IELTS · Environment & Society · Advanced

• anthropogenic

  adj. caused by human activity

  Most scientists agree that warming is largely anthropogenic.

• mitigation

  n. the act of reducing the severity of something

  Carbon mitigation requires both policy and technology.

• depletion

  n. the reduction of a resource to a low level

  The depletion of groundwater is alarming experts.

• gentrification

  n. the change of a poor area into a wealthier one

  Gentrification has displaced many long-time residents.

• marginalization

  n. the act of treating a group as unimportant

  Economic policy can worsen the marginalization of the poor.

• stewardship

  n. the responsible care of something entrusted to you

  Environmental stewardship benefits future generations.

• decarbonization

  n. the removal of carbon from the energy system

  Decarbonization of industry remains a huge challenge.

• externalities

  n. indirect costs or benefits affecting third parties

  Pollution is a classic example of negative externalities.

• resilience

  n. the ability to recover from difficulties

  Ecological resilience helps systems survive disturbances.

• sequestration

  n. the long-term storage of carbon dioxide

  Forests play a key role in carbon sequestration.

• remediation

  n. the act of correcting environmental damage

  Soil remediation can take decades to complete.

• acidification

  n. the process of becoming more acidic

  Ocean acidification threatens coral reefs worldwide.

• salinization

  n. the buildup of salt in soil or water

  Salinization has ruined large areas of farmland.

• desertification

  n. the process of fertile land becoming desert

  Desertification is spreading across the Sahel region.

• eutrophication

  n. excessive nutrients causing algae growth in water

  Fertilizer runoff causes eutrophication in lakes.

• biocapacity

  n. an ecosystem's ability to produce resources and absorb waste

  Humanity now exceeds the planet's biocapacity.

• ecocentrism

  n. the view that nature has value in itself

  Ecocentrism places ecosystems above human interests.

• anthropocentric

  adj. regarding humans as the most important entity

  An anthropocentric view often ignores other species.

• precariat

  n. a class of people in insecure, low-paid work

  The growing precariat lacks stable employment.

• displacement

  n. the forced movement of people from their home

  Climate change is driving the displacement of millions.

• inequality

  n. an unfair difference in wealth or opportunity

  Urban growth often deepens social inequality.

• cohesion

  n. the state of being united or working together

  Strong community cohesion improves public safety.

• assimilation

  n. the process of absorbing a group into a culture

  Forced assimilation can erase minority traditions.

• demographic

  adj. relating to the structure of a population

  Demographic shifts are reshaping urban planning.

• urbanism

  n. the study of how cities are designed and lived in

  Sustainable urbanism prioritizes walkable streets.

• sprawl

  n. the uncontrolled spread of a city outward

  Urban sprawl consumes vast areas of farmland.

• densification

  n. the process of increasing population density

  Densification can reduce car dependence in cities.

• revitalization

  n. the act of giving new life to an area

  Waterfront revitalization attracted new businesses.

• livability

  n. the quality of being pleasant to live in

  Green spaces greatly improve urban livability.

• disenfranchise

  v. to deprive someone of a right or power

  Poverty can disenfranchise entire communities.

• perpetuate

  v. to cause something to continue indefinitely

  Cheap fossil fuels perpetuate harmful habits.

• exacerbate

  v. to make a problem worse

  Deforestation can exacerbate seasonal flooding.

• alleviate

  v. to make suffering or a problem less severe

  Public housing can alleviate urban poverty.

• catalyze

  v. to cause or speed up a change

  The crisis catalyzed a shift to clean energy.

• incentivize

  v. to encourage with a reward

  Governments incentivize the use of electric cars.

• implement

  v. to put a plan or decision into effect

  The city will implement a strict recycling law.

• prioritize

  v. to treat something as more important than others

  Planners must prioritize affordable housing.

• deteriorate

  v. to become progressively worse

  Air quality continues to deteriorate downtown.

• proliferate

  v. to increase rapidly in number

  Solar panels have proliferated across rooftops.

• encroach

  v. to gradually intrude on land or rights

  New farms encroach on protected wildlife areas.

• degradation

  n. the decline in quality of the environment

  Land degradation reduces agricultural output.

• overconsumption

  n. the excessive use of resources or goods

  Overconsumption drives the demand for raw materials.

• obsolescence

  n. the state of becoming outdated and unusable

  Planned obsolescence creates mountains of waste.

• circularity

  n. an economic model that reuses materials

  Circularity aims to eliminate waste entirely.

• decoupling

  n. separating economic growth from resource use

  Decoupling allows growth without rising emissions.

• ramification

  n. a complex consequence of an action

  Policy changes have far-reaching ramifications.

• threshold

  n. the point at which something begins to happen

  The planet is nearing a dangerous warming threshold.

• feedback

  n. a process where an effect reinforces its cause

  Melting ice creates a dangerous feedback loop.

