The environment

VOCABULARY

· To be eco-guilty of something
. To be eco-friendly, to be green , to be environmentally friendly
· To leave the tap running /to leave the water running
· To waste water
· To have reusable shopping bags
· To be made of recyclable materials
· To buy organic food
· To recycle glass bottles, paper, plastic containers
· To pollute the planet
· To install solar panels or wind turbines /ˈtɜː.baɪn/ to generate electricity
· Renewable energy (such as the wind and solar power)
· To recycle your waste
· To pay a fine
· Cars that use a lot of petrol should be banned
· Hybrid cars
· Electric cars
· Electronic books
· Paper books will not be produced to save trees from being cut down
· Fresh water will be running out
· Desalination plants to get water from the sea
· Temperatures will have risen by 2050
· To have extreme weather
· The burning of fossil fuels creates gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
. Greenhouse gases (the Greenhouse effect)
· We are using up natural resources such as coal and oil
· We throw away a lot of packaging (the paper, plastic, card... that covers goods)
· Deforestation
· Endangered species
· Most scientists consider rising temperatures evidence of global warming
· Climate change
· To end up: A lot of chemicals end up in our rivers
· To run out of: What will we do when we run out of oil?
· To throw away: Instead of throwing away glass and paper, we should recycle these materials.
SPEAKING

1. This is a list of environmental issues that people are concerned about. Which ones do you
consider the most serious hazards? Are there any other thay worry you?

• air pollution
• deforestation
• wild fires
• global warming
• growing number of endangered species
• noise pollution
• overpopulation
• overfishing
• resource depletion
• soil and water contamination

2. How do you feel when you hear about global warming? Is there hope for the future?
3. Do you think that global warming is caused by humans or part of the natural cycle of
the earth?
4. Have you seen any changes in the weather or climate in your country? If so, what
are they?
5. Has the Government in your country implemented any initiatives or policies to
protect the environment, such as recycling, litter laws etc.? What can governments
do to save our environment?
6. What can individuals do to help the enviroment?
7. Do you recycle? If so, what kinds of things do you recycle?
8. Do you try to buy environmentally friendly products?
9. Do you think cars should be banned from city centres?
10. Which type of energy is the most environmentally friendly? Do you use this type of
energy? Why or why not?
11. Which countries produce the most pollution? Which countries have the most
environmentally friendly reputation?
12. What kind of pollution is the worst for our health?
13. Do you think overpopulation is an important environmental issue?
14. What has been the impact of environmental changes on animal species?
15. Do you think we can save our planet, or is it too late?