Environment | Vocabulary

Environment - Useful verbs

to harm (cause or do prejudicar; causar Our actions harm the planet.
harm to/ be harmful) dano
to threat (a threat ameaçar Global warming is threatening the life on the planet.
to/be under threat/to
be threatened by)
to emit emitir Sulphur gases were emitted by the spewing volcano.
to endanger Colocar em Nowadays, human activities are endangering the bees.
perigo

to impact (have an causar impacto Our action have a serious impact on ecosystems.
impact on)
to increase aumentar The number of species endangered is increasing
dramatically.
to cut down cortar; deitar a Thousands of trees are cut down every year.
to chop down baixo Poor people often chop down trees for firewood.
to destroy destruir We are destroying our planet.
to degrade degradar We are degrading the environment.
to erode erodir
to contaminate contaminar Factories emit poisonous gas that are contaminating the
atmosphere
to waste desperdiçar She wastes too much food in the restaurant.
to pollute poluir
to poison envenenar The factory is polluting the water springs.
to melt derreter Glaciers are melting fast.
to die morrer Many sea animals die every day because of sea pollution.

to protect proteger We must protect the environment.

to preserve
to avoid evitar I avoid buy disposable products.
to save salvar Nowadays, saving the planet should be our priority.
poupar
to combat combater There should be stricter laws to combat air pollution.
to conserve conservar The new owners of the land want contribute to conserve ecosystem
of the region.
to diminish diminuir The people try to diminish the pollution of the water.
to recycle reciclar You should recycle your electronics.
to reduce reduzir We have to reduce the amount of plastic bags in the oceans.
to reuse reutilizar Reuse the plastic bags or bottles.
to clean limpar Today, the freshman are cleaning the local beach.
to compost fazer They compost their food scraps.
compostagem
to turn off desligar Turn off lights when you’re not in the room
to sort out separar o lixo The students sort out the rubbish.
 Environment | Vocabulary

Environment – most common concepts

biodegradable disposable products sustainable development

biodiversity natural resources waste, rubbish, garbage,
trash.
carbon monoxide renewable energy ecology
carbon dioxide sustainable energy
climate recycle waste ecosystem
energy-efficient environmentalist reusable
radiation rainforest toxic waste
waste separation Activists wildlife
footprint self-sufficient rainforest
glacier reefs ice cap

Threats to the Environment

Air pollution1 Noise pollution2 Water pollution/Sea Overexploitation of natural

pollution resources
Deforestation Mineral exploration (Use) Fossil Fuels Emisson of gases and fumes
(from vehicles, factories,
houses…)
Overpopulation (misuse of ) Pesticides Industrialization Overfishing
and (Toxic) Chemicals
Overuse of plastic Consumerism Urbanization Oil slick

Environmental Problems

Acid rain Greenhouse Effect Global warming

Soil erosion Ozone layer depletion Smog
Climate changes Endangered species Loss of species/ extinction
of species
Rising of sea level Changing of rain patterns Desertification
Starvation Glacier Melting Water shortage

Natural Disasters
A natural disaster is a major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth.
Nevertheless, the pollution caused by the humans interferes with the natural cycles increasing
its frequency and intensity.
Hurricane Tornado Volcanic eruption
Landslide Flood Heat wave/Cold wave

1
Caused by, for example, the emission of greenhouse gases
2
Caused by industrialization, social events, means of transportation…