Useful Vocabulary. Environmental Problems. Causes of Environmental Problems. Solutions to Environmental Problems

Useful Vocabulary

Environmental Problems

· destruction of the rainforests (deforestation)

· melting of the icecaps

· extinction of many species (loss of biodiversity)

· destruction of the ozone layer

· global warming / the “greenhouse effect”

· rising sea levels

· pollution of land, sea and air

· increase of natural disasters eg, earthquakes, landslides, floods

Causes of Environmental Problems

· excessive emissions of greenhouse gases, eg carbon dioxide

· chemical and industrial waste

· emissions from cars and planes

· improper dumping of household waste

· overuse of non-renewable fossil fuels

· genetic modification

· over-consumption

· over-urbanisation

Solutions to Environmental Problems

· recycling

· using renewable sources of energy, eg solar heating, wind-farms

· replanting trees

· cutting carbon emissions

· cleaner waste disposal

· sustainable consumption and development

· buying products with less packaging

· buying organic products

· buying products made from recycled material / renewable sources

· using natural remedies as alternative medicine