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Cambridge English: CAE (C1 Advanced) - Pollution, Waste & Human Impact

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Cambridge English: CAE (C1 Advanced)
carbon-neutral
carbon-neutral
[Adjective]

describing a state in which the carbon dioxide emission reaches zero or there is a balance between the amount of carbon dioxide emitted and absorbed

Ex: The company committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2030, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to zero. 
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zero-emission
zero-emission
[Adjective]

(of a vehicle) not producing gases harmful to the environment

Ex: Electric vehicles are considered zero-emission because they do not produce tailpipe emissions. 
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to contaminate

to make a place, substance, etc. dirty or harmful by adding dangerous material

Ex: The factory's discharge pipes contaminated the river with toxic chemicals. 
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to dump
to dump
[Verb]

to get rid of waste material, particularly in an unorganized manner

Ex: Instead of recycling, some businesses opt to dump electronic waste in landfills. 
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disposal
disposal
[noun]

the act of getting rid of waste material

Ex: Proper disposal of hazardous waste is crucial to protect the environment and human health. 
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dumper
dumper
[noun]

a truck with a container that can be elevated to unload waste material

Ex: The construction site used a dumper to transport gravel and sand across the site. 
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logging
logging
[noun]

the act of cutting down trees to use their wood

Ex: Logging in the area has led to widespread deforestation and loss of biodiversity. 
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carbon monoxide

an odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas that is produced from the burning of fossil fuels, which proves lethal in some cases

Ex: Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. 
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microplastic

very small plastic pieces in the environment that originate from personal care products, clothing, etc. and the degradation of other plastic products

Ex: Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters in size that pollute the environment. 
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herbicide
herbicide
[noun]

a chemical substance that kills plants, used for destroying plants that are not wanted

Ex: Farmers use herbicides to control weeds and improve crop yields. 
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pollutant
pollutant
[noun]

any substance that is harmful to the environment

Ex: Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas pollutant emitted from burning fossil fuels. 
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acid rain
acid rain
[noun]

rain containing a great deal of acidic chemicals, caused by air pollution, which can harm the environment

Ex: The once-clear mountain stream turned murky after years of acid rain falling on its watershed. 
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to leach
to leach
[Verb]

to extract or wash out soluble substances from a material by passing a liquid through it

Ex: Acid rain can leach calcium from concrete structures over time. 
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consumption

the act of using up something, such as resources, energy, or materials

Ex: The rapid consumption of fuel raised concerns about sustainability. 
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exhaust fumes

waste gases expelled from an internal-combustion engine, containing pollutants that degrade air quality

Ex: The tunnel filled with exhaust fumes as cars idled during the rush-hour backup. 
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smog
smog
[noun]

a combination of smoke and fog that is considered a form of air pollution

Ex: The city's smog was so thick that it reduced visibility, making it difficult for drivers to see the road ahead. 
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oil spill
oil spill
[noun]

the accidental or deliberate release of liquid petroleum or its products into the environment, especially into bodies of water, causing ecological damage

Ex: The oil spill coated the shoreline, harming local wildlife. 
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carbon footprint

the amount of carbon dioxide that an organization or person releases into the atmosphere

Ex: Flying frequently increases your carbon footprint significantly. 
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