Environment & Climate

20 words

1. 1

   consumptionnoun/kənˈsʌmp.ʃən/

   the use of goods, energy, or resources

   “Energy consumption has risen steadily in the last decade.”

2. 2

   mitigationnoun/ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/

   actions or methods that reduce the severity or harmful effects of something

   “International cooperation is essential for effective mitigation.”

3. 3

   adaptationnoun/ˌæd.əpˈteɪ.ʃən/

   the process of adjusting to new conditions or changes, especially to reduce harm from environmental change

   “Coastal cities invest in adaptation to cope with rising sea levels.”

4. 4

   speciesnoun/ˈspiːʃiːz/

   a group of living organisms that can breed with one another

   “Several species of frog have vanished from the wetlands.”

5. 5

   contaminationnoun/kənˌtæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

   the presence of harmful or unwanted substances in something such as water, food, or air

   “Water contamination from industrial waste is a serious health issue.”

6. 6

   degradationnoun/ˌdeɡrəˈdeɪʃən/

   the process in which something becomes worse in quality, especially land, soil, or environment

   “Soil degradation reduces agricultural productivity in many regions.”

7. 7

   overfishingnoun/ˌəʊ.vəˈfɪʃ.ɪŋ/

   the practice of catching too many fish from a body of water, causing population decline

   “Overfishing has caused the collapse of several local fisheries.”

8. 8

   urbanizationnoun/ˌɜːbənaɪˈzeɪʃən/

   the process by which more people come to live in towns and cities

   “Rapid urbanization has increased demand for housing and transport.”

9. 9

   wildlifenoun/ˈwaɪldlaɪf/

   animals that live and grow in natural conditions

   “The national park protects local wildlife and their habitats.”

10. 10

    biodegradableadj/ˌbaɪəʊdɪˈɡreɪdəbl/

    able to be broken down naturally by bacteria or other living organisms

    “Many companies now use biodegradable packaging to reduce landfill waste.”

11. 11

    landfillnoun/ˈlænd.fɪl/

    a place where large amounts of rubbish are buried under the ground

    “The city sent tons of household waste to the new landfill every week.”

12. 12

    pollutantnoun/pəˈluːtənt/

    a substance that makes land, water, or air dirty and unsafe

    “Factories released several pollutants into the river last year.”

13. 13

    incinerationn/ɪnˌsɪnəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/

    the burning of waste material at high temperatures

    “The town council proposed incineration as a way to reduce landfill volumes.”

14. 14

    sewagenoun/ˈsuː.ɪdʒ/

    waste water and human excrement that is carried away in sewers

    “After the storm, raw sewage overflowed into the river.”

15. 15

    soilnoun/sɔɪl/

    the top layer of the earth where plants grow

    “Good soil structure is essential for healthy crops.”

16. 16

    ozonenoun/ˈəʊ.zəʊn/

    a gas in the earth's atmosphere which absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun

    “The ozone layer protects life on Earth from harmful UV radiation.”

17. 17

    smognoun/smɒɡ/

    a type of air pollution that is a mixture of smoke and fog, often seen in cities

    “On cold, windless mornings the city was often covered in smog.”

18. 18

    wildfirenoun/ˈwaɪldfaɪə/

    an uncontrolled fire that spreads quickly across open land

    “A wildfire swept through the hills and destroyed several homes.”

19. 19

    pesticidenoun/ˈpes.tɪ.saɪd/

    a chemical used for killing pests, especially on crops

    “Farmers often spray pesticides early in the season to protect young plants.”

20. 20

    reforestationnoun/ˌriː.fɒr.əsˈteɪ.ʃən/

    the process of planting trees on land that has been deforested

    “The government's reforestation programme helped stabilise the hillsides.”