IELTS VOCABULARY ON ENVIRONMENT TOPIC

IELTS VOCABULARY ON ENVIRONMENT TOPIC

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Alternative energy sources : Energy that does not come from fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, gas), for example wind, flowing water, solar energy and biomass.

Atmosphere : The mass of air surrounding the Earth.

Backyard burning : An illegal method of getting rid of household waste, possibly in an attempt to save on bin charges, that releases levels of pollutants into the air, so harming air quality and risking the health of those burning the waste and of their neighbours.

Biodiversity : A short form of the phrase ‘biological diversity’, which means the variety of life on this planet and how it interacts within habitats and ecosystems. Biodiversity covers all plants, animals and micro-organisms on land and in water. See also ecosystem, habitat and organism.

CFL bulbs : Short for ‘compact fluorescent lamp’ bulbs, which are light bulbs that use a fraction of the energy of traditional filament bulbs and last up to five times longer.

Domestic waste : Waste produced within the home, including garden waste. See also household waste.Draught proofing :A way to stop heat from escaping a home, for example by sealing window frames and using draught excluders under doors.

Dumping : Disposing of waste illegally by not using bins or official recycling centres, civic amenity sites or landfills.

Global warming : The gradual increase in temperature of the Earth’s surface caused by human activities that cause high levels of carbon dioxide and other gases to be released into the air.

Green bin : A wheelie bin used in certain local authorities to collect dry cardboard, paper, tins and other recyclable waste, including certain plastics.

Ecosystem : A community of organisms that depend on each other and the environment they inhabit.

Ecotourism : Small-scale tourism in fragile and protected areas that aims to have a low impact on the environment, benefit local communities and enable tourists to learn more about the natural and cultural history of the place. See also sustainable tourism.

Emissions : In the context of the atmosphere, gases or particles released into the air that can contribute to global warming or poor air quality.

Energy efficiency : Actions to save fuels, for example better building design, changing production processes, developing better transport policies, using better road vehicles and using insulation and double glazing in homes.

Insulation : In this guide, material such as foam or glass wool that is used in homes and other buildings to prevent heat loss, reduce noise and improve comfort.

Noise pollution : Noises that disturb the environment and people’s ability to enjoy it, for example continually sounding house alarms, loud music, air conditioning or other electrical units and aircraft or motor engines.

Organic food : Plants and animals that are grown or reared without the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides or hormones.

Organic : In this guide, matter from living, or once-living, things.

Organism : Any living thing, from bacteria and fungi through to insects, plants, animals and humans.

Ozone layer :The thin protective layer of gas 10 to 50km above the Earth that acts as a filter for ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. High UV levels can lead to skin cancer and cataracts and affect the growth of plants.

Pesticides : A general term for any chemicals that are used to kill weeds, fungi, insects or other pests.

Plastic bag levy : An environmental tax that customers must pay when they accept a plastic or laminated bag from a retailer. There is no tax on small bags, such as those for fresh meat or loose fruit and vegetables. Money raised from the tax is put into a special fund that is used to protect the environment.

Radiation : A form of energy that is transmitted in waves, rays or particles from a natural source, such as the sun and the ground, or an artificial source, such as an x-ray machine. Radiation can be ionising or non-ionising. Ionising radiation includes ultraviolet rays, radon gas and X-rays. Too much exposure to ionising radiation can be harmful, leading to increased risk of cancer. Non-ionising radiation includes visible light, radio waves and microwaves. This type of radiation is less risky to health because it contains less energy, but it can still be harmful at high levels for a long time.

Radioactive : A material is said to be radioactive if it emits radiation

Recycle : To break waste items down into their raw materials, which are then used to re-make the original item or make new items.

Renewable energy : Energy from renewable resources such as wind power, solar energy or biomass.

Reforestation : The process of planting trees in forest lands to replace those that have been cut down.

Sewage : Liquid wastes from communities, which may be a mixture of domestic effluent from homes and liquid waste from industry.

Smog : Air pollution consisting of smoke and fog, which occurs in large urban and industrial areas and is mainly caused by the action of sunlight on burned fuels, mostly from car exhausts. Smog can cause eye irritations and breathing problems and damage plant life.

Toxic : Poisonous or harmful to the body (ecotoxic relates to damage to the environment).

Toxin : A poisonous substance that can either be natural (produced by plants, animals or bacteria) or manufactured. 

Ventilation : In this guide, the movement of air between the inside and outside of a building usually through windows, doors and air vents built into the building’s walls or ceilings.

Wind energy : Energy harnessed from the wind at wind farms and converted to power.  See also wind turbine.

Wind turbine :An engine or machine, usually mounted on a towe, that captures the force of the wind and converts it to electricity.