Environment Vocabulary

Topic vocabulary for the IELTS exam

* Important

Do not try and learn this list of environment vocabulary.

Identify the vocabulary you find useful for answering practise
questions about the environment.
Record these in your vocabulary notebook and practise using
them regularly.

Set 1: Environment - Key definitions

environment – the natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, especially
as affected by human activity.
- Picking up litter is a simple way to help protect the environment.
environmental – relating to the natural world and concerning the impact of human activity on
its condition.
- A survey revealed a number of environmental issues concerning the development of the
land for housing, most notably, that it was the habitat of a rare breed of frog.
environmentalist – a person who chooses a lifestyle that is designed to minimise their
impact on the natural environment and who campaigns for environmental issues.
- Plans to build a new road alongside the lake drew fierce oppositions from
environmentalists.
environmentally-friendly – not harmful to the environment.
- There are many environmentally-friendly cleaning products on the market that don’t
contain chemicals that damage the environment.
natural environment – the natural world as opposed to, for example, a working
environment.
- When the injured seal had been nursed back to health in the rescue centre, it was returned
to its natural environment.
environmental hazard – a substance or an event which has the potential to threaten the
surrounding natural environment.
- The illegal storage of toxic waste presents a significant environmental hazard.
environmental disaster – a catastrophic event affecting the environment due to human
activity.
- When the oil tanker ran aground, it caused an environmental disaster from which it took
the local wildlife many years to recover.
conservation – the protection of plants, animals and natural resources, usually by planned
human action.
- It was Dimitri’s dream to get a job in conservation.
conservationist – a person who takes action to protect the environment from damage
caused by humans.
- Conservationists are working hard to protect the breeding grounds of sea turtles.

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 conservation programme – an organised plan to protect a specific natural area or aspect
of the natural environment.
- Next year I’m planning to volunteer on a conservation programme in Spain which
researches dolphins.
Collocations:
wildlife conservation – the protection of wildlife.
nature conservation – work that protects natural resources including wildlife, rivers,
forests and other natural landscapes.
energy conservation – the effort made to use less energy.

Set 2: The natural world – wildlife, plant life & habitats

wildlife – animals that live in the wild in natural conditions. Birds, fish and insects are often
included in the definition.
- Every evening, a wide variety of wildlife came to the waterhole to drink.
local wildlife – the wildlife to be found in a particular area.
- The children did a school project on their local wildlife.
native wildlife – wildlife that naturally lives in a particular area and is not there as a result of
human intervention.
When cats were introduced to the island, they hunted the native wildlife and cause a rapid
decline in many species.
creature – any living thing that can move independently.
There are some fascinating creatures living in the deep ocean that we know hardly
anything about.
fauna – the animals of a particular region or habitat.
- The group of scientists lived in tents while studying the fauna of the remote mountain
region.
flora – the plants of a particular region or habitat.
- Much of the native flora of Australia isn’t found naturally anywhere else in the world.
vegetation – the collective name for all the plants growing in a particular place or area.
- Tropical regions are known for their dense vegetation.
species – a group of animals or plants that have similar characteristics and can reproduce
together.
- Lions are a species of wild cat.
Collocations:
endangered species – a species that is in serious danger of extinction.
threatened species – a species that is likely to become endangered in the near
future.
rare species – an uncommon or scarce species.
protected species – a species which it is forbidden to harm by law.
extinct species – a species of which there are no more alive.

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 ecosystem – all the living things in an environment and the complex relationship between
each of them and that environment.
- Coral reefs have a delicately balanced ecosystem which can be seriously damaged by
overfishing.
Collocations:
delicately balanced ecosystem – an ecosystem where the loss of a key species, or
several significant species, can seriously affect it.
fragile ecosystem – an ecosystem that does not adapt easily to change and is easily
destroyed by human or physical impact.
Mother Nature – nature or weather considered as a force that controls all living things.
- It’s far better to try and work with Mother Nature than again it.
diverse – varied and very different from one another.
- They were able to grow a diverse range of crops in the rich, fertile soil.
biodiversity – the variety of animal and plant life found in a particular place.
It is important to preserve biodiversity in order to protect our ecosystems.
Collocation:
• loss of biodiversity – when species become extinct in an area and there is no longer
such a great variety of species.
ecology – the relationship between animals, plants, people and their environment in a
particular area, or the study of this.
- Ben studied the coastal ecology of Lundy Island in his final year at university.
habitat – the natural home or environment of an animal, plant or other organism.
- The loss of their natural habitat through deforestation is a serious threat to the orang utan
in Borneo.
to inhabit – to live in a certain place.
- The rainforest is inhabited by many different species of monkey.
natural surroundings – the habitat in which a species would naturally live.
- The best thing about going on safari is seeing the animals in their natural surroundings
rather than caged up in a zoo.
to adapt – to change or adjust in response to new conditions.
- With the loss of large areas of countryside to housing development, foxes have had to
adapt to living in towns.
to evolve – change or develop gradually.
- Scientists now believe that humans evolved from apes.
evolution – the process by which living things slowly change and develop over a long
period of time.
- The theory of evolution states that all life on Earth today evolved over millions of years
from simple organisms.
thrive – to grow and develop well or quickly.
- The leopard seal is well adapted to the cold and thrives in the fish-rich waters of the
Arctic.
marine – related to or found in the sea.
- Marine wildlife is badly affected by the amount of waste plastic in our oceans.

