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Advanced English Collocations: Environment

Local authorities face significant challenges in disposing of household waste, which contains harmful materials that pose risks to public health and the environment. Climate change is highlighted as an urgent issue, with experts urging individuals to reduce their carbon footprints and adopt eco-friendly practices. Solutions include recycling, using renewable energy, and implementing green taxes to encourage sustainable design.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
28 views2 pages

Advanced English Collocations: Environment

Local authorities face significant challenges in disposing of household waste, which contains harmful materials that pose risks to public health and the environment. Climate change is highlighted as an urgent issue, with experts urging individuals to reduce their carbon footprints and adopt eco-friendly practices. Solutions include recycling, using renewable energy, and implementing green taxes to encourage sustainable design.

Uploaded by

baonganlop5
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

31 The environment

A Damaging the environment partial solution : incomplete solution


Read this extract from a report on getting rid of waste.

Disposal of household waste is a daunting task for local authorities. Towns and cities cannot
just dump1 such waste and hope it will go away. Household waste contains many materials and
substances which are extremely harmful to the environment, and authorities need long-term
solutions. Efforts to recycle waste are only a partial solution. Meanwhile, the problem of toxic2
waste remains. One expert recently warned that the risks to public health are so great that we
may have less than a decade to avoid an environmental catastrophe on a global scale.

1 2
dispose of in an irresponsible manner poisonous

B Climate change and its consequences


Here is an interview with Gary Prime, an American rock star known
for his support of environmental campaigns, who is visiting London.
Interviewer: Would you agree that climate change is the most urgent
issue facing us today?
Prime: Definitely. You only have to look at the changing weather
patterns in many parts of the world. It’s absolutely vital
improve our behavior
that we change our ways before it’s too late. Parts of Europe
extreme heat
which used to be cooler now experience intense, searing heat1, and temperatures
soar above the average every summer. Other areas suffer widespread flooding on a
extremely serious
regular basis. We can’t continue in this way without there being dire2 consequences.
Interviewer: So what can people do in the face of this irreversible climate change?
Prime: Well, for a start we can all reduce our carbon footprint3 by flying less, and reduce
our food miles4 by buying local produce. Some airlines have schemes now for
offsetting carbon emissions5.bù đắp carbon
Interviewer: Flying’s only one part of it, though. Most of the problems come from vehicle
emissions and power stations.
Prime: True, but there are things we can do about that too. Buy a
hybrid car6, develop alternative energy sources for homes,
solar heating for instance, and build more offshore7 wind
farms. Oil supplies will run dry8 within 50 years. Renewable
energy can make a real difference. And politicians shouldn’t
be afraid of introducing green taxes9 and incentives to
encourage eco-friendly design in architecture. With sufficient
will, we can find a solution.
Interviewer: Gary Prime, thank you for giving up your time for this interview.
Prime: No problem. I’ve got just enough time to catch my flight to Los Angeles.
1
extreme heat 2 extremely serious 6
a car can alternate between different
3
amount of carbon dioxide created by a person/business energy sources (e.g. petrol and battery)
4 7
distance food has to travel between where it is grown or at sea, away from the coast
8
made and where it is consumed run out
5 9
paying for an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide to be taxes relating to the protection of the
saved elsewhere environment

Common mistakes
• We say absolutely vital, NOT very vital.
It’s absolutely vital that everyone plays their part in combating climate change.
• We say find a solution, NOT give a solution.
We need to find a solution to the problem of energy supplies.

66 English Collocations in Use Advanced


[Link]
Exercises

31.1 Read these remarks by different speakers, and then answer the questions.
Sylvia: We found that poisonous chemicals had been thrown into the river.
Tomas: We have to protect everyone from illnesses caused by environmental problems.
Marcos: We can collect glass and plastic from homes which can then be re-used.
Gerard: We are heading for a major disaster in terms of the pollution of the oceans.
Ulla: We must stop using this chemical. It can destroy plant and animal life.
1 Who mentions public health? Tomas
2 Who is complaining about people dumping toxic waste? Sylvia
3 Who is talking about avoiding the use of something which is harmful to the environment? Ulla
4 Who is explaining about recycling household waste? Marcos
5 Who is sounding a warning about an environmental catastrophe? Gerard
31.2 Complete each sentence using a word from the opposite page.
1 We looked out to sea and spotted some offshore wind farms.
2 Oil supplies are likely to run dry within the next 200 years.
3 It’s absolutely vital that we all do something to reduce global warming.
4 As a green organisation we only use architects who specialise in eco-friendly design.
5 Continued use of fossil fuels will have dire consequences in the long term.
6 The airline has a scheme where you can offset your carbon emissions.
31.3 Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence using a collocation from the opposite
page based on the word in brackets.
1 How far our food travels before we consume it should be a concern for everyone. (MILE) Food miles
2 Energy which comes from inexhaustible sources, such as wind, is our greatest hope for the
future. (RENEW) Renewable energy
3 The region has experienced flooding over large areas in recent years. (WIDE) widespread flooding
4 We have caused the world’s climate to alter in a way that cannot be changed back. (CHANGE) irreversible climate
5 We must do something to eliminate the problem of toxic waste. (SOLVE) find a solution to change
6 We should all try to reduce the amount of carbon we emit. (FOOT) reduce our carbon footprint
7 Wind farms located out at sea can provide a partial solution to the problem. (SHORE) offshore wind farms
8 The minister chairs a committee aiming to improve the way we get rid of rubbish from our
homes. (DISPOSE) disposal of household waste
31.4 Correct the collocation errors in these sentences.
1 Temperatures expanded during the summer months and reached a record high. soared
2 We must change our way before it is too late. ways
3 They now have a sun heating system in their house; it’s very [Link]
4 The desert experiences soaring heat during the day but is cold at [Link]
5 The weather designs have changed in recent years: winters are milder, summers are hotter. patterns
6 He has one of those mixed cars which alternates between petrol and battery power. hybrid
7 The government must present green taxes so people who damage the environment pay more. introduce
8 Vehicle transmissions are the main source of pollution in big cities. emissions
9 We need to find alternative energy origins for private homes. sources

