Environment vocabulary for IELTS Speaking
- 20 words
- Band 6 to 9
- Every word and sentence read aloud
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conservation
/ˌkɒnsəˈveɪʃn/nounB2
The protection and careful management of the natural environment and resources.
A wetland kept safe: conservation is protecting nature so it is not lost.
Remember it: From Latin conservare, “to keep safe”: conservation keeps nature and resources from being lost.
- “Wildlife conservation depends on funding and awareness.”
- “Water conservation is essential in dry regions.”
Similar: preservation, protection
A Band 6 word. Try it in a phrase: “conservation of resources”.
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Environment
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Environment
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Band 6conservationˌkɒnsəˈveɪʃnnounThe protection and careful management of the natural environment and resources.
A wetland kept safe: conservation is protecting nature so it is not lost. The protection and careful management of the natural environment and resources.
Wildlife conservation depends on funding and awareness.
Water conservation is essential in dry regions.
Remember it
From Latin conservare, “to keep safe”: conservation keeps nature and resources from being lost.
Goes with
Words that go with conservation: wildlife conservation; conservation efforts; energy conservation; conservation of resources. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- preservationprotection
- Opposite
- destructionwaste
Word family
The conservation family: conservation (noun), conserve (verb), conservationist (noun). 
Band 6eco-friendlyˈiːkəʊ ˌfrendliadjectiveNot harmful to the environment.
Things made to be reused: eco-friendly products do not harm the environment. Not harmful to the environment.
The company uses eco-friendly packaging.
More shoppers are choosing eco-friendly products.
Watch out
eco-friendly for the environmenteco-friendlyEco-friendly already means not harmful to the environment.
Goes with
Words that go with eco-friendly: eco-friendly products; eco-friendly packaging; go green. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- greenenvironmentally friendlysustainable
- Opposite
- pollutingharmful
Band 6renewablerɪˈnjuːəbladjective(Of energy or resources) able to be replenished naturally and not used up.
Sun and wind return every day: renewable energy is never used up. (Of energy or resources) able to be replenished naturally and not used up.
Solar and wind are renewable sources of energy.
The country plans to run entirely on renewable energy.
Watch out
renewable energiesrenewable energyEnergy is normally uncountable when referring to a source in general.
Goes with
Words that go with renewable: renewable energy; renewable sources; switch to renewables; renewable energy sources. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- sustainablecleangreen
- Opposite
- non-renewablefinite
Word family
The renewable family: renewable (adjective), renew (verb), renewal (noun). 
Band 6sustainablesəˈsteɪnəbladjectiveAble to continue over time without depleting natural resources or harming the environment.
Rainwater, compost and sunshine: a sustainable way of living can go on without using the planet up. Able to continue over time without depleting natural resources or harming the environment.
We need a more sustainable approach to farming.
The city aims for sustainable growth.
Remember it
Sustainable comes from Latin roots meaning “to hold up,” suggesting something that can continue without collapse.
Watch out
sustainable in the long timesustainable in the long termThe fixed collocation is 'in the long term'.
Goes with
Words that go with sustainable: sustainable development; sustainable energy; environmentally sustainable; in the long term. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- eco-friendlyrenewableviable
- Opposite
- unsustainablewasteful
Word family
The sustainable family: sustainable (adjective), sustainability (noun), sustain (verb), sustainably (adverb). 
Band 7breathtakingˈbreθteɪkɪŋadjectiveAstonishingly beautiful or impressive.
A view that makes you stop and stare: breathtaking means amazingly beautiful. Astonishingly beautiful or impressive.
The view from the summit was breathtaking.
We watched a breathtaking sunset.
Watch out
breath takingbreathtakingThe adjective is normally written as one word.
Goes with
Words that go with breathtaking: breathtaking views; breathtaking scenery; absolutely breathtaking. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- stunningspectacularawe-inspiring
- Opposite
- dullunremarkable
Word family
The breathtaking family: breathtaking (adjective), breathtakingly (adverb). 
Band 7carbon footprintˈkɑːbən ˈfʊtprɪntnounThe total amount of greenhouse gases produced by a person, activity, or organisation.
A footprint made of carbon: your carbon footprint is the greenhouse gas your life leaves behind. The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by a person, activity, or organisation.
Flying less is one way to reduce your carbon footprint.
The factory has cut its carbon footprint by half.
Watch out
make a carbon footprinthave or leave a carbon footprintThese are the usual collocations.
Goes with
Words that go with carbon footprint: reduce your carbon footprint; carbon footprint of; lower carbon footprint; shrink your carbon footprint. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- carbon emissionsenvironmental impact
Band 7deforestationˌdiːfɒrɪˈsteɪʃnnounThe clearing or removal of forests, usually for farming or development.