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 nocturnal – active at night.
- Almost all species of bats are nocturnal, preferring to hunt or search for food at night
rather than during the day.
migrate – to move from one region or habitat to another, usually when the season changes.
- Many birds migrate south to warmer climates in the winter.
extinction – being completely destroyed so that it no longer exists.
- The dodo, a flightless bird once found in Mauritius, was hunted to extinction by 1681.
dying out – to become increasingly less common, almost to the point of extinction.
- Tigers are in serious danger of dying out in the wild.

Set 3: The natural world – resource & environment

climate – the general weather conditions usually found in a particular place.
- Egypt has a hot, dry climate with very little rainfall.
climate change – a change in global or regional temperature patterns.
- Climate change has led to the melting of the polar ice caps.
Collocation:
• combat climate change – to stop or reverse the effects of climate change.
- It is only by countries working together to combat climate change that we will save our
planet.
natural resources – materials or substances that exist in nature, such as coal, oil, and
timber, and can be used by people.
- The success of humans as a species has been largely due to their ability to exploit the
Earth’s natural resources.
Collocation:
• rich in natural resources – having a lot of natural resources.
- It is believed that Antarctica is rich in natural resources but many fear an ecological
disaster if mining is allowed to go ahead.
fossil fuels – a fuel, such as coal, oil and gas, that is formed in the earth from dead plants
and animals.
- Fossil fuels give off large amounts of carbon when burned which is damaging to the
atmosphere.
atmosphere – the layer of gases surrounding the Earth or any other planet.
- Asteroids usually burn up when they enter the Earth’s atmosphere.
ozone layer – a layer of the colourless gas ozone that exists high above the Earth's surface
and which prevents harmful ultraviolet light from the sun from reaching the Earth.
- Without the ozone layer, it would be very difficult for anything to survive on Earth.
carbon dioxide – a gas formed when carbon is burned, or when people or animals breathe
out.
- Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen which helps to keep our atmosphere
healthy.
carbon monoxide – a poisonous gas formed by the burning of carbon, especially in the
form of car fuel.
- You can’t smell carbon monoxide which makes it a deadly killer, so it’s important to install
a carbon monoxide alarm near your gas boiler.

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 greenhouse gas – a gas in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, that absorbs radiation
and gives off heat.
- Greenhouse gases contribute to the problem of global warming.
greenhouse effect – the gradual warming of the surface of the Earth due to greenhouse
gases being trapped in the atmosphere above the Earth.
-The greenhouse effect is believed by many to be responsible for climate change.

Set 4: Environmental issues

erosion – the gradual wearing-away of something by the natural forces of the wind, rain and
water.
- Crop rotation is important to ensure the soil isn’t left bare and subject to erosion by the
wind and rain.
Collocations:
• coastal erosion – damage to the coastline caused mainly by waves.
• soil erosion – removal of the upper layer of the soil, mainly by water or wind.
• wind erosion – a process where soil or rocks are worn away by the wind.
deforestation – the cutting down or burning of all the trees in an area.
- Deforestation results in the loss of habitat for millions of species, leads to soil erosion and,
according to scientists, is a major cause of climate change.
land clearance – the process of removing vegetation to create new areas of land suitable
for farming.
- Land clearance leaves the soil bare and at risk of serious erosion.
logging – to cut down trees for their timber.
- Uncontrolled logging is destroying vast areas of our precious rainforests.
pollution – damage to water, air or land by harmful substances and waste materials.
- In some cities, the air pollution is so bad that people have to wear face masks when they
go out.
to pollute – to contaminate water, air or land with harmful substances and waste materials.
- In many countries, heavy industry continues to seriously pollute the environment.
emissions – the production and discharge of something, especially gas.
- Many countries are reluctant to reduce toxic emissions as the huge expense involved can
affect the rate of economic growth.
carbon footprint – the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result
of the activities of a particular individual or organization.
- I have reduced my carbon footprint by cycling to work instead of driving.
global warming – a gradual increase in world temperatures caused by polluting gases,
such as carbon dioxide, which are collecting in the air around the Earth and preventing heat
from escaping into space.
- It’s not too late to reverse the effects of global warming but we must act right now.
Collocations:
• to fight / to combat / to tackle global warming – take action to reverse the effects or
promote the issue of global warming.
• contribute to global warming – to add to the problem of global warming.
• the effects of global warming – the environmental changes caused by global warming
such as climate change.

