TOPIC: ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT

24 Environmental problems
A The problems and their causes

A variety of environmental problems now affect our entire world. As globalisation1 continues,
local issues become international ones, so today there are few places in the world that do not suffer
from environmental problems. Some of the major problems now affecting the world are acid
rain2, air pollution3, global warming4, hazardous5 waste, ozone depletion6, smog7, water
pollution, overpopulation, and rainforest destruction8. People are also worried about the
greenhouse effect, where an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide [CO2] and other gases9
in the Earth’s atmosphere10 causes a gradual warming of the surface of the Earth. This global
warming is leading to the thawing of the polar ice caps11 and all this is causing concern
about climate change. Both human behaviour and climate change have led to many animal
and plant species12 becoming endangered13 or even extinct14.

1 increasing business, cultural and other contacts between countries 2 rain which contains harmful chemicals

as a result of burning substances such as oil and coal [acid = a type of liquid that reacts chemically with other
materials, sometimes dissolving them] 3 damage caused to the air by harmful substances or waste
4 rise in the world’s temperature 5 dangerous 6 reduction in the ozone layer [layer of air above the Earth
containing ozone which prevents harmful ultraviolet light from the sun from reaching Earth]
7 air pollution found in cities caused by a mixture of smoke, gases and chemicals (the word has been formed

from smoke + fog) 8 destroying (cutting down) forest in a tropical area which receives a lot of rain
9 substance in a form that is neither solid nor liquid 10 the mixture of gases around the Earth
11 ice covering the areas at the North and South Poles 12 types 13 very few in number, at risk of

becoming extinct 14 not existing any longer

Language help
The prefix over- means too much. Overfishing means that people have fished so much that it is
having a serious effect on fish populations. Overpopulated means there are so many people
living in an area that life is difficult there.

B Dealing with the problems

Worldwide efforts are being made to improve the situation. Green parties and green or ecological
policies are mainly concerned with protecting the environment. Conservation organisations are
developing nature reserves where plants and animals are protected. Some farmers produce organic
food, which avoids the use of harmful chemicals. More companies try to behave in a way that is
environmentally friendly or ecologically sound. Societies attempt to dispose of waste in a more
responsible way, by, for example, recycling as much as possible. People aim to reduce their carbon
footprint by using cars less so that they cut down on their use of fossil fuels, for example.

C Word families
noun verb adjective adverb
globalisation globalise global globally
environment, environmentalist environmental environmentally
pollution, pollutant pollute polluting
destruction destroy destructive destructively
disposal dispose disposable
reduction reduce reduced

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TOPIC: ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT

Exercises
24.1 Answer each question, using a word or expression from the box.
acid rain carbon dioxide endangered species extinct global warming
globalisation hazardous waste ozone layer polar ice caps destruction of rainforests
smog water pollution

1 What happened to dinosaurs about 65 million years ago? They became extinct.
2 What is the name for a special layer in the Earth’s atmosphere which helps protect our planet?
3 What word can be used to describe the increasing contact between countries that has a major
impact on life today?
4 What causes problems because it is difficult to dispose of safely?
5 What have scientists shown to be melting worryingly fast at the North and South Poles?
6 What does the chemical symbol CO2 represent?
7 What has been happening in the Amazon area and in other tropical areas like Indonesia and
Malaysia?
8 What problem is a type of air pollution?
9 What can cause harm to plant or other life when it falls on the land or sea?
10 What is the Siberian tiger an example of?
11 What has caused much plant and animal life in rivers in industrial areas to die out?
12 What is the term for the phenomenon describing the rise in the Earth’s average temperature?

24.2 Match words to form compound nouns.

1 acid fuel acid rain 6 greenhouse disposal
2 carbon change 7 nature reserve
3 climate party 8 organic depletion
4 fossil footprint 9 ozone effect
5 green rain 10 waste food

24.3 Choose a word from the opposite page to complete each sentence.
1 An environmentalist is a person who does what they can to help protect the environment.
2 items like plastic cups and paper plates are labour-saving but have a harmful effect on
the environment.
3 The government says it is aiming for a significant in this country’s use of fossil fuels over
the next ten years.
4 The company plans to part of a nature reserve in order to build its new warehouses.
5 Carbon monoxide (CO) is an example of an air .
6 The melting of the polar ice caps will have a impact on the environment.
7 Staff can of all recyclable items in these green bins.
8 Air pollution may the lives of people with respiratory illnesses.
9 This company is proud of its friendly policies.

24.4 Over to you

Answer these questions.
1 Which of the environmental problems in A exist in your country?
2 Do you think climate change is having any impact in your country?
3 How much support do green parties have in your country?
4 What could power cars instead of petrol or diesel?
5 Suggest three things people can do to reduce their carbon footprint.

