IELTS · Environment & Society · Intermediate

• pollution

  n. the presence of harmful substances in the environment

  Air pollution in the city has reached dangerous levels.

• sustainable

  adj. able to continue without harming the environment

  We need sustainable farming methods for the future.

• recycling

  n. the process of treating used materials to make new products

  Recycling helps reduce the amount of waste in landfills.

• urbanization

  n. the growth of cities as more people move into them

  Rapid urbanization has changed the landscape of the region.

• conservation

  n. the protection of natural resources and wildlife

  Conservation efforts have saved many endangered species.

• emissions

  n. gases released into the air, especially harmful ones

  The factory reduced its carbon emissions last year.

• drought

  n. a long period with little or no rain

  The drought destroyed most of the farmers' crops.

• renewable

  adj. able to be replaced naturally and used again

  Solar power is a clean and renewable source of energy.

• biodiversity

  n. the variety of living things in an environment

  Tropical rainforests are rich in biodiversity.

• overpopulation

  n. the state of having too many people in an area

  Overpopulation puts huge pressure on natural resources.

• deforestation

  n. the cutting down of forests over a large area

  Deforestation is a major cause of climate change.

• congestion

  n. a situation in which a place is too crowded

  Traffic congestion makes the morning commute very slow.

• awareness

  n. knowledge or understanding of a situation

  Public awareness of plastic waste is growing rapidly.

• inhabitant

  n. a person or animal that lives in a place

  The island has only a few hundred inhabitants.

• ecosystem

  n. all the living things in an area and their environment

  Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems on Earth.

• habitat

  n. the natural home of an animal or plant

  Pollution is destroying the habitat of many birds.

• landfill

  n. a place where waste is buried in the ground

  The city is running out of space in its landfill.

• endangered

  adj. at risk of becoming extinct

  Tigers are an endangered species in many countries.

• greenhouse

  adj. relating to gases that trap heat in the atmosphere

  Greenhouse gases are warming the planet steadily.

• fossil

  adj. relating to fuels formed from ancient remains

  Burning fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon.

• contamination

  n. the act of making something dirty or impure

  Water contamination caused serious health problems.

• disposal

  n. the act of getting rid of something

  Proper waste disposal protects local water supplies.

• hazardous

  adj. dangerous, especially to health or the environment

  Hazardous chemicals must be stored safely.

• toxic

  adj. containing poisonous substances

  The river was polluted with toxic waste from factories.

• extinct

  adj. no longer existing as a species

  The dodo bird became extinct centuries ago.

• flooding

  n. the overflowing of water onto normally dry land

  Heavy rain caused severe flooding in the town.

• shortage

  n. a situation in which there is not enough of something

  A water shortage forced the city to limit usage.

• resource

  n. a useful or valuable supply, such as water or oil

  We must use our natural resources more wisely.

• consumption

  n. the act of using something such as energy or goods

  Reducing energy consumption can lower your bills.

• preserve

  v. to keep something in its original state

  The trust works to preserve historic buildings.

• restore

  v. to bring something back to its former condition

  Volunteers helped restore the damaged wetland.

• reduce

  v. to make something smaller in amount or size

  We should reduce the amount of plastic we use.

• pollutant

  n. a substance that causes pollution

  Cars are a major source of air pollutants.

• wildlife

  n. wild animals living in their natural environment

  New roads can threaten local wildlife.

• climate

  n. the typical weather conditions of an area

  Scientists warn that the climate is changing fast.

• organic

  adj. produced without artificial chemicals

  She buys organic vegetables from the local farm.

• overcrowded

  adj. containing too many people or things

  The overcrowded buses make commuting unpleasant.

• suburb

  n. a residential area on the edge of a city

  Many families move to the suburb for more space.

• residential

  adj. relating to areas where people live

  The new park improved the residential neighborhood.

• infrastructure

  n. the basic systems and facilities of a country or city

  Good infrastructure includes roads, water, and power.

• welfare

  n. the health and well-being of people

  The government spends a lot on social welfare.

• poverty

  n. the state of being extremely poor

  Many people in the city still live in poverty.

• equality

  n. the state of being equal in rights and status

  The movement fought for racial equality.

• diversity

  n. the existence of many different kinds of people or things

  The city is famous for its cultural diversity.

• tradition

  n. a custom passed down over generations

  The festival is an important local tradition.

• heritage

  n. the history and traditions of a society

  The old castle is part of the nation's heritage.

• generation

  n. all the people born around the same time

  The younger generation cares deeply about the climate.

• population

  n. the number of people living in a place

  The population of the city has doubled in ten years.

