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming)

7. Study the global warming solutions. Match the solutions to the descriptions.

a) Sustainable transportation

b) Renewable energies

c) Sustainable infrastructure

d) Energy & water efficiency

e) Responsible consumption & recycling

f) Sustainable agriculture & forest management

1) …

The first way to prevent climate change is to move away from fossil fuels. The alternatives are solar, wind and geothermal energies.

2) …

Producing clean energy is essential, but reducing our consumption of energy and water by using more efficient devices (e.g. LED light bulbs, innovative shower system) that are less expensive and equally important.

3) …

Promoting public transportation, carpooling can definitely help reduce CO2 emissions and thus fight global warming.

4) …

In order to reduce the CO2 emissions from buildings – caused by heating, air conditioning, hot water or lighting – it is necessary both to build new low energy buildings and to renovate the existing constructions.

5) …

Encouraging better use of natural resources, stopping massive deforestation as well as making agriculture greener and more efficient should also be a priority.

6) …

Last but not least, recycling is an absolute necessity for dealing with waste. It is crucial regarding food (particularly meat), clothing, cosmetics or cleaning products.

(edited from https://solarimpulse.com/global-warming-solutions)

8. Answer the questions.

1) What are the main environmental problems? How are they interconnected?

2) What leads to global warming? How can it be prevented?

3) What can people do to protect the environment?