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TOPIC: ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT

31 The environment
A Damaging the environment
Read this extract from a report on getting rid of waste.

Disposal of household waste is a daunting task for local authorities. Towns and cities cannot
just dump1 such waste and hope it will go away. Household waste contains many materials and
substances which are extremely harmful to the environment, and authorities need long-term
solutions. Efforts to recycle waste are only a partial solution. Meanwhile, the problem of toxic2
waste remains. One expert recently warned that the risks to public health are so great that we
may have less than a decade to avoid an environmental catastrophe on a global scale.

1 2
dispose of in an irresponsible manner poisonous

B Climate change and its consequences

Here is an interview with Gary Prime, an American rock star known
for his support of environmental campaigns, who is visiting London.
Interviewer: Would you agree that climate change is the most urgent
issue facing us today?
Prime: Definitely. You only have to look at the changing weather
patterns in many parts of the world. It’s absolutely vital
that we change our ways before it’s too late. Parts of Europe
which used to be cooler now experience intense, searing heat1, and temperatures
soar above the average every summer. Other areas suffer widespread flooding on a
regular basis. We can’t continue in this way without there being dire2 consequences.
Interviewer: So what can people do in the face of this irreversible climate change?
Prime: Well, for a start we can all reduce our carbon footprint3 by flying less, and reduce
our food miles4 by buying local produce. Some airlines have schemes now for
offsetting carbon emissions5.
Interviewer: Flying’s only one part of it, though. Most of the problems come from vehicle
emissions and power stations.
Prime: True, but there are things we can do about that too. Buy a
hybrid car6, develop alternative energy sources for homes,
solar heating for instance, and build more offshore7 wind
farms. Oil supplies will run dry8 within 50 years. Renewable
energy can make a real difference. And politicians shouldn’t
be afraid of introducing green taxes9 and incentives to
encourage eco-friendly design in architecture. With sufficient
will, we can find a solution.
Interviewer: Gary Prime, thank you for giving up your time for this interview.
Prime: No problem. I’ve got just enough time to catch my flight to Los Angeles.
1
extreme heat 2 extremely serious 6
a car can alternate between different
3
amount of carbon dioxide created by a person/business energy sources (e.g. petrol and battery)
4 7
distance food has to travel between where it is grown or at sea, away from the coast
8
made and where it is consumed run out
5 9
paying for an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide to be taxes relating to the protection of the
saved elsewhere environment

Common mistakes
• We say absolutely vital, NOT very vital.
It’s absolutely vital that everyone plays their part in combating climate change.
• We say find a solution, NOT give a solution.
We need to find a solution to the problem of energy supplies.

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TOPIC: ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT

Exercises

31.1 Read these remarks by different speakers, and then answer the questions.
Sylvia: We found that poisonous chemicals had been thrown into the river.
Tomas: We have to protect everyone from illnesses caused by environmental problems.
Marcos: We can collect glass and plastic from homes which can then be re-used.
Gerard: We are heading for a major disaster in terms of the pollution of the oceans.
Ulla: We must stop using this chemical. It can destroy plant and animal life.
1 Who mentions public health?
2 Who is complaining about people dumping toxic waste?
3 Who is talking about avoiding the use of something which is harmful to the environment?
4 Who is explaining about recycling household waste?
5 Who is sounding a warning about an environmental catastrophe?
31.2 Complete each sentence using a word from the opposite page.
1 We looked out to sea and spotted some wind farms.
2 Oil supplies are likely to dry within the next 200 years.
3 It’s absolutely that we all do something to reduce global warming.
4 As a green organisation we only use architects who specialise in design.
5 Continued use of fossil fuels will have consequences in the long term.
6 The airline has a scheme where you can your carbon emissions.
31.3 Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence using a collocation from the opposite
page based on the word in brackets.
1 How far our food travels before we consume it should be a concern for everyone. (MILE)
2 Energy which comes from inexhaustible sources, such as wind, is our greatest hope for the
future. (RENEW)
3 The region has experienced flooding over large areas in recent years. (WIDE)
4 We have caused the world’s climate to alter in a way that cannot be changed back. (CHANGE)
5 We must do something to eliminate the problem of toxic waste. (SOLVE)
6 We should all try to reduce the amount of carbon we emit. (FOOT)
7 Wind farms located out at sea can provide a partial solution to the problem. (SHORE)
8 The minister chairs a committee aiming to improve the way we get rid of rubbish from our
homes. (DISPOSE)
31.4 Correct the collocation errors in these sentences.
1 Temperatures expanded during the summer months and reached a record high.
2 We must change our way before it is too late.
3 They now have a sun heating system in their house; it’s very economical.
4 The desert experiences soaring heat during the day but is cold at night.
5 The weather designs have changed in recent years: winters are milder, summers are hotter.
6 He has one of those mixed cars which alternates between petrol and battery power.
7 The government must present green taxes so people who damage the environment pay more.
8 Vehicle transmissions are the main source of pollution in big cities.
9 We need to find alternative energy origins for private homes.

Over to you
Go to the United Nations Environment Programme website at www.unep.org and
make a note of useful collocations you find there connected with the environment.

