Speaking vocabulary
Environment and climate
Use these expressions to speak more precisely about environment and climate. Learn the meaning from context, then make your own example rather than memorising a complete answer.
Original practice material · Draft: editorial review pending
reduce our carbon footprint
- Meaning: reduce the emissions associated with our activities.
- Example: Sharing journeys can help reduce our carbon footprint.
- Context: environment and climate. Use the phrase to describe.
- Use “reduce our carbon footprint” naturally in one sentence about environment and climate.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
renewable energy
- Meaning: energy from sources that are naturally replenished.
- Example: The school uses renewable energy from rooftop solar panels.
- Context: environment and climate. Use the phrase to explain.
- Use “renewable energy” naturally in one sentence about environment and climate.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
single-use plastic
- Meaning: plastic designed to be used once and thrown away.
- Example: We replaced single-use plastic cups with washable ones.
- Context: environment and climate. Use the phrase to compare.
- Use “single-use plastic” naturally in one sentence about environment and climate.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
sort household waste
- Meaning: separate rubbish from the home by type.
- Example: We sort household waste into recycling and general rubbish.
- Context: environment and climate. Use the phrase to give an example.
- Use “sort household waste” naturally in one sentence about environment and climate.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
long-term environmental impact
- Meaning: an effect on the natural world that lasts over time.
- Example: We should consider the long-term environmental impact of construction.
- Context: environment and climate. Use the phrase to qualify an opinion.
- Use “long-term environmental impact” naturally in one sentence about environment and climate.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
sustainable choices
- Meaning: decisions intended to reduce long-term harm to resources or people.
- Example: Repairing furniture is one of my sustainable choices.
- Context: environment and climate. Use the phrase to discuss effects.
- Use “sustainable choices” naturally in one sentence about environment and climate.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
Practise your answer
Use the existing speaking practice tools, or type instead. This is practice feedback, not an IELTS band score.
up to 45 seconds practice.