Vocabulary Worksheet — Intro

Climate Action

B2 mitigation • adaptation • sustainability • carbon footprint • biodiversity • drought…
Key Vocabulary
Word Meaning Example sentence
mitigation n. action to make a problem less serious Mitigation can reduce future emissions.
adaptation n. change made to deal with new conditions Adaptation is necessary in coastal cities.
sustainability n. using resources in a way that can continue over time Sustainability is a goal for many companies.
carbon footprint n. the amount of carbon emissions caused by a person or activity Flying increases your carbon footprint.
biodiversity n. the variety of living things in an area Biodiversity is declining in many regions.
drought n. a long period with little or no rain The drought damaged crops.
flood n. a large amount of water covering land The flood destroyed several roads.
resilience n. the ability to recover from difficulty Resilience helps communities after disasters.
offset v./n. to balance emissions by reducing them elsewhere Some companies offset business travel.
conservation n. protection of nature and resources Conservation can protect endangered species.
policy n. an official plan or set of rules The new policy supports renewable energy.
incentive n. something that encourages a person to act Tax cuts can be an incentive to save energy.
Common Collocations
mitigation: climate mitigation, mitigation strategy
adaptation: climate adaptation, adaptation plan
sustainability: environmental sustainability, sustainability plan
carbon footprint: reduce a carbon footprint, personal carbon footprint
biodiversity: protect biodiversity, loss of biodiversity
drought: severe drought, drought conditions
flood: flash flood, flood risk
resilience: climate resilience, build resilience
offset: carbon offset, offset emissions
conservation: wildlife conservation, conservation project
policy: climate policy, public policy
incentive: financial incentive, strong incentive
Language Tips
Mitigation and adaptation

Mitigation reduces the causes of climate change, such as emissions.

Adaptation helps people and places cope with effects such as flood, heat, or drought.

Action language

Policy is a plan made by government or organisations. Incentives encourage people to act.

Sustainability means meeting needs without damaging the future.