B1 Intermediate Course · Unit 17 of 20

The Environment

Vocabulary for the environment, climate, and ecology. Grammar: passive voice to focus on what happens rather than who does it.

Progress

0% complete

Vocabulary

Key words for this unit.

Emissions

Gases released into the atmosphere, especially from burning fuel

Carbon emissions must be reduced significantly if we are to limit global warming.

Deforestation

The clearing of forests, especially on a large scale

Large areas of rainforest are being destroyed by deforestation every year.

Renewable

Able to be replenished naturally and not used up permanently

Solar and wind energy are produced from renewable sources.

Biodiversity

The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat

Biodiversity is threatened when natural habitats are damaged or destroyed.

Carbon footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by a person or organisation

Our carbon footprint is calculated by measuring all the energy we use.

Habitat

The natural environment in which an animal or plant normally lives

Many species are endangered because their habitats have been destroyed.

Fossil fuels

Natural fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, formed from ancient organisms

Fossil fuels are burned to produce energy, releasing large amounts of CO2.

Sustainable

Able to be maintained without depleting natural resources

Sustainable farming methods are being adopted in many parts of the world.

Drought

A long period of abnormally low rainfall

Millions of people are affected by drought every year in sub-Saharan Africa.

Erosion

The gradual destruction of something by natural forces

Soil erosion is caused by the removal of trees and ground cover.

Conservation

The protection of the natural environment

National parks are established to protect areas of conservation importance.

Pollution

The introduction of harmful substances into the environment

Rivers and oceans are polluted by industrial waste and plastic.

Vocabulary exercises

Grammar

Passive voice — present and past simple passive

Use the passive voice when what happens is more important than who does it, or when the agent is unknown or obvious.

Trees are cut down every day. (present simple passive)
The agreement was signed in 2015. (past simple passive)
Millions of tonnes of plastic are dumped in the ocean each year.

Tense	Form	Example
Present simple passive	am/is/are + past participle	CO2 is produced by burning fossil fuels.
Past simple passive	was/were + past participle	The agreement was signed by 196 countries.
Negative	is/are/was/were + not + past participle	The targets were not met last year.
Question	Is/Are/Was/Were + subject + past participle?	Was the forest protected by law?

To say who does the action in a passive sentence, add by: The report was written by scientists. If the agent is unknown or unimportant, leave it out: Three new species were discovered last year.

Grammar exercises

Reading

Read the article carefully, then answer the questions.

Who is responsible for climate change?

The question of who is responsible for climate change is debated every time a new climate report is published. Governments point to industry; industry points to consumers; consumers point to governments. In the meantime, the planet continues to warm.

The facts are not disputed. The Earth's average temperature has risen by approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. This rise has been caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. Greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, heat is trapped, and global temperatures increase.

International agreements have been signed and targets have been set — but many have not been met. Renewable energy is being developed faster than ever before, yet overall emissions are still rising in many countries. Species are being lost at a rate not seen since the age of the dinosaurs.

Responsibility is shared, but not equally. The wealthiest countries produced most of the historical emissions that caused the current crisis. Yet the worst effects of climate change are felt most severely in poorer nations that contributed least to the problem. This injustice is increasingly recognised, and compensation mechanisms are being discussed at international level. Whether enough will be done — and quickly enough — remains to be seen.

Comprehension questions

Comprehension questions — Conversation 1

Conversation 2 — A climate conference report | Replace with: <audio controls src="audio/int17-listen2.mp3"></audio>

Script 2

A climate conference report

Scene: A journalist reports from an international climate summit.

Reporter:The summit opened this morning. Delegates were welcomed by the host nation's president, and a new declaration was signed before noon.

Reporter:Under the agreement, emissions targets have been strengthened. Countries are required to submit updated plans by the end of the year. Funding for developing nations has also been increased — fifty billion dollars will be committed over the next decade.

Reporter:However, the agreement has been criticised by environmental groups, who say the targets are not ambitious enough. One campaigner told me the commitments were welcomed but that stronger action was needed immediately.

Reporter:Coal subsidies were discussed at length. Several major economies have been urged to phase out coal by 2035. Some have agreed; others have not committed to a timeline. The results of these negotiations will be published tomorrow.

Reporter:A new international fund to protect biodiversity was also announced. It will be managed by a committee of representatives from fifty countries. Proposals for how the money will be spent are expected to be submitted by March.

Comprehension questions — Conversation 2