Environment

The environment is always the common topic in IELTS Writing Test, especially
in Task 2. Therefore, if you can make use of the collocations below, you will
easily impress the examiner with your vocabulary and then improve your
writing score to band 7+.

1. Serious environmental degradation: The process in the quality of

environment changes to a worse condition.

“In some industrial zones, the production processes may result in serious
environmental degradation.”

2. Irresponsible disposal of industrial waste: Discharge industrial waste

without concern about the environment.

“Global warming stems from the irresponsible disposal of industrial waste.”

3. Waste treatment systems: The way to treat wastes without harming

the environment.

“If factory installed waste treatment systems instead of discharging chemical

wastes into rivers, water pollution could be controlled.”

4. Discharge chemical waste: to dispose of chemical waste.

“Nowadays, more and more company and industrial zones have been
discharging chemical waste into rivers, causing death to many fish and other
aquatic animals.”

5. Litter the street: To leave the waste paper, cans, etc. on the street.

“Residents will consider newcomers dirty and ill-mannered if they litter the
street or spit gum in public places.”

6. The emission of greenhouse gases: The act of sending out gas, especially
carbon dioxide or methane, that is through to trap heat above the Earth and
cause the greenhouse effect.

“If all countries in over the world could decrease their energy consumption, this
will reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.”

7. Chemical fertilisers/weedkillers: Poison used to kill unwanted plants.

“Organic farmers do not pollute the water or the soil which result from the
application of chemical fertilisers and weedkillers.”

8. Eco-friendly: Not harmful to the environment.

“Countries such as Japan are leading the way, for example, in developing more
eco-friendly cars, buses and lorries.”

9. To be spoiled by: To be received a bad effect that it is no longer attractive,

enjoyable, useful, etc

“Several famous beaches in Vietnam have been spoiled by this lack of respect
for the local environment.”

10.Contamination of land, air or water: To make land, air or water dirty or

harmful by putting chemicals or poison in it.

“Contamination of land, air and water has reached alarming levels.”

11. Illegal logging and deforestation: the work for cutting down trees for
commercial purpose in an illegal way

“It should not be forgotten that illegal logging in the Amazon Basin is still a
major factor in climate change.”

12. Burning fossil fuels: Burning a fuel such as coal or oil that is produced by
the very gradual decaying of animals or plants over million of years.

” Individuals can make a small contribution by not burning wood and other
fossil fuels.”

13. long-term consequences: something that happens in the distant future as a

result of a particular action or set of conditions.

“The effects of our use of fossil fuels today may last for generations, and it is
almost certain to have long-term consequences for humanity.”

14. Renewable energy: Renewable energy comes from sources that can be
easily replaced naturally so that there is always more available.

“Wind farms and other sources of renewable energy will help to reduce CO2
emission to an acceptable level.”

15. Environmental protection: The act of protecting the environment.

” Environmental protection is one of the most important challenges almost
every country is facing.”

16. Sustainable development: The development without damaging the

environment.

” The government should commit to sustainable development and the

protection of the environment.”

17. To deplete natural resource: To reduce the amount of natural resource.

” Depleting natural resource is become a serious concern for the government to
get deal with.”

18. Fight climate change: To prevent a permanent change in weather

“International cooperation is necessary to fight climate change.”

19. Conserve energy: To protect and prevent energy from reduction.

“Scientists in many countries are cooperating to find a method to conserve

energy.”

20. Sort the daily garbage: To arrange garbage in groups according to size, type
daily.

“One thing that individual can do to protect the environment is sorting the daily
garbage.”

21. Dump waste: To dispose of waste in an irresponsible manner

Example: Disposal of household waste is a daunting task for local authorities.

Towns and cities cannot just dump such waste and hope it will go away.

22. Toxic waste: Poisonous waste

Example: Efforts to recycle waste are only a partial solution. Meanwhile, the
problem of toxic waste remains.

23. Offset carbon emissions: Pay for an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide
to be saved elsewhere

Example: Some airlines have schemes now for offsetting carbon emissions.
24. Introduce green taxes: Taxes which relate to the protection of the
environment

Example: Politicians should not be afraid of introducing green taxes and

incentives to encourage eco-friendly design in architecture.

25. Reduce carbon footprint: reduce amount of carbon dioxide created by an

activity/person/business

26. Food miles: Distance food has to travel between where it is grown or made
and where it is consumed

Example: We can all reduce our carbon footprint by flying less, and reduce our
food miles by buying local produce.

Climate change and its consequence:

27. Searing heat: extreme heat

Example: Parts of Europe which used to be cooler now experience

intense, searing heat, and temperatures soar above the average every summer

28. Widespread flooding

Example: Most areas in Europe suffer widespread flooding on a regular basis.