Stumps where the forest stood: deforestation is clearing forests, usually for farms or building. The clearing or removal of forests, usually for farming or development.
Deforestation threatens countless species.
Illegal logging is a major cause of deforestation.
Watch out
deforestation of forestsdeforestationDeforestation already means the removal of forests.
Goes with
Words that go with deforestation: large-scale deforestation; cause deforestation; combat deforestation; the rate of deforestation. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- clearinglogging
- Opposite
- reforestationafforestation
Word family
The deforestation family: deforestation (noun), deforest (verb), forest (noun). 
Band 7emissionsɪˈmɪʃnznounGases or substances released into the atmosphere, especially those that cause pollution.
Smoke sent out into the air: emissions are gases released into the atmosphere. Gases or substances released into the atmosphere, especially those that cause pollution.
Governments have pledged to cut carbon emissions.
Electric cars produce no exhaust emissions.
Remember it
Emissions are substances “sent out”; the word comes from Latin roots meaning “to send out.”
Watch out
carbon emissioncarbon emissionsWhen referring generally to gases released, the plural is usually used.
Goes with
Words that go with emissions: carbon emissions; reduce emissions; greenhouse gas emissions; net-zero emissions; cut emissions. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- dischargereleaseoutput
Word family
The emissions family: emissions (noun), emit (verb), emission (noun). 
Band 8biodiversityˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsətinounThe variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or on Earth.
So many kinds of life in one reef: biodiversity is the variety of plants and animals. The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or on Earth.
Rainforests are rich in biodiversity.
Habitat loss is driving a decline in biodiversity.
Remember it
“Bio” means life, and “diversity” means variety: biodiversity is the variety of living things.
Watch out
a biodiversitybiodiversityBiodiversity is normally uncountable.
Goes with
Words that go with biodiversity: protect biodiversity; loss of biodiversity; rich biodiversity; biodiversity loss. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- biological diversityvariety of life
- Opposite
- monoculture
Word family
The biodiversity family: biodiversity (noun), biodiverse (adjective). 
Band 8degradationˌdeɡrəˈdeɪʃnnounThe process by which the quality of the environment is damaged or reduced.
Good land worn down and cracked: degradation is damage that makes the environment worse. The process by which the quality of the environment is damaged or reduced.
Overfarming leads to soil degradation.
Environmental degradation threatens future generations.
Watch out
environmental degradeenvironmental degradationUse the noun after 'environmental'.
Goes with
Words that go with degradation: environmental degradation; soil degradation; land degradation; degradation of the environment. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- deteriorationdeclinedamage
- Opposite
- improvementrestoration
Word family
The degradation family: degradation (noun), degrade (verb), degraded (adjective). 
Band 8depletiondɪˈpliːʃnnounThe reduction of something, especially a natural resource, by using it up.
The water almost gone: depletion is using up a resource until little is left. The reduction of something, especially a natural resource, by using it up.
The depletion of fish stocks worries scientists.
We must slow the depletion of natural resources.
Remember it
Depletion comes from Latin roots meaning “to empty,” as using up a resource empties its supply.
Goes with
Words that go with depletion: resource depletion; ozone depletion; depletion of stocks; the depletion of resources. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- exhaustionreductionusing up
- Opposite
- replenishmentrenewal
Word family
The depletion family: depletion (noun), deplete (verb), depleted (adjective). 
Band 8detrimentalˌdetrɪˈmentladjectiveTending to cause harm or damage.
The dirty water is killing the plant: something detrimental causes harm. Tending to cause harm or damage.
Plastic waste is detrimental to marine life.
A lack of sleep is detrimental to your health.
Watch out
detrimental for healthdetrimental to healthThe standard preposition is 'to'.
Goes with
Words that go with detrimental: detrimental effect; detrimental to health; detrimental impact; have a detrimental effect on. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- harmfuldamagingadverse
- Opposite
- beneficialadvantageous
Word family
The detrimental family: detrimental (adjective), detriment (noun), detrimentally (adverb). 
Band 8finiteˈfaɪnaɪtadjectiveLimited in size or amount; having an end.
The sand will run out: finite means limited, with an end. Limited in size or amount; having an end.
Fossil fuels are a finite resource.
We have only a finite amount of time.
Remember it
Finite comes from Latin finis, meaning “end”: a finite supply has an end.
Watch out
finite resources are unlimitedfinite resources are limitedFinite means limited, not unlimited.
