These words name the environmental problem. A carbon footprint is how much CO2 your actions produce; greenhouse gases and emissions trap heat and cause global warming; pollution and smog are the dirty result.
The problem: pollution and warming
carbon footprint /ˈkɑrbən ˈfʊtprɪnt/ — Lani takes the train to reduce her carbon footprint.
global warming /ˈɡloʊbəl ˈwɔrmɪŋ/ — The article explained how global warming affects coastal cities.
smog /smɑɡ/ — Thick smog covered the skyline in the morning.
Try it: Cars and factories release ___, which trap heat and warm the planet. (greenhouse gases / carbon footprints / smog) Answer: greenhouse gases — Greenhouse gases, such as CO2, are what cars and factories release to trap heat. A "carbon footprint" is a measure of how much you produce, not the gas itself, and "smog" is the visible dirty air near the ground, not the heat-trapping gas.
More damage to name
Two more ways people damage the environment: deforestation is cutting down forests faster than they can grow back, and an oil spill is when oil escapes into the sea or onto land, harming water and wildlife.
deforestation /ˌdiːˌfɔrɪˈsteɪʃən/ — A report in the Senfarren Gazette warned about deforestation in the hills.
oil spill /ɔɪl spɪl/ — Volunteers from Haffenville cleaned the coast after an oil spill.
Try it: The hills near Senfarrow Brook are losing trees every year because of ___. (deforestation / an oil spill / smog) Answer: deforestation — Deforestation means cutting down forests faster than they grow back, which is exactly what losing trees every year describes. An oil spill harms water and coasts, and smog is dirty air over a city, not a cause of tree loss.
The solution: what people do about it
These verbs name the action people take. You conserve energy or water (use less), protect nature (keep it safe), and recycle materials (use them again) to cut down on waste.
conserve /kənˈsɜrv/ — The hotel asks guests to conserve water.
protect /prəˈtekt/ — New rules protect the wetland from construction.
recycle /riˈsaɪkəl/ — Yasmin recycles glass bottles after the community dinner.
Try it: Sofia turns off unused lights to ___ energy. (conserve / protect / recycle) Answer: conserve — Conserve means to use less of something, which is exactly what turning off lights does for energy. "Protect" is about keeping something safe from harm, and "recycle" is about reusing materials, not saving energy.
The clean alternative
Renewable energy comes from sources that nature keeps replacing, like the sun, wind, and rivers. Using it produces fewer greenhouse gases than burning coal or oil.
renewable energy /rɪˈnuːəbəl ˈɛnərdʒi/ — Haffenville Community Center now runs on renewable energy.
Try it: Solar panels and wind turbines produce ___. (renewable energy / greenhouse gases / an oil spill) Answer: renewable energy — Solar and wind power count as renewable energy because nature keeps replacing the sun and the wind. Burning coal or oil produces greenhouse gases, and an oil spill is an accident, not an energy source.