Global warming

IELTS.VINH@GMAIL.COM 1 Vocabulary for Global warming – adapted from dcielts.com TALKING ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM An important group of climate vocabulary and ideas is to say how l

IELTS.VINH@GMAIL.COM 1

Vocabulary for Global warming – (adapted from dcielts.com)

TALKING ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM

An important group of climate vocabulary and ideas is to say how large the problem is:

crisis: Climate change is a crisis that cannot be ignored by governments

record levels/amount: Despite the claims of some scientists, we are now

producing record levels of CO2 and there is no dispute about the connection

between this and global warming

disaster/disastrous: It is not an exaggeration to say that the effects of global

warming are disastrous

global: Although some areas are relatively unaffected now, climate change is a global problem

irreversible: The major concern is that the effects of our actions on the climate will

be irreversible

long-term: The effects of our use of fossil fuels today may last for generations and it

is almost certain to have long-term consequences for humanity

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

This group of climate change vocabulary gives you language to explain what the effects are As you read through the examples note the different language I use for effects and probability

ill-health: It sometimes goes unnoticed that there is a clear connection

between climate change and ill-health

floods/rainstorms: One result of the rising temperatures is that floods

and rainstorms are now a frequent occurrence

the Polar ice cap: One major concern is that rising temperatures in the Arctic are causing the Polar ice cap to melt, which in turn is leading to rising sea levels heatwaves and droughts: Most experts agree that there is an increased risk

of heatwaves and other extreme weather conditions

the natural world: Climate change will not only have a severe impact on people, but also devastate the natural world and lead to the extinction of important species food shortages: We are already seeing in many parts of the world that climate change is leading to food shortages as a direct consequence of extreme weather conditions

housing/homelessness: One side-effect of rising sea levels is that more and more people who live by the coast will become homeless

conflicts/wars: If no action is taken on climate change, then it is likely that there will

be more conflicts between nations, especially over water supplies

cost: It has been shown that any delay in making emission cuts will increase the cost of reducing carbon dioxide by almost 50%

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CAUSES

You may also need to discuss the causes of climate change too You don’t need any very technical knowledge and this vocabulary should be enough Again, note the cause language

human activity: It is no longer possible to say that human activity does not

affect weather conditions

greenhouse gas emissions: If we are to halt climate change, we need to make substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions

power stations: One of the leading causes of climate change is the number of dirty power stations using fossil fuels

carbon emissions: Carbon emissions are still rising year by year and are at record

levels

illegal logging and deforestation: It should not be forgotten that illegal logging in

the Amazon Basin is still a major factor in climate change

burning fossil fuels: Individuals can make a small contribution by not burning wood and other fossil fuels

CO2: The root cause of much global warming is the amount of CO2 in the

atmosphere

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

These words and phrases show different kinds of solutions Some show what should

be done (use more renewable energy and invest money), others show how it should

be done (quickly and together)

wind and solar power: An obvious solution is to deploy much more wind and solar power

renewable energy: Wind farms and other sources of renewable energy will help

to reduce Co2 emissions to an acceptable level

international action/cooperation: International action on climate change could have

a significant impact

quick/immediate action: Any action should be immediate because this is not a

problem that can be delayed

investment: There should be greater incentives to invest in renewables and to

reduce the current reliance on fossil fuels

decommission power stations: It goes without saying that coal-fuelled power stations should be decommissioned

protest/campaign: Individuals can help force governments to act by taking part in legal protests against the continuing use of fossil fuels

energy efficiency and waste: A greater emphasis on energy efficiency and

reducing waste would undoubtedly mean that less fuel was consumed

WAYS OF TAKING ACTION

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Climate change is a problem – that almost everyone can agree on When you have a problem, you need to take action These words and phrases give you a variety of ways of saying that Note the different structures used with these verbs

cope: It is clear that national governments are no longer able to cope

by themselves with the problem

tackle: A global solution is necessary as only international bodies will be able

to tackle climate change

avert: Investment in renewable energy will help avert the impact of the CO2

emissions

prevent: The only way to prevent a disaster is to reduce these emissions to zero act/take action: Governments should take decisive action to halt global warming fight/combat: A way needs to be found to make combatting global warming that is

affordable

sustainable and affordable: The key is to ensure that all countries around the world

have the chance to adopt energy

HOW INDIVIDUALS CAN HELP

You may be asked what we as individuals can do about climate change Here are some ideas – there are plenty of them:

lobby MPs: If enough of us lobbied our MPs and other elected

representatives then they would have to bring in legislation

participate in peaceful protests: Another possibility is to take part in marches and other peaceful protests to apply pressure on governments and raise awareness of

the issue

community projects: In some areas there are small-scale community projects to

encourage local residents to install solar panels and, in some places, help pay for them

share transport: We also have the responsibility to consider how we contribute to global warming by making unnecessary car journeys We can always cycle to work, have a joint school run with other parents and even share a car on the daily

commute to work

diet and our carbon footprint: Reducing food wastage is perhaps the way

individuals can minimise their carbon footprint and so help global warming

energy-efficient lightbulbs: Another small way in which we can use less energy is

to switch to energy efficient lightbulbs

solar panels: There are an increasing number of solar panels on the market and

these can not only reduce energy bills but also mean that less carbon fuel is

consumed

heat insulation: Likewise, it is important that people insulate their houses well so

that less gas and electricity is consumed