Environment Related Vocabulary For IELTS 2022: Latest IELTS Exam Guide

A good vocabulary is the backbone of good English speaking. The IELTS Speaking section is the fourth part of the four-part IELTS test and focuses on judging your fluency, vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar in the English language. Themes enter the conversation during part 2 and part 3 of the IELTS speaking exam, during which you have to elaborate on a given theme.

This blog will take you through the vocabulary you should learn and work on. The focal point of this blog will be vocabulary related to one of the most popular themes of IELTS Speaking, Environment. Read on to procure knowledge about the words, phrases and collocations related to the environment that can help you ace your IELTS Speaking exam. 

You can also learn vocabulary related to other popular themes, such as education, transport and many more, through the blogs on our website. 

Environment-Related IELTS Vocabulary

The environment is one of the most debated and discussed topics in today’s world. The environment is the surrounding we live in, and its degradation during recent years has created a topic of deep contemplation.

In the IELTS Speaking section, the environment is one of the most popular themes that can be your topic for tasks 2 and task 3. Thus, expanding vocabulary related to it can help you score high marks in your Speaking section. It is also a popular theme for the IELTS Writing and Reading tasks and will help you score better in these sections as well.

Important Words, Phrases & Collocations Related to the Environment

To handle the topic of environment for your speaking test, you need to have a knowledge of the environment-related vocabulary for IELTS. Here are some general terms you should know about that are used in any conversation about the environment:

Habitat

• Meaning – The natural environment where an organism lives.
• Collocations – Natural habitat, damage to habitat, loss of habitat, protection a habitat
• Usage – A wild animal prefers to live in its natural habitat rather than in a zoo

Biodegradable

• Meaning – Matter that can be decomposed by organisms, thus preventing pollution 
• Collocations – Biodegradable waste, non-biodegradable waste
• Usage –  Biodegradable waste should be deposited underground to create compost.

Biodiversity

• Meaning – The concentration and types of plants and animals within a specific area 
• Collocations – Preserve biodiversity, biodiversity loss
• Usage – Biodiversity needs to be preserved to promote a healthy environment

Ecosystem

• Meaning – Living things such as plants and animals within an area that affects the functioning of the environment 
• Collocations – Protect the ecosystem, preserve the ecosystem, marine ecosystem
• Usage – The marine ecosystem has been deteriorating due to constant hunting and poaching.

Important Words, Phrases & Collocations Related to Reasons for Environmental Problems

If the cue card has a topic related to the environment and asks for your views and opinions about its damage, your first step should be to provide logical reasoning using the correct environment-related vocabulary for IELTS. Explain environmental issues and what are the major causes related to environmental damage. 

Let us see a word list and the usage in a sentence that will help you frame your answer in the best way —

Pollution

• Meaning – Damage was done to the environment due to various activities 
• Collocations – Pollution of the environment/air/water/soil
• Usage – High levels of pollution due to rubbish and litter can disturb the ecosystem

Deforestation

• Meaning – Cutting or uprooting of trees due to natural or human activities
• Collocations – Illegal deforestation, mass deforestation
• Usage – Mass deforestation affects the levels of oxygen in the air as well as leads to global warming and soil erosion.

Global Warming

• Meaning – Heating up of the Earth’s atmosphere due to greenhouse gases
• Collocations – Combat global warming, increase in global warming, tackle global warming
• Usage – Global warming is one of the major reasons for climate change and ozone depletion.

Extinct

• Meaning – End of a species’ existence 
• Collocations – Extinction of species, extinct animals, go extinct, virtually extinct 
• Usage – Many species have gone extinct due to climate change and poaching.

Overpopulation

• Meaning – Population of a specific area above the safe limit 
• Collocations – Overpopulated country, increasing overpopulation
• Usage – Overpopulation in a country can lead to scarcity of natural resources.

Acid rain

• Meaning – Precipitation of any form of rain that is acidic 
• Collocations – Acid rain formation, acid rainfall
• Usage – Increasing occurrence of acid rain is damaging flora and fauna around us, leading to contamination of water resources and damaging the air quality.

Radiation

• Meaning – A type of energy emitted by nuclear reactions that is very harmful to health 
• Collocations – Cosmic radiation, nuclear radiation
• Usage – The radiation produced by nuclear reactors can leave a person with severe health issues.

Greenhouse Effect

• Meaning – The trapping of heat inside the Earth’s atmosphere due to carbon emissions like carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) and carbon monoxide emissions (CO)
• Collocations – Causes of the greenhouse effect
• Usage – The Earth is marred by the greenhouse effect, increasing its temperature and leading to natural disasters. Reducing your carbon footprint can help save the planet from this effect.

Toxic Waste

• Meaning – Waste products produced from chemicals and industrial processes
• Collocations – Toxic waste disposal, toxic waste removal, toxic waste treatment
• Usage – The elimination of liquid, toxic waste is vital in preventing water pollution.

Important Words & Collocations Related to Solutions for Environmental Issues

A good answer explains the problems and provides solutions. Once you are finished explaining the environmental issue, you should follow up with the solutions. Let us look at the topic’s vocabulary related to the solutions for environmental issues.

Sustainable

• Meaning – Activities that cause minimal or no damage to the environment and can be carried on for a long time 
• Collocations – Sustainable activities, sustainable energy, sustainable growth 
• Usage – To protect the world for future generations, we must follow sustainable practices.

Conservation

• Meaning – Usage and saving of resources in a mindful manner 
• Collocations – Resource conservation, wildlife conservation
• Usage – Endangered species must be protected and conserved to ensure their survival.

Afforestation

• Meaning – The process of planting trees 
• Usage – Afforestation is a vital practice that everyone should adopt to protect the environment.

Renewable Energy

• Meaning – Energy that can be produced sustainably without using fossil fuels as energy resources  
• Collocations – Demand for renewable energy, renewable energy industry, renewable energy sources
• Usage – Renewable energy is the way to go if we want to preserve and protect the environment.

Recycling

• Meaning – Usage of products repeatedly or cyclically to reduce waste 
• Collocations – Recycling of waste, plastic recycling
• Usage – Recyclable waste should be separated from household waste during disposal and collection.

Conclusion

There are tons of words when it comes to environment-related vocabulary for IELTS. The few mentioned above will help you frame your answers around the major topics of discussion on the environment. A better understanding of the environment, its issues and solutions will also help with your preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions