Y10W04VC Theme Words — Climate justice

Disproportionate describes something that is larger, smaller, or more severe than would be expected or considered fair in relation to something else.

Word Breakdown: dis- (prefix meaning ‘not’ or ‘opposite of’)

Word family: disproportionately (adv.), disproportion (n.)

Example: The communities least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions often bear a disproportionate burden of climate change impacts.

Synonyms: excessive, unequal, unfair

Collocations: disproportionate impact, disproportionate burden, disproportionate response

Vulnerable describes someone or something that is exposed to harm, risk, or difficulty, particularly when they lack the resources or power to protect themselves.

Word family: vulnerability (n.), vulnerably (adv.)

Example: Island nations and coastal communities are among the most vulnerable to the effects of rising sea levels.

Synonyms: at-risk, exposed, susceptible

Collocations: vulnerable communities, vulnerable populations, particularly vulnerable

Accountability is the obligation or willingness to accept responsibility for one’s actions and to be answerable to others, especially those in authority or affected by decisions.

Word Breakdown: -ity (suffix meaning ‘the state or quality of’)

Word family: accountable (adj.), account (v.)

Example: Climate activists argue that corporations must face greater accountability for their role in environmental degradation.

Synonyms: responsibility, answerability, transparency

Collocations: corporate accountability, political accountability, demand accountability

To sustain means to maintain something over a long period, to keep it going or to support its continued existence despite difficulties.

Word Breakdown: sus- (prefix meaning ‘up from beneath’ or ‘from below’, variant of sub-)

Word family: sustainability (n.), sustainable (adj.)

Example: The report questioned whether current agricultural practices could sustain food security for a growing global population.

Synonyms: maintain, support, uphold

Collocations: sustain growth, sustain an argument, sustain damage

To undermine means to weaken or damage something gradually, especially in a subtle or indirect way that is not immediately obvious.

Word family: erosion (n. related concept)

Example: Repeated exceptions to environmental policy risk undermining the credibility of the government’s climate commitments.

Synonyms: weaken, erode, destabilise

Collocations: undermine credibility, undermine trust, undermine efforts

To validate means to confirm that something is accurate, justified, or acceptable, often by providing evidence or formal recognition.

Word Breakdown: -ate (suffix meaning ‘to make or confirm’)

Word family: validation (n.), valid (adj.)

Example: The peer-review process is designed to validate research findings before they are published.

Synonyms: confirm, verify, endorse

Collocations: validate a claim, validate findings, validate an approach

To advocate means to publicly and actively support or recommend a particular cause, policy, or course of action. As a noun, an advocate is a person who does this.

Word family: advocacy (n.), advocacy (n.)

Example: Many scientists advocate for immediate policy changes to limit the worst effects of climate change.

Synonyms: support, champion, promote

Collocations: advocate for, advocate change, an advocate of

A critique is a careful, analytical evaluation of something, identifying both its strengths and weaknesses. As a verb, to critique means to carry out such an evaluation.

Word family: critical (adj.), criticism (n.)

Example: The economist’s critique of the carbon tax model highlighted significant gaps in its treatment of low-income households.

Synonyms: analysis, evaluation, assessment

Collocations: offer a critique, a critical critique, critique of

‘This implies’ is used in academic writing to signal a logical inference or unstated conclusion — it indicates that what follows is not directly stated but can be reasonably inferred from the evidence or reasoning presented.

Example: The data showed a consistent rise in coastal flooding events; this implies that current sea wall infrastructure is no longer adequate.

Synonyms: this suggests, this indicates, this points to

Collocations: this implies that, this therefore implies, this strongly implies