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TOPIC: ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT
TOPIC: ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT
TOPIC: ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT
TOPIC: ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT
TOPIC: ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT

33 Our endangered world

You probably already know a lot of words for talking about the environment, pollution, and so on. In
this unit we focus particularly on collocations (words that are often used together). Try to learn these
and use them in your writing.

A Threats and potential threats to the environment

Shrinking habitats1 are a threat to biodiversity2, in terms of both plants and animals, and
endangered species3 need legal protection if they are to survive. Although some climate change
sceptics4 disagree, most scientists believe that global warming5 will increase. This will encourage
polar ice to melt, resulting in rising sea levels and climatic changes. Carbon (dioxide) emissions6
from the burning of fossil fuels7 are contributing to the greenhouse effect8. In addition, population
growth exerts severe pressure on9 finite resources10, and the ecological balance11 may be upset
by uncontrolled deforestation12. Demographic projections13 suggest the world population will
continue to grow exponentially14, putting extra pressure on depleting resources15. Waste disposal16
is an increasing problem and toxic waste17 is contaminating18 many rivers and seas. Safe water may
become an increasingly precious commodity19, leading to issues of water security20. One of the
worst-case scenarios21 is that there will be no tropical rainforests left by the year 2050. Our only hope
is that pristine environments22 such as Antarctica can be protected from development and damage,
so that at least these habitats are preserved.

1 2
places where animals live and breed which are decreasing in size variety of different types of biological
3 4
species types of animals/plants which are in danger of no longer existing people who do not believe
5 6
that climate change is a serious issue steady rise in average world temperatures carbon dioxide gas
7 8
from factories, cars, etc. coal, oil, etc. warming of the Earth’s surface caused by pollution, where
9 10
gases trap and redirect heat back down to the Earth’s surface puts great pressure on; formal limited
11
resources that will eventually run out / be exhausted balance of natural relationships in the environment
12 13 14
unrestricted destruction/clearing of forests forecasts about the population grow extremely rapidly
15 16 17 18
resources that are reducing getting rid of waste poisonous waste materials poisoning
19 20
(something) very valuable substance ability to ensure that a population has safe drinking water
21 22
the worst possibilities for the future perfectly clean/untouched/unspoilt areas

B Responses to environmental issues and problems

Look at these newspaper headlines and note the useful phrases.

GOVERNING PARTY IN BID TO IMPROVE

GREEN CREDENTIALS1 PROPHETS OF DOOM AND GLOOM2 SHOULD LISTEN TO SCIENTIFIC
EVIDENCE, SAYS PRIME MINISTER

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT3 THE ONLY ANSWER FOR

EMERGING COUNTRIES, SAYS UN COMMISSION
RENEWABLE ENERGY4 – GOVERNMENT DEVELOPS
NEW STRATEGY

1
reputation for positive support of the environment and for making policies that reflect this
2
people who always make the most depressing or pessimistic predictions about the future
3
development of industry, etc. which does not damage the environment or social and economic stability, and
which can continue over a period of time
4
energy produced using sun, wind or crops rather than coal or other fuels which cannot be replaced once used

Common mistakes
People cause damage to the environment (NOT damages).

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Exercises
33.1 Make these sentences formal by using words and phrases from A opposite instead of the
underlined words, making any other necessary changes.
1 All that carbon-what’s-it-called gas put out by cars and factories is a major problem.
2 These flowers here are a type there’s not many left of, so it’s illegal to pick them.
3 A lot of wild animals have to survive in smaller and smaller areas where they can live.
4 A lot of Patagonia is a completely spotless area that’s never been touched.
5 We have to look after the things we use on this planet because they won’t last for ever.
6 If the cutting down of trees continues, there will be no forest left ten years from now.
7 Burning coal and oil and stuff like that causes a lot of pollution.
8 The sea will get higher if this heating up of the world continues.
9 Increasing population puts really big pressure on economic resources.
10 The way things all balance one another in nature is very delicate.
33.2 Complete the following table, using a dictionary if necessary. Do not fill the shaded boxes.

noun verb adjective adverb

climate
demography
project
sustain
contaminate
toxic
deplete

33.3 Correct the mistakes in this paragraph.

Profits of boom and gloom are always saying that we are heading for
an environmental catastrophe, and that unless we adopt a policy of
attainable development, we will cause irreparable damages to the
planet. The worst-place scenery is of a world choked by overpopulation,
the greenhouse affect and traffic gridlock. Much of what is claimed is
exaggerated, but politicians are influenced by such voices and are always
trying to improve their green potentials in the eyes of the voters.

33.4 Match words on the left with words on the right

to make collocations about the environment.
1 renewable a scenario
2 demographic b sceptic
3 precious c effect
4 polar d energy
5 waste e projections
6 greenhouse f disposal
7 worst-case g commodity
8 climate change h ice

33.5 Over to you

To find more vocabulary connected with environment and conservation issues, visit the
websites of major conservation organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
(www.worldwildlife.org) or Friends of the Earth International (www.foei.org).

English Vocabulary in Use Advanced 73