• migration

  n. the movement of people or animals to a new area

  Job opportunities drive migration to large cities.

• society

  n. people living together in an organized community

  A fair society protects its weakest members.

• culture

  n. the customs and beliefs of a group of people

  Travel helps you understand different cultures.

• volunteer

  n. a person who works without being paid

  A volunteer planted trees in the community park.

• charity

  n. an organization that helps people in need

  The charity provides food for homeless families.

• donate

  v. to give money or goods to help others

  Many people donate clothes to local shelters.

• litter

  n. rubbish left in a public place

  Please do not drop litter in the park.

• sewage

  n. waste water and waste carried away in drains

  Untreated sewage flowed into the river.

• ozone

  n. a layer of gas that protects Earth from the sun

  The ozone layer absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays.

• glacier

  n. a large mass of slowly moving ice

  The glacier is melting faster than ever before.

• desert

  n. a dry area with little rain and few plants

  The desert spreads as the land becomes drier.

• wetland

  n. land that is covered with water for part of the year

  The wetland is home to many rare birds.

• species

  n. a group of similar living organisms

  This species of frog is found only in this forest.

• pesticide

  n. a chemical used to kill pests on crops

  Heavy use of pesticide harms helpful insects.

• irrigation

  n. the supply of water to land for crops

  Modern irrigation helps farmers in dry regions.

• harvest

  n. the gathering of crops from the fields

  A good harvest depends on enough rainfall.

• compost

  n. decayed plant matter used to enrich soil

  She adds compost to her garden every spring.

• sustainability

  n. the quality of being able to last without harm

  Many companies now focus on sustainability.

• efficient

  adj. working well without wasting time or resources

  Efficient appliances use less electricity.

• disaster

  n. a sudden event causing great damage

  The flood was the worst natural disaster in years.

• hurricane

  n. a violent storm with strong winds

  The hurricane destroyed homes along the coast.

• temperature

  n. the measure of how hot or cold something is

  Global temperature has risen over the past century.

• atmosphere

  n. the layer of gases surrounding the Earth

  Carbon dioxide builds up in the atmosphere.

• carbon

  n. a chemical element found in all living things

  Trees absorb carbon from the air as they grow.

• solar

  adj. relating to or powered by the sun

  The house runs entirely on solar power.

• recycled

  adj. made from materials used before

  The bag is made from recycled plastic.

• crisis

  n. a time of great difficulty or danger

  The world faces a serious climate crisis.

• impact

  n. a strong effect on something

  Cars have a big impact on air quality.

• sewer

  n. an underground pipe that carries waste water

  The old sewer system often overflows in storms.

• pavement

  n. a paved path at the side of a road

  The narrow pavement is unsafe for pedestrians.

• pedestrian

  n. a person who is walking

  The new crossing makes the road safer for pedestrians.

• landscape

  n. the visible features of an area of land

  Wind farms have changed the rural landscape.

• sanitation

  n. systems for keeping places clean and healthy

  Poor sanitation can spread dangerous diseases.

• contaminate

  v. to make something impure or unsafe

  Chemicals can contaminate the groundwater.

• threaten

  v. to be likely to cause harm to something

  Rising seas threaten many coastal cities.

• recover

  v. to return to a normal condition

  The forest is slowly recovering after the fire.

• generate

  v. to produce energy or something useful

  Wind turbines generate clean electricity.

• maintain

  v. to keep something in good condition

  The council works hard to maintain the parks.

• adapt

  v. to change in order to survive new conditions

  Many animals must adapt to a warmer climate.

• purify

  v. to make something clean and pure

  The plant purifies water before it reaches homes.

• abundant

  adj. existing in large amounts

  Sunlight is an abundant source of energy.

• scarce

  adj. not available in large amounts

  Clean water is becoming scarce in many regions.

• urban

  adj. relating to a city or town

  Urban areas often have higher air pollution.

• rural

  adj. relating to the countryside

  Young people are leaving rural areas for jobs.

• densely

  adv. with many people or things close together

  The city is densely populated and very busy.

• emit

  v. to send out gas, heat, or light

  Old cars emit more pollution than new ones.

• dispose

  v. to get rid of something

  We must dispose of batteries safely.

• overuse

  n. the act of using something too much

  Overuse of water has drained the local lake.

• recyclable

  adj. able to be processed and used again

  Glass and aluminum are easily recyclable.

• ecological

  adj. relating to the natural environment

  The dam had a serious ecological impact.

• overflow

  v. to flow over the edge of a container

  The river may overflow after days of rain.

• expand

  v. to become larger in size or amount

  The city continues to expand into farmland.

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