Pollution and Environmental Issues: A Glossary of Terms

UNIT 2

Pollution: contamination of the soil, water or air / the process of polluting the air, water… especially by means of poisonous chemicals. 
Environment: the natural world around us. Medioambiente
(to be) green: to be eco-friendly / concerned with protecting the natural world.
Waste: material which has been used and is no longer wanted / used too much.
Reuse: use again. Reutilizar
Recycle: process things that have already been used so they can be used again.
Rubbish  bin: a container for unwanted things or waste material, such as used paper, empty bins and bottles… Papelera
Bottle bank: a container for used glass that you want to recycle. Contenedor de Botellas
Throw away: get rid of / discard something that you don’t want by putting it in a dustbin. Tirar
Rubbish: unwanted things or wasted material
Dump: a place where rubbish is left / a public place where you can take things that you don’t want or need Vertedero
Packaging: material used to wrap products / container that something is sold or sent in, or the material used to make the container. Embalaje
Contestant: someone who takes part in a contest Concursante
Disposal: the process of getting rid of something that is no longer needed, recogida de basuras
Landfill sites: rubbish dump, a place where you throw away the rubbish
Carrier bag: a shopping bag, usually made of plastic
Raise public awareness: make people aware or conscious of something
Stink: an unpleasant or bad smell Mal olor, hedor
Shelters: structures built to give protection Refugios
Manufacturer: make in a factory Fabricante
Aluminium can: a metal container for food or drink  Lata
Put up with: accept something that is annoying or unpleasant without complaining
Come up with: find or produce an idea/ propose an idea, plan or solution
Break down: decompose, be destroyed by a natural or chemical process
Cut down on: reduce the amount of something that you eat or use
Take action: do something about it
Climate change: major variation in the world’s weather
Unleaded petrol: fuel without heavy metal
Fossil fuels: sources of energy formed over millions of years from plants/ animals
Greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, etc. Which makes the planet warmer
Greenhouse effect: Efecto invernadero
Global warming: the heating up of planet Earth
Rainfall: A shower or  fall of rain
Desertification: The processes by which an area becomes a desert
Drought: a period of time with no rain
Flooding: An overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry
Renewable energy: wind or solar power
Exhaust fumes: gases ejected from an engine as waste products
Congestion charge: money people have to pay to drive in the centre of a city
Promote: encourage
Carbon offsetting schemes: schemes or action taken, such as planting trees, to reduce the effects of using oil… / compensating for CO2 emissions
Clear up: stop being cloudy and rainy
Warm up: become warmer, the temperature will increase
Bright up: become brighter
Cloud over: the sky will get cloudy  Enmarañarse
Cool down: become cooler Enfriarse
Lack: scarcity Falta de, escasez
Energy-saving: something that is useful to save energy at home.