29. Alternative energy sources

30. Hybrid car

Example: To protect the environment, people can buy a hybrid car,

develop alternative energy sources for homes, solar heating for instance. and
build more offshore wind farms.

31. Combat climate change

Example: It is absolutely vital that every civil plays their role in combating
climate change.

32. Environmental catastrophe

Example: We may have less than a decade to avoid an environmental

catastrophe on a global scale.
 Other useful expressions/phrases for the
Environment Topic:
 The deterioration in the air quality
 To curb environmental deterioration
 To destroy/degrade the environment
 To lower the demand for energy in every household
 Exhaust fumes from vehicles
 To raise the public’s ecological consciousness
 To promote environmentally-friendly technology
 To reduce the dependence on the traditional energy resources/on fossil fuels.
 To suffer from adverse effects of environmental problems
 To burn fossil fuels to generate energy
 The growing demand for fossil fuels in the world
 Renewable energy from solar, wind or water power
 Gas emissions from factories
 To alleviate environmental problems
 To contaminate the environment
 The protection of wildlife
 The biology will be seriously affected

Exercises:
Exercise 1. Come up with Answers for the following topics and post it in the
comment section or on Writingielts.net forum to be checked and scored by
other IELTS learners and our IELTS experts.

Topic 1: Some people think that in order to prevent illness and disease,
governments should make efforts in reducing environmental pollution and
housing problems. To what extent do you agree to disagree with this
statement?

You can read Sample Answer here.

Topic 2: Development in technology has brought various

environmental problems. Some believe that people need to live
simpler lives to solve environmental problems. Others, however,
believe technology is the way to solve these problems. Discuss both
views and give your own opinion.

You can read Sample Answer here.

Topic 3: The best way to solve the world’s environmental problems
is to increase the cost of fuel. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?

You can read Sample Answer here.

Topic 4: Reducing global environmental damage should be handled

by governments rather than individuals. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?

Exercise 2. Here is an interview with Gary Prime, the American rock star
known for his support of environmental campaigns, who is visiting London.
Fill in the blank with one of the following collocations:

Searing heat
Offshore
Temperatures soar
Green taxes
Widespread flooding
Carbon emissions
Irreversible climate change
Solar heating
Food miles
Run dry
Carbon footprints
Dire consequences
Renewable energy
Hybrid car
Eco-friendly
Interviewer: Would you agree that climate change is the most urgent issue
facing us today?

Prime: Definitely. You only have to look at the changing weather patterns in
many parts of the world. It’s absolutely vital that we change our ways before it’s
too late. Parts of Europe which used to be cooler now experience intense,
____(1)_____, and _____(2)______above the
average every summer. Other areas suffer ____(3)_____on a regular basis.
We can’t continue in this way without there being ____(4)_____ .

Interviewer: So what can people do in the face of this ____(5)_____?

Prime: Yes, there is. We can all reduce our ____(6)_____by flying less, and
reduce our ____(7)_____ by buying local produce. Some airlines have
schemes now for offsetting ____(8)_____ .

Interviewer: Flying’s only one part of it, though. Most of the problems come
from vehicle emissions and power stations.

Prime: True, but there are things we can do about that too. Buy a
____(9)_____, develop alternative energy sources for homes,
____(10)_____for instance, and build more ____(11)_____wind farms. Oil
supplies will ____(12)_____ within 50 years. ____(12)_____ can make a
real difference. And politicians shouldn’t be afraid of introducing
____(13)_____and incentives to encourage ____(14)_____ design in
architecture. With sufficient will, we can find a solution.

Interviewer: Gary Prime, thank you for giving up your time for this interview.

Prime: No problem, I’ve got just enough time to catch my flight to Los Angeles.

Exercise 3: Complete each sentence using a word from the collocations

above.
1 It’s absolutely…………… that we all do something to reduce global warming.
2 Oil supplies are likely to……………..dry within the next 200 years.
3 We looked out to sea and spotted some………………………………..wind farms.
4 The airline has a scheme where you can……………………..your carbon
emissions.
5 Continued use of fossil fuels will have……………….consequences in the long
term.
6 As a green organisation we only use architects who specialise
in…………………design.

Exercise 4: Correct the collocation errors in these sentences.

1 We need to find alternative energy origins for private homes.
2 The desert experiences soaring heat during the day but is cold at night.
3 They now have a sun heating system in their house; it’s very economical.
4 Temperatures expanded during the summer months and reached a record
high.
5 The government must present green taxes so people who damage the
environment pay more.
6 He has one of those mixed cars which alternates between petrol and battery
power.
7 The weather designs have changed in recent years: winters arc milder,
summers are hotter.
8 Vehicle transmissions are the main source of pollution in big cities.
9 We must change our way before it is too late.

You can go to United Nations Environment Program website to learn

more useful collocations related to the environment.