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 disposable products – items that are intended to be thrown away after use, generally after
just one or a few uses.
- When I was young, things were made to last a long time and be used over and over again,
but now we live in a world of disposable products and have a huge waste problem.
dumping ground – a place where things that are not wanted are left
- If we continue treating our oceans as a dumping ground, it will eventually become too
polluted to sustain life.
acid rain – rain rainfall made so acidic by atmospheric pollution caused by burning fossil
fuels that it causes environmental harm, especially to forests and lakes.
- In Poland, large areas of forest have been destroyed by acid rain.
to contaminate – to make something poisonous as a result of adding waste or chemicals.
- Pesticide and fertilisers used on the field can contaminate rivers and kill all the fish.
degradation – the process in which the quality of something is damaged or destroyed.
- Soil degradation due to over-farming means that many farmers have had to move to the
cities in search of work.
depletion – the reduction in the number or quality of something.
- Over-fishing has led to the depletion of the ocean’s fish stocks.
fumes – strong, unpleasant and sometimes dangerous gas or smoke.
- Car exhaust fumes are a major contributor to air pollution.
smog – a mixture of smoke, gases, and chemicals, especially in cities, that makes the
atmosphere difficult to breathe and harmful for health.
- Some days the smog is so bad that people are forced to stay indoors.
air quality – the extent to which the air is free of pollution.
- When the company was forced to install filters in their factories chimneys, the air quality in
the area improved considerably.
poisonous – having chemical properties that can cause harm or kill.
- Hundreds of people became seriously ill when poisonous chemicals from the nearby
factory seeped into the water system.
toxic – poisonous.
- The dumping of toxic waste in the ocean is totally unacceptable and must be stopped.
threat – something or someone that is a risk or a danger.
The greatest threat to the environment comes from the actions of human beings.
to endanger – to expose something to harm or destruction.
- Organised poaching is endangering the survival of the African rhino.
poaching – the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals.
- Elephant’s valuable tusks make them a target for poaching.
drought – a long period when there is little or no rain.
- The severe drought meant that the crops failed for the second year running and many
people faced starvation.
flooding – when an area of land that is normally dry is covered with water.
- We have been told to expect more violent storms and frequent flooding as a result of
global warming.
flash floods – a sudden, local flood caused by very heavy rainfall.
- The flash flood washed a whole village from the hillside, killing dozens of people.

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 Set 5: Protecting the environment
to protect – keep safe from harm, injury or damage.
- Many charities have been set up around the world for the purpose of protecting
endangered species.
to preserve – to keep something as it is
If we don’t take steps to preserve the environment, we will lose some important natural
habitats in the very near future.
Collocation:
• wildlife preservation – the practice of protecting wild plant and animal species and their
habitats.
to recycle – to collect waste materials and process them to create new materials and
products that can be used again.
- We can dramatically reduce the amount of rubbish we send to landfill sites by recycling
our waste plastic.
biodegradable – able to decompose naturally without harming or polluting the environment.
- I always try to buy products with biodegradable packaging.
carbon-neutral – replacing the same amount of carbon dioxide as we produce through
actions such as planting trees.
- Becoming carbon-neutral is something for both individuals and industries to work
towards.
sustainable – involving methods that do not use up or destroy natural resources.
- With advances in technology, it is hoped that we will eventually be able to replace fossil
fuels with sustainable energy sources.
sustainability – the idea that we should meet our own needs in ways that do not damage
the environment and that do not use resources that cannot be replaced.
- It is encouraging to see an increasing number of companies making a commitment to
environmental sustainability.
renewable energy – energy from a source that is not depleted when used.
- Where I live, both solar power and wind power are important sources of renewable
energy.
solar power – power obtained by harnessing the energy of the sun's rays.
- Hussan fitted solar panels to his roof last year and is now able to produce all the energy he
needs to run his home from solar power.
energy-efficient – using only as much energy as is needed without any waste.
- When I buy a new appliance, I look for one that is energy-efficient as it will be cheaper to
run and be more environmentally-friendly.
wind turbine – a tall structure with blades that are blown round by the wind and produce
power to make electricity.
- Many farmers in my area have installed wind turbines to provide the electricity they need.
wind farm – a group of wind turbines.
- We were horrified when they got permission to build a wind farm in our beautiful
countryside, but we’re used to it now and understand how important it is to generate
renewable energy.

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 clean energy – energy produced from renewable energy resources and which doesn’t
produce emissions that contribute to global warming.
- Scientists predict that clean energy could reliably and affordably provide up to 80 per cent
of U.S. electricity by 2050.
organic farming – farming without the use of synthetic chemicals.
- Concern for the environment is leading to changes in agricultural methods and especially
to a greater interest in organic farming.
afforestation – the action of planting trees on an area of land in order to make a forest.
- Afforestation is vital if we are to reduce the carbon-dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
to go green – to choose an environmentally-friendly lifestyle.
- In an attempt to go green, my family is recycling everything we can and we no longer buy
bottled water.
on foot – to walk rather than use a form of transport.
- When the weather is fine, I go to work on foot rather than catching the bus.
safeguard – take action to protect something from harm or damage.
- It is the responsibility of all of us to safeguard the environment for future generations.

Set 6: Other useful words

urban – relating to, or characteristic of a town or city.
- In the UK, foxes thrive in urban areas and can often be seen on the streets at night.
rural – in, relating to, or characteristic of the countryside rather than the town.
- I was born in a small village and still prefer to live in a rural area.

IELTS-Style Practise Questions

For IELTS-style environment-related practise questions and sample

answers visit:

www.ieltsjacky.com/environment-vocabulary.html

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