Over to you
Go to the United Nations Environment Programme website at [Link] and
make a note of useful collocations you find there connected with the environment.

English Collocations in Use Advanced 67

Common questions

Powered by AI

Managing household waste presents challenges due to its harmful materials and substances, which require responsible disposal methods . Long-term solutions must extend beyond recycling, as recycling only offers a partial solution. The management of toxic waste is particularly concerning due to severe health risks . Effective solutions could include better regulatory practices, education on waste minimization, and innovation in waste processing technologies. Implementing these could significantly mitigate adverse long-term environmental health effects by reducing pollution and conserving natural resources .

The document proposes utilizing eco-friendly architectural designs as a means to promote sustainability. This involves using architects who specialize in sustainable, green building practices and integrating renewable energy sources such as solar heating . By incentivizing these practices through political actions like tax breaks, the document suggests that buildings could significantly reduce their environmental footprint, contributing to lower emission levels and more sustainable urban development. This shift in architectural design could have a substantial impact on climate change efforts by promoting energy efficiency and reducing the reliance on non-renewable energy sources .

Gary Prime suggests that individuals can reduce their carbon footprints by flying less and purchasing local produce to reduce food miles . Broader strategies include buying hybrid cars, developing alternative energy sources such as solar heating, and building offshore wind farms. These methods not only reduce personal carbon footprints but also contribute to reducing overall emissions, aligning with global strategies to combat climate change. By encouraging political actions like introducing green taxes and promoting eco-friendly architecture, individuals and policymakers can synergistically work towards significant environmental improvement .

Renewable energy sources play a critical role in addressing the prospect of oil depletion. The document predicts that oil supplies could run dry within 50 years, emphasizing the importance of transitioning to renewable energy like solar heating and offshore wind farms as sustainable alternatives . Renewables can provide long-term solutions by diversifying energy sources, reducing reliance on finite resources, and mitigating associated environmental impacts, such as pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This transition is essential for ensuring energy security and environmental sustainability .

The concept of 'food miles' relates to the distance food travels from where it is grown to where it is consumed. By purchasing local produce, individuals can reduce food miles, thus minimizing the carbon emissions associated with long-distance transport of food . This individual action supports broader climate change mitigation efforts by reducing overall carbon footprints and promoting sustainable consumption patterns .

The development of hybrid cars contributes to climate change mitigation by reducing dependency on fossil fuels and lowering vehicle emissions, which are significant contributors to global pollution and greenhouse gas levels . These cars use alternative energy sources such as a combination of petrol and battery, offering a more sustainable transportation option. Encouraging the use of hybrid cars aligns with broader strategies to reduce emissions and transition towards cleaner energy, reflecting a pivotal step in addressing climate change concerns .

The document highlights that parts of Europe, traditionally cooler, are now experiencing intense, searing heat, with temperatures soaring above average every summer. This indicates not just a shift in regional climate but an observable pattern affecting the environment and human health dramatically . These changes imply a pressing urgency in addressing climate change, as the failure to adapt and mitigate these shifts could result in dire consequences, such as increased frequency of heatwaves and intensified pressure on resources and public health .

The document warns that failing to address climate change could lead to dire consequences, particularly for public health and environmental sustainability. It mentions the risk of widespread flooding, searing heat, and other extreme weather patterns, which could severely impact human health and natural ecosystems . The document also cites an expert warning of an impending environmental catastrophe if current practices are not altered within a decade. This underscores the urgent need for robust climate action to prevent irreversible damage .

The document suggests political actions such as introducing green taxes and providing incentives for eco-friendly design in architecture to support environmental protection . These measures could potentially drive significant changes by financially motivating industries and individuals to adopt environmentally friendly practices. The implementation of such policies could result in reduced pollution levels, increased investment in renewable technologies, and a shift towards sustainable development, thereby contributing meaningfully to climate change mitigation efforts .

The document indicates that finding a comprehensive solution to toxic waste problems is complicated due to the need for long-term, responsible disposal methods and the inherent health risks posed by such waste . Recycling, while helpful, is only a partial solution, suggesting that a multifaceted approach is needed. This could involve enhanced regulatory frameworks, the development of safer waste processing technologies, and increased public awareness. Addressing these complexities effectively is crucial for protecting public health and preventing environmental catastrophes on a global scale .

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