What do you think of today’s lesson?

Leave us a message in the comments section below!

Don’t forget to use these useful expressions on a daily basis to boost your
IELTS writing score.
Human Rights
Here are some cool collocations for Human Rights issues (in no particular order):

Collective bargaining
The right to do sth
Violation of rights
Violation and abuse
equal opportunity
equal rights
gender gap
generation gap
moral obligations
non-profit organisation
property rights
poverty alleviation
social justice
rescue (someone) from (something)
an accute shortage of sth
a one-sided view
to disrespect the constitution
cost of living
standards of living
working conditions
living conditions
a health condition (a health problem)
danger pay
lightning-fast change
to throw support behind sth
the fight against corruption / to combat corruption
rising commodity prices / falling commodity prices
the impact of climate change on sth
to push people into poverty / to lift people out of poverty
The debate on sth / the debate surrounding sth
soaring food prices
spread betting
To appear (more) dovish
A hawkish approach (to)
the downside risks to
to bring sth under control
an ethnic minority
ethnic diversity
(free) school meals
a low-income background / a disadvantaged background
a privileged background
social mobility
international outcry
political activism
to fuel corruption
to hold sbdy accountable for + noun/gerund
to accept a bribe
to buy off a politician (sbdy)
to realize one’s potential
to live in exile
to be banished from (somewhere)
Finance and the Economy
Here are some cool collocations in the area of Finance and the Economy (in no particular order):

to rebuild the economy

Rising commodity prices / falling commodity prices
The debate on sth / the debate surrounding sth
international development
spread betting
the monetary policy committee
to stave off interest rate hikes
The pound fell against the dollar
To appear (more) dovish
A hawkish approach (to)
High, strong demand / low, weak demand
In strong demand
to kick start stagnant growth
the downside risks to
to slow the pace of
to keep interest rates on hold
to bring sth under control
corporate transparency
a tax haven
spending cuts
widespread skepticism

Dilpomacy and Democracy

Here are some cool collocations in the area of Diplomacy and Democracy (in no particular order):

developed countries / developed countries

a generation gap
health care
human rights
the international community
international organizations
a mass exodus
a one-sided view
an ill-conceived plan
to have reasonable control over/of sth
national politics
international politics
foreign policy
free and fair elections
a political system
to hold positions of power
unjust wars
economic agreements
open borders
to disrespect the constitution
discussions should center on sth
protest movements
to disrupt the exercise of power
to be on shaky ground
lightning-fast change
to throw support behind sth
Rising commodity prices / falling commodity prices
to push people into poverty / to lift people out of poverty
population growth
The debate on sth / the debate surrounding sth
international development
soaring food prices
spread betting
To appear (more) dovish
A hawkish approach (to)
the downside risks to
to slow the pace of
to bring sth under control
an ethnic minority
a low-income background / a disadvantaged background
a privileged background
social mobility
international outcry
political activism
to fuel corruption
to hold sbdy accountable for + noun/gerund
to accept a bribe
to buy off a politician (sbdy)
to realize one’s potential
widespread skepticism
to live in exile
an asylum seeker / to seek asylum

TV and the Media

Here are some cool collocations in the area of TV and the Media (in no particular order):

prime time TV
a one-sided view
media manipulation
to run an ad (advertisement)
an advertising campaign
for the masses
mass media
for a select group
Internet users
On the front page
In the headlines
To be geared towards sbdy (a specific audience)
In the tail-end of a story
To publish a book, a story, an article, a piece
public appearances
to retract one’s (its) story
regular television programming
social mediasocial networking / social networks

Attitudes
Here are some cool collocations related to Attitudes (in no particular order): UPDATED JUNE 22

with unmitigated gall

with righteous indignation
a malicious aforethought
to wreak havoc
an adverse reaction to sth
to be of mutual benefit to
a mounting interest in sth
a rash decision
to take drastic measures
to exercise discretion
to have reasonable control over/of sth
conspicuous consumption
to cut to the chase
to trigger rumors
to react angrily to sth (criticism)
to deny rumors
the furore over sth / one’s furor over sth
to be on shaky ground
abject snobbery
a first-rate education
social mobility
international outcry
political activism
to fuel corruption
to accept a bribe

The Environment- SOME MORE

Here are some cool collocations about the Environment (in no particular order): UPDATED JUNE 22

an ecological crisis
energy preservation
a natural disaster
raw materials
renewable energies
to foster sustainable development
a torrential downpour
one’s (its) natural habitat
an accute shortage of sth
a wind farm
power generation
to manage forests
lightning-fast change
to throw support behind sth
the impact of climate change on sth
water resources
oil reserves
to replenish resources
The debate on sth / the debate surrounding sth
the downside risks to
to slow the pace of
to bring sth under control
to hold sbdy accountable for + noun/gerund
to realize one’s potential
widespread skepticism
a (financial) rescue package

