PTE Environment & Sustainability Vocabulary

Able to continue over time without using up resources or causing lasting damage to the environment.

“A truly sustainable economy must balance industrial growth against the long-term health of natural ecosystems.”

Collocations: sustainable development, sustainable growth

Gases or other substances that are released into the air, especially those produced by industry and vehicles.

“Several countries have pledged to cut carbon emissions to net zero within the next three decades.”

Collocations: carbon emissions, reduce emissions

The variety of different kinds of plants and animals living within a particular area or ecosystem.

“Tropical rainforests support an extraordinary level of biodiversity that is found nowhere else on the planet.”

Collocations: loss of biodiversity, protect biodiversity

The cutting down or clearing of forests, usually to use the land for another purpose.

“Widespread deforestation in the Amazon has contributed significantly to rising global temperatures.”

Collocations: rapid deforestation, cause deforestation

Describing energy or resources that can be naturally replaced and are therefore not used up.

“Solar and wind power are renewable sources of energy that produce almost no greenhouse gases.”

Collocations: renewable energy, renewable resources

The protection and careful management of the natural environment and its resources.

“Conservation efforts have helped several endangered species recover from the brink of extinction.”

Collocations: wildlife conservation, conservation efforts

A community of living organisms together with the physical environment they interact with.

“Removing a single predator can disrupt an entire ecosystem and trigger unexpected ecological consequences.”

Collocations: fragile ecosystem, marine ecosystem

The process by which the quality or condition of something, especially the environment, becomes worse.

“Intensive farming has led to severe environmental degradation across much of the region's farmland.”

Collocations: environmental degradation, land degradation

The reduction of something, especially a natural resource, until very little remains.

“The rapid depletion of groundwater threatens the agricultural output of many densely populated areas.”

Collocations: resource depletion, ozone depletion

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by the activities of a person, organisation, or product.

“Individuals can reduce their carbon footprint by using public transport instead of driving private cars.”

Collocations: reduce carbon footprint, large carbon footprint

The natural home or environment in which a particular animal or plant normally lives.

“Urban expansion continues to destroy the natural habitat of countless native bird species.”

Collocations: natural habitat, habitat loss

A substance that makes air, water, or soil dirty and harmful to living things.

“Industrial pollutants released into rivers can severely damage aquatic life and contaminate drinking water.”

Collocations: airborne pollutant, harmful pollutant

To balance or compensate for something by having an equal and opposite effect.

“Many airlines now allow passengers to offset their emissions by funding tree-planting projects.”

Collocations: offset emissions, offset the cost

The ability of a system or living thing to recover quickly from difficulty or disturbance.

“Diverse ecosystems generally show greater resilience when faced with sudden environmental change.”

Collocations: build resilience, ecological resilience

The quality of being able to continue over time without depleting natural resources.

“Long-term sustainability requires that industries operate within the natural limits of the planet.”

Collocations: environmental sustainability, long-term sustainability

The presence of harmful substances in the air, water, or soil that damage the environment.

“Air pollution in major cities has been directly linked to a rise in respiratory illnesses.”

Collocations: air pollution, reduce pollution

The gradual wearing away of soil or rock by the action of wind, water, or other natural forces.

“The removal of vegetation along the coastline has accelerated the erosion of the surrounding land.”

Collocations: soil erosion, coastal erosion

Having very little rainfall and therefore too dry to support much plant life.

“Crops struggle to survive in arid regions where annual rainfall is extremely low.”

Collocations: arid region, arid climate

To be gradually broken down and destroyed by natural processes of rotting.

“When organic matter decays, it releases nutrients that enrich the surrounding soil.”

Collocations: decay naturally, begin to decay

To gather a crop or to collect a natural resource for use.

“Some communities have begun to harvest rainwater in order to cope with seasonal shortages.”

Collocations: harvest crops, harvest energy

A long-term shift in global weather patterns, largely caused by human activity.

“Scientists warn that climate change will lead to more frequent and intense extreme weather events.”

Collocations: combat climate change, climate change mitigation

A gas such as carbon dioxide that traps heat in the atmosphere and contributes to global warming.

“Burning fossil fuels releases large quantities of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.”

Collocations: greenhouse gas emissions, greenhouse gas concentration

Limited in amount and therefore able to be completely used up.

“Because fossil fuels are a finite resource, the world must eventually transition to alternatives.”

Collocations: finite resource, finite supply