Wild world

Vocabulary of the environment

A list of vocabulary items related to the environment:

Important environment issues, natural environmental disasters and other environment vocabulary.

acid rain

rain which contains large amounts of harmful chemicals as a result of burning substances such as coal and oil.

biodegradable

able to decay naturally and harmlessly.

Biodegradable packaging helps to limit the amount of harmful chemicals released into the atmosphere.

biodiversity

the number and variety of plant and animal species that exist in a particular environmental area or in the world generally, or the problem of preserving and protecting this.

a new National Biological Survey to protect species habitat and biodiversity.

carbon monoxide

the poisonous gas formed by the burning of carbon, especially in the form of car fuel.

carbon dioxide

the gas formed when carbon is burned, or when people or animals breathe out.

climate

the general weather conditions usually found in a particular place.

The Mediterranean climate is good for growing citrus fruits and grapes.

climate change

there has been a growing concern about climate change.

deforestation

the cutting down of trees in a large area; the destruction of forests by people.

Deforestation is destroying large areas of tropical rain forest.

desertification

the process by which land changes into desert.

disposable products

describes an item that is intended to be thrown away after use.

disposable nappies

drought

a long period when there is little or no rain.

This year (a) severe drought has ruined the crops.

earthquake

a sudden violent movement of the Earth's surface, sometimes causing great damage.

endangered species

endangered birds/plants/species animals or plants which may soon not exist because there are very few now alive.

energy

the power from something such as electricity or oil, which can do work, such as providing light and heat. There are different types of energy: solar, nuclear, hydroelectric...

The energy generated by the windmill drives all the drainage pumps.

energy conservation

the process of conserving energy

environment

the air, water and land in or on which people, animals and plants live.

Certain chemicals have been banned because of their damaging effect on the environment.

extinction

Many species of plants and animals are in danger of/threatened with extinction (= being destroyed so that they no longer exist)