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IELTS Speaking Lesson about The Environment

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Many students struggle with the IELTS Speaking Topic of The Environment, because they don’t have many ideas or they lack the English words to talk about this topic.

With this lesson, you will learn the key ideas you can discuss on this topic, as well as the essential and advanced vocabulary you need to talk confidently. 

Table of Contents

IELTS Speaking vocabulary: The environment

Here is some useful vocabulary for this topic.

  • Ecosystem (eco= environment, ecosystem is ‘an environment system’) 
  • Ecology (n.) = the study of the environment 
  • Ecological (adj.)
  • Eco-friendly (adj.) = describes things that protect and look after the environment, rather than damaging it.

This fabric bag is eco-friendly

Global warming = increasing temperature of the earth due to the greenhouse effect of more gases (CO2, CH4) being trapped in the atmosphere.

Climate Change = similar to global warming but focus on changing climates around the world

Pollution

The following are all words (countable nouns) meaning waste or things we throw away.

  • waste 
  • rubbish (UK) 
  • garbage (US) 
  • debris 
  • trash (US) 
  • litter (UK) 
  • junk 
  • refuse

A landfill (n.) (C) = a place where rubbish is dumped and buried

People dump rubbish in the sea, on the streets, in the landfills…. 

Biodegradable waste = waste that naturally decomposes.

Most waste is non-biodegradable, such as plastic.

We should segregate our rubbish (to separate) into ….

The 3 Rs: Recycle – Reduce – Reuse  

Greenhouse gases

  • Methane (CH4) 
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Find out more about greenhouse gases here

https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases

Useful collocations

Methane emissions

Carbon dioxide emissions 

Carbon footprints = the damage you cause to the planet by using carbon 

To reduce our carbon footprint

To be carbon neutral 

Learn about targets for zero carbon footprints 

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/feb/12/bp-sets-net-zero-carbon-target-for-2050

IELTS Speaking Environment

How we damage the environment

Deforestation = cutting down trees

Poaching = killing endangered animals illegally

Illegal dumping = putting waste into a landfill / the sea without permission

Light / Air / Noise pollution

Cars, aeroplanes…= most transportation

Overuse of nonrenewable resources (oil, gas, coal…also known as – fossil fuels)

Learn about different kinds of sustainable energy

https://www.energy.gov/science-innovation/clean-energy

Growing urbanisation = cities growing bigger 

Sea pollution

Use of pesticides (medicine for crops) 

Destruction of bees 

Desertification = making land dry and like a desert, not arable, not fertile  

Digital garbage

Fashion industry is coming under attack for promoting consumerism and damaging the environment  

Find out more about humans impact on the environment below

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/topics/resource-library-human-impacts-environment/?q=&page=1&per_page=25

How we can protect the environment

When we talk about how we can protect the environment, we can use phrases like the following:

I am careful to ______

I am careful to recycle rubbish and waste at home 

I strive not to ______

I strive not to use disposable plastic, such as coffee cups in Starbucks

I endeavour to _______

I endeavour to turn off the lights in my home

I make an effort to ______

I make an effort to turn taps off when possible

I pick up discarded rubbish sometimes  OR …

…From time to time

…Once in a while 

…Every now and then

…At times

I like to do my bit = to play my part = to contribute

We should steer clear of….. = to avoid

We should be wary of = be careful and cautious with.

More ways to protect the planet include,

  • Save energy 
  • Save water, by not leaving the tap running unnecessarily  
  • Do some volunteer work 
  • Run a campaign to raise awareness 
  • Clean up beaches
  • Participate in a beach clean-up
  • Reduce plastic waste 
  • Protect wildlife habitats
Beach clean up IELTS Speaking Environment

IELTS Speaking lesson: How can governments tackle this issue?

Here are different things governments around the world can do to protect the planet

Raise awareness of the need to recycle

Sensitise people to the importance of using renewable energy

Incentivise (=to motivate) people to recycle

Incentivise (=to motivate) companies to use renewable energy and sustainable energy (solar (sun), hydro (water), wind…geothermal..)

Set zero-carbon energy targets

Reduce their carbon footprint to ‘net zero’

Promote the use of electric cars – and public transport 

Plant trees

Carry our research on plastic substitutes (research on biodegradable alternatives)

Set up initiatives to protect…. wildlife / natural habitats / forests / endangered species

Implement policies to protect…

Put measures in place to protect…

Impose restrictions on….

Put in place strict / stringent policies

IELTS idioms to talk about the environment

To get out of hand = to be out of control

Damage to the environment is getting out of hand, if we don’t do something soon, we will lose our planet

To be in dire straits = to be in trouble 

To be in deep water = to be in trouble

The tip of the iceberg = the beginning of the problem

To weather the storm = to survive difficult times  

What do you try to do to protect the environment? 

Leave me a comment below to let me know. 

More IELTS Speaking Live Lessons

CRIME in IELTS Speaking. How to talk about crime, the use of technology to help tackle crime and idioms about it.

HOME in IELTS Speaking. Learn vocabulary and idioms to discuss your home, different parts of your house and accommodation in the past.  

NOISE POLLUTION in IELTS Speaking. How to talk about different types of noise, and how noise pollution affects our lives today.

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