Goes with
Words that go with finite: finite resources; finite supply; finite resources. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- limitedrestrictedbounded
- Opposite
- infiniteunlimitedlimitless
Word family
The finite family: finite (adjective), infinite (adjective), infinitely (adverb). 
Band 8offsetˌɒfˈsetverbTo counteract or balance out something with an opposing force or action.
The seedling balances the coal: to offset something is to cancel out its effect. To counteract or balance out something with an opposing force or action.
Airlines let passengers offset their carbon emissions.
Savings in one area offset the extra costs in another.
Remember it
To offset something is to set an opposing action against it, balancing its effect.
Goes with
Words that go with offset: offset emissions; carbon offset; offset the cost; offset something against. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- counterbalancecompensate forcounteract
- Opposite
- add tocompound
Word family
offsetverb · noun offset is a verb and a noun. 
Band 8picturesqueˌpɪktʃəˈreskadjectiveVisually attractive, especially in a quaint or charming way.
Pretty as a painting: a picturesque place is charming to look at. Visually attractive, especially in a quaint or charming way.
We stayed in a picturesque fishing village.
The route winds through picturesque countryside.
Goes with
Words that go with picturesque: picturesque village; picturesque scenery; picturesque setting; a picturesque landscape. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- sceniccharmingquaint
- Opposite
- unattractivedrab
Word family
The picturesque family: picturesque (adjective), picture (noun). 
Band 8tipping pointˈtɪpɪŋ pɔɪntnounThe critical point at which a change becomes unstoppable or irreversible.
One nudge more and it falls: a tipping point is where a change becomes unstoppable. The critical point at which a change becomes unstoppable or irreversible.
Scientists warn the climate may be nearing a tipping point.
The campaign reached a tipping point and support surged.
Remember it
Picture a glass tipping: beyond the critical point, the change becomes difficult or impossible to stop.
Goes with
Words that go with tipping point: reach a tipping point; climate tipping point; past the tipping point. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- critical pointthresholdturning point
Band 8urbanisationˌɜːbənaɪˈzeɪʃnnounThe increasing movement of people from rural areas into towns and cities.
Fields turning into city: urbanisation is people moving from the countryside into towns. The increasing movement of people from rural areas into towns and cities.
Rapid urbanisation has strained public services.
Urbanisation is changing traditional ways of life.
Remember it
Urbanisation relates to Latin urbs, meaning “city.”
Goes with
Words that go with urbanisation: rapid urbanisation; the pace of urbanisation; the process of urbanisation. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- city growth
- Opposite
- rural depopulation
Word family
The urbanisation family: urbanisation (noun), urbanise (verb), urbanised (adjective), urban (adjective). 
Band 8viableˈvaɪəbladjectiveCapable of working successfully; feasible.
A seed that has taken root: a viable plan can work and survive. Capable of working successfully; feasible.
The business is no longer commercially viable.
Solar power is a viable alternative to coal.
Remember it
From Latin vita, “life,” viable describes something capable of surviving or working successfully.
Watch out
financial viablefinancially viableUse the adverb to modify viable.
Goes with
Words that go with viable: commercially viable; viable option; economically viable; a viable alternative. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- feasibleworkablepracticable
- Opposite
- unviableimpractical
Word family
The viable family: viable (adjective), viability (noun). 
Band 9mitigateˈmɪtɪɡeɪtverbTo make something bad less severe or harmful.
Sandbags do not stop the flood, they lessen the damage: to mitigate is to make something less harmful. To make something bad less severe or harmful.
Planting trees can help mitigate climate change.
The plan is designed to mitigate the risk of flooding.
Remember it
'Mit' sounds like 'mitt', a padded glove that softens (mitigates) a blow.
Watch out
mitigate against climate changemitigate climate changeMitigate is normally used directly with its object.
Goes with
Words that go with mitigate: mitigate the effects; mitigate risk; mitigate climate change; mitigate against. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- alleviatereducelessenease
- Opposite
- aggravateworsenintensify
Word family
The mitigate family: mitigate (verb), mitigation (noun). 
Band 9pristineˈprɪstiːnadjectiveIn its original, unspoilt condition; spotlessly clean.
Not one footprint: pristine means in perfect, original condition. In its original, unspoilt condition; spotlessly clean.
The reserve protects a stretch of pristine coastline.
The rainforest remains largely pristine.
Remember it
Pristine comes from Latin meaning “original” or “former,” like something untouched from the beginning.
Goes with
Words that go with pristine: pristine environment; pristine wilderness; pristine condition; in pristine condition. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- unspoiltuntouchedimmaculate
- Opposite
- pollutedspoiltdegraded