• tipping point

  n. the moment when change becomes unstoppable

  Scientists fear we may pass a climate tipping point.

• equilibrium

  n. a state of balance between forces

  Ecosystems struggle to maintain their equilibrium.

• vulnerability

  n. the state of being open to harm

  Coastal cities face high vulnerability to floods.

• adaptation

  n. adjustment to new environmental conditions

  Climate adaptation is now a global priority.

• mitigate

  v. to reduce the harmful effects of something

  Trees can mitigate the urban heat island effect.

• disparity

  n. a great difference between groups

  There is a sharp disparity in access to clean water.

• solidarity

  n. unity based on shared interests or goals

  Climate justice depends on global solidarity.

• philanthropy

  n. the giving of money to good causes

  Private philanthropy funds many green projects.

• advocacy

  n. public support for a cause or policy

  Youth advocacy has reshaped climate debates.

• governance

  n. the way an organization or area is managed

  Good environmental governance prevents abuse.

• accountability

  n. the obligation to take responsibility

  Corporate accountability is vital for the climate.

• legislation

  n. laws considered together as a whole

  New legislation limits single-use plastics.

• subsidy

  n. money given by a government to support an activity

  A subsidy makes solar panels more affordable.

• taxation

  n. the system of imposing taxes

  Carbon taxation discourages heavy polluters.

• compliance

  n. the act of obeying rules or laws

  Compliance with emission limits is now mandatory.

• transparency

  n. openness in how decisions are made

  Transparency builds public trust in green policy.

• finite

  adj. limited in amount and unable to last forever

  Oil is a finite resource that will run out.

• pervasive

  adj. spreading widely throughout an area

  Plastic pollution is now pervasive in the oceans.

• detrimental

  adj. causing harm or damage

  Excess fertilizer is detrimental to river life.

• imperative

  adj. extremely important and urgent

  Cutting emissions is imperative for our survival.

• viable

  adj. capable of working successfully

  Wind power is now a viable energy alternative.

• robust

  adj. strong and able to withstand difficulties

  A robust policy framework supports green growth.

• holistic

  adj. considering all parts as a connected whole

  A holistic approach addresses both nature and society.

• intergenerational

  adj. involving people from different generations

  Climate justice is an intergenerational duty.

• unprecedented

  adj. never having happened before

  The region faced an unprecedented heatwave.

• irreversible

  adj. impossible to change back

  Some climate damage may already be irreversible.

• exploitation

  n. the unfair use of resources or people

  The exploitation of forests harms indigenous peoples.

• indigenous

  adj. originating naturally in a particular place

  Indigenous knowledge can guide land management.

• mobilization

  n. the act of organizing people for a cause

  Grassroots mobilization changed local policy.

• empowerment

  n. the process of gaining control and confidence

  Education drives the empowerment of women.

• disenchantment

  n. a feeling of disappointment about something

  Public disenchantment with slow reform is growing.

• deprivation

  n. the lack of basic needs or comforts

  Urban deprivation often clusters in old districts.

• segregation

  n. the separation of groups of people

  Housing policy can reinforce racial segregation.

• integration

  n. the process of combining groups into a whole

  Social integration reduces tension between communities.

• emancipation

  n. the act of setting someone free from control

  Economic emancipation lifts families from poverty.

• paradigm

  n. a typical model or pattern of thinking

  We need a new paradigm for sustainable cities.

• discourse

  n. serious discussion about a subject

  Public discourse on climate has shifted dramatically.

• consensus

  n. general agreement among a group

  Scientific consensus on warming is overwhelming.

• stakeholder

  n. a person with an interest in a project

  Every stakeholder must support the recycling plan.

• biome

  n. a large community of plants and animals

  The tundra is a fragile and unique biome.

• fauna

  n. the animals of a particular region

  The reserve protects rare fauna and flora.

• flora

  n. the plants of a particular region

  Alpine flora has adapted to harsh conditions.

• nexus

  n. a connection linking several things

  The food-water-energy nexus complicates planning.

• synergy

  n. combined action producing greater results

  Synergy between sectors accelerates green progress.

• deleterious

  adj. causing harm or damage

  Microplastics have deleterious effects on marine life.

• ubiquitous

  adj. present or found everywhere

  Plastic packaging has become ubiquitous in shops.

• inherent

  adj. existing as a natural part of something

  There are inherent risks in nuclear power.

• profound

  adj. very great or intense

  Industrialization had a profound effect on rivers.

• systemic

  adj. affecting an entire system

  Climate change demands systemic reform of energy.

• contentious

  adj. likely to cause disagreement

  Land use is a deeply contentious political issue.

• equitable

  adj. fair and impartial to all parties

  An equitable transition protects vulnerable workers.

• safeguard

  v. to protect from harm or danger

  Strict laws safeguard endangered habitats.

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