Vocabulary · Society and the planet
Environment and climate in English
B1
Environment and climate in English: pollution and its dangers, recycling and other green habits, nature and endangered species, and the words of young climate activists. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Pollution and threats
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| pollution(n.) | dirty or harmful things in air or water | /pəˈluːʃn/ | “Air pollution is a serious problem in big cities.” |
| to pollute(v.) | to make air, water or land dirty | /pəˈluːt/ | “Cars pollute the air every day.” |
| climate change(n.) | changes in the Earth's weather over time | /ˈklaɪmət tʃeɪndʒ/ | “Climate change affects every country.” |
| global warming(n.) | the Earth slowly getting hotter | /ˌɡləʊbl ˈwɔːmɪŋ/ | “Global warming melts the polar ice.” |
| greenhouse gas(n.) | a gas that traps heat around the Earth | /ˈɡriːnhaʊs ɡæs/ | “CO2 is the main greenhouse gas.” |
| waste(n.) | things that people throw away | /weɪst/ | “We produce too much waste at home.” |
| plastic(n.) | a light material made from oil | /ˈplæstɪk/ | “There is too much plastic in the oceans.” |
| deforestation(n.) | cutting down large areas of forest | /ˌdiːfɒrɪˈsteɪʃn/ | “Deforestation destroys animal habitats.” |
| oil spill(n.) | oil that escapes into the sea | /ˈɔɪl spɪl/ | “The oil spill killed thousands of birds.” |
Solutions and green habits
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| to recycle(v.) | to make old things into new ones | /ˌriːˈsaɪkl/ | “We recycle paper and glass every week.” |
| to reuse(v.) | to use something again | /ˌriːˈjuːz/ | “I reuse plastic bags when I go shopping.” |
| to reduce(v.) | to make something smaller or less | /rɪˈdjuːs/ | “We must reduce our carbon footprint.” |
| to save(v.) | to use less; to keep safe | /seɪv/ | “Turn off the lights to save energy.” |
| to protect(v.) | to keep something safe from harm | /prəˈtekt/ | “We have to protect endangered species.” |
| eco-friendly(adj.) | not harmful to nature | /ˌiːkəʊ ˈfrendli/ | “I buy eco-friendly products.” |
| sustainable(adj.) | able to continue without harming nature | /səˈsteɪnəbl/ | “A sustainable lifestyle is better for the planet.” |
| carbon footprint(n.) | the CO2 that your activities produce | /ˈkɑːbən ˈfʊtprɪnt/ | “Flying increases your carbon footprint.” |
| organic(adj.) | grown without chemicals | /ɔːˈɡænɪk/ | “Organic vegetables are grown without chemicals.” |
| recycling bin(n.) | a container for paper, glass and plastic | /ˈriːsaɪklɪŋ bɪn/ | “Throw the bottle in the recycling bin.” |
Nature and ecosystems
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| environment(n.) | the natural world around us | /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/ | “We must take care of the environment.” |
| planet(n.) | a big world that goes round a star | /ˈplænɪt/ | “Our planet needs our help.” |
| Earth(n.) | the planet we live on | /ɜːθ/ | “Earth is the only planet we have.” |
| ocean(n.) | a very large area of sea | /ˈəʊʃn/ | “The ocean covers 70% of the Earth.” |
| forest(n.) | a large area full of trees | /ˈfɒrɪst/ | “The Amazon forest is the largest in the world.” |
| species(n.) | a group of similar animals or plants | /ˈspiːʃiːz/ | “Many species are endangered today.” |
| wildlife(n.) | wild animals and plants in nature | /ˈwaɪldlaɪf/ | “Wildlife is disappearing fast.” |
| endangered(adj.) | at risk of disappearing forever | /ɪnˈdeɪndʒəd/ | “Polar bears are an endangered species.” |
| extinction(n.) | when a type of animal disappears forever | /ɪkˈstɪŋkʃn/ | “Some animals face extinction.” |
Activism and taking action
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| activist(n.) | a person who fights for a cause | /ˈæktɪvɪst/ | “Greta Thunberg is a famous young activist.” |
| to protest(v.) | to show strongly that you disagree | /prəˈtest/ | “Students protest against climate change.” |
| awareness(n.) | knowing and understanding a problem | /əˈweənəs/ | “We need to raise awareness about pollution.” |
| strike(n.) | stopping work or school to protest | /straɪk/ | “Friday is a climate strike day.” |
| petition(n.) | a request that many people sign | /pəˈtɪʃn/ | “I signed a petition online.” |
| to fight(v.) | to try very hard to stop something | /faɪt/ | “We fight to save the planet.” |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Enviroment ❌: don't forget the n
The word is environment, with an n before the m: en-vi-ron-ment. It is environ + -ment. When people say the word quickly, they hardly hear this n, so many learners forget it when they write.
2. A pollution ❌: pollution is uncountable
Never say a pollution or pollutions. Pollution is uncountable (you cannot count it), like water or information. Say a lot of pollution or too much pollution, not many pollutions.
3. Seeds in the Earth ❌: earth can also mean soil
With a capital letter, Earth is our planet: Earth is the only planet we have. You can also say the Earth. With a small letter, earth means the ground or soil: I planted seeds in the earth. So use a small e when you mean the soil.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What are the key words to talk about the environment?+
The key words are environment, pollution, climate change, global warming, to recycle, sustainable, endangered species, planet, carbon footprint and eco-friendly. With these words, you can understand most texts about the environment.
What is the difference between global warming and climate change?+
Global warming /ˌɡləʊbl ˈwɔːmɪŋ/ means that the Earth is getting hotter. Climate change is a wider term: it includes global warming, but also droughts (long periods without rain), floods and storms. Example: Global warming is one of the biggest challenges of our time.
How do you spell environment?+
Environment is spelt e-n-v-i-r-o-n-m-e-n-t. There is an n before the m: think of environ + -ment. Enviroment, without that n, is a very common spelling mistake.
What verbs can you use to talk about protecting the planet?+
The four key verbs are to recycle, to reuse, to reduce and to protect. Other useful verbs: to save (save energy, save the planet), to fight (fight climate change) and to raise awareness (to help people understand a problem).
How do you give your opinion about the environment in English?+
Start with your opinion: I think we must… or I believe that…. Then give two or three reasons with examples: For example, we can recycle…, Many people don't…. End with a conclusion: That's why we must act now. Useful modal verbs: must, should, can and need to.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/environment
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.