Y08W04VC Theme Words — Environmental sustainability

A chemical element found in all living things; in environmental contexts, it refers especially to carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change.

Word family: carbon-based (adj.), decarbonise (v.)

Example: Reducing carbon emissions is one of the most important steps governments can take to address climate change.

Synonyms: emissions, dioxide, footprint

Collocations: carbon emissions, carbon footprint, reduce carbon

Able to be maintained over time without depleting natural resources or causing long-term harm to the environment.

Word Breakdown: -able (suffix meaning ‘capable of being’, attached to the verb ‘sustain’)

Word family: sustainability (n.), sustainably (adv.)

Example: The school adopted sustainable practices such as composting, solar panels, and a reduce-reuse-recycle programme.

Synonyms: environmentally friendly, renewable, long-term

Collocations: sustainable practices, sustainable development, sustainable future

The effect or influence that something has on another thing, especially when the effect is significant.

Word family: impact (v.), impactful (adj.)

Example: The impact of rising sea levels on coastal communities is already being felt in parts of the Pacific.

Synonyms: effect, influence, consequence

Collocations: have an impact, significant impact, environmental impact

Information, facts, or objects that help to prove or support a claim, argument, or conclusion.

Word family: evident (adj.), evidently (adv.)

Example: The essay required students to include evidence from at least two different sources to support each claim.

Synonyms: proof, data, support

Collocations: provide evidence, evidence suggests, lack of evidence

To produce or create something, especially energy, ideas, or interest.

Word family: generation (n.), generator (n.)

Example: The solar panels generate enough electricity to power the entire school building.

Synonyms: produce, create, produce

Collocations: generate electricity, generate ideas, generate debate

To carry out a careful study or examination in order to discover facts or find the truth about something.

Word family: investigation (n.), investigator (n.)

Example: Scientists continue to investigate the long-term effects of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems.

Synonyms: examine, explore, research

Collocations: investigate a claim, investigate the cause, investigate further

To make changes to something, usually to improve it or adapt it to new conditions.

Word family: modification (n.), modified (adj.)

Example: Engineers modified the design of the wind turbine to make it more efficient in low-wind conditions.

Synonyms: change, adjust, alter

Collocations: modify behaviour, modify a design, significantly modify

Having qualities or features that are alike or resemble each other, without being exactly the same.

Word family: similarly (adv.), similarity (n.)

Example: The findings from Australia were similar to those reported in studies conducted in other countries.

Synonyms: alike, comparable, related

Collocations: similar to, in a similar way, similar results

A writing function phrase used to draw out an indirect meaning or logical consequence from a piece of evidence, without stating it as a direct fact.

Example: Average temperatures have risen by 1.2 degrees over the past decade; this implies that urgent action on emissions is needed.

Synonyms: this suggests, this indicates, this points to

Collocations: this implies that, this strongly implies, this implies a need for