Acid rain: Rain that contains large amounts of harmful chemicals as a result of burning substances such as coal and oil.
Noun. Acid rain in drinking water affects human health.
Air pollution: Harmful substances in the air, often consisting of waste from vehicles or industry.
Noun. Diesel exhaust is a major contributor to air pollution.
Climate change: Changes in the world's weather, in particular the fact that it is believed to be getting warmer as a result of human activity increasing the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Noun. The President called for urgent action on climate change.
Coastal flooding: When the coast is flooded by the sea.
Noun. The number at risk from coastal flooding could rise from 370,000 to 1.2 million by the 2080s.
Deforestation: The cutting down of trees in a large area, or the destruction of forests by people.
Noun. Deforestation is destroying large areas of tropical rain forest.
Desertification: The process by which land changes into desert, for example because there has been too much farming activity on it or because a lot of trees have been cut down.
Noun. We cannot burn it without causing desertification and climate change.
Endangered: In danger of being harmed, lost, unsuccessful, etc.
Noun.The endangered contracts of failing competitors.
Fossil fuels: fuels, such as gas, coal, and oil, that were formed underground from plant and animal remains millions of years ago.
Noun. A Single Sky will be a major contribution to reducing pollution, emissions and wasted fossil fuel.
Global Warming: The destruction of the rainforests is contributing to global warming.
Noun. The destruction of the rainforests is contributing to global warming.
Greenhouse gas: A gas that causes the greenhouse effect, especially carbon dioxide.
Noun. The greenhouse gases are destroying our atmosphere.
Overfishing: Catching too many fish in an area of the sea, so that there are not many fish left there.
Noun. Low fish stocks caused by overfishing.
Solid waste: Any garbage or refuse, sludge from a sewage treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility, and other discarded materials.
Noun. We acknowledge that we have a big challenge in managing solid waste.
Untreated sewage: Wastewater which contains harmful waterborne pathogens and bacteria and which has not yet gone through a sewage treatment plant.
Noun. Sources of pollution include untreated sewage, agricultural run-off and chemical pollution.
Carbón dioxide: The gas formed when carbon is burned, or when people or animals breathe out.
Noun. Plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.
Cutting. An article that has been cut from a newspaper or magazine.
Noun. She cut into the melon with a knife.
Melting: A melting look or voice makes you feel sympathy or love.
Noun. The melting of glass is carried out in a furnace.