Business
Here are some cool collocations in the Business area (in no particular order): UPDATED JUNE 22

An annual turnover
to bear in mind
to break off negotiations
to cease trading
to chair a meeting
to close a deal
to close a meeting
to come to the point
to dismiss an offer
to draw a conclusion
to draw your attention to
to launch a new product
to lay off staff / to take on staff
to go bankrupt / to go into receivership
to go into partnership
to make a loss / to make a profit
market forces
market share
the sales figures
To open a company
To rebuild the economy
The debate on sth / the debate surrounding sth
spread betting
To appear (more) dovish
A hawkish approach (to)
the downside risks to
corporate transparency
a tax haven
to realize one’s potential

Work
Here are some cool collocations about work (in no particular order): UPDATED JUNE 22

The labor market the labor force

low pay
highly-skilled
well-trained
human resources / personnel department
a benefits package
a golden parachute
perks and benefits
an expense account
long hours / business hours / trading hours
work weekends / work over the weekend
the graveyard shift
shift work / a six-hour shift
a casual job / casual employment
to have or hold a full-time job / full-time employment
to have or hold a part-time job / part-time employment
on an internship / intern
to do a traineeship / trainee
an early-morning start
to work until late
to moonlight as
to hold down two jobs
to get paid under the table
to pay double tax
to be in a tax bracket
to be hired / to be fired
to be promoted / to be overlooked
to be stuck
to carve out a niche
to establish one’s self as
to climb the corporate ladder
to make one’s way up (through) the company
widespread unemployment
to live on, receive unemployment benefits
a managerial positionsenior management / top management
to have reasonable control over/of sthto do overtime
to have an interview
fringe benefits
working conditions
danger pay
to throw support behind sth
The debate on sth / the debate surrounding sth
to realize one’s potential

Education
Here are some cool collocation in the Education area (in no particular order): UPDATED JUNE 22

To graduate from high school, college

To go to school (in Germany_
Boarding school
Adult illiteracy
The educational system
A formal education / an informal education
higher education / tertiary education
night school
a community college
a vocational course
holistic education
a lack of education
to have no schooling
pre-school / kindergarten / elementary, primary school / middle school / high school
distance learning
one-to-one classes
back-to-back classes
a window between classes
student assessment
The debate on sth / the debate surrounding sth
(free) school meals
a revered academic
a low-income background / a disadvantaged background
a privileged background
a first-rate education
social mobility
to realize one’s potential

Law and the Legal System

Here are some cool collocations in the legal area (in no particular order): UPDATED JUNE 22

To break the law

To abide by the law
A Law-abiding citizen
To enact a law
To prevent sbdy from (doing) something
to launch a full-scale investigation
to sue sbdy for sth
to accuse sbdy of (doing) sth
to file charges against sbdy
to throw the book at sbdy
to do time (in jail)
to be sentenced to (10 years in jail)
to get out on parole / to be on parole

to appeal the verdict

to take sbdy to court
to file a lawsuit against sbdy
to be arrested
to be taken in for questioning
to be released (from jail, from custody)
to be let out (for good behavior)
to assign rights
an authorized representative
a binding contract
a binding obligation
a contractual breach
copyright protection
to enter into a contract (with)
the estimated costs of
a flagrant breach
fulfill one’s obligations
to be legally valid
in the public domain
to rescind a contract
to terminate a contract
to issue, receive written notice
a written request
to take the law into one’s own hands
to bring a case against sbdy
to dismiss a case
restrictive gun laws
to disrespect the constitution
discussions should center on
The debate on sth / the debate surrounding sth
To be detained on suspicion of + gerund
to fuel corruption
to hold sbdy accountable for + noun/gerund
to accept a bribe
to buy off a politician (sbdy)
to be released on bail

Politics
Here are some cool collocations in the political area (in no particular order): UPDATED JUNE 22

To run for president

To run for Office
To get elected
In the polls (survey)
At the polls (election results)
To campaign for sdby
To be in a party (political party)
To make a promise / break a promise
Political turmoil
To be a candidate for the presidency
Public spending
Public coffers
To put forward a bill / submit a bill / pass a bill
decision-making power
the local community
a non-profit organization
to provide (someone) with (something)
to take advantage of (someone/something/ situation)
to address problems
to lose sight of sth
public opinion (on sth)
public comment (on sth)
a one-sided view
an ill-conceived plan
national politics
international politics
smear campaigns
a political system
scare tactics
to cast a, your vote
adrenaline-filled speeches
public appearances
criticism from the opposition
to launch opportunistic attacks on sbdy
to take power / to take office
discussions should center on
to be on shaky ground
lightning-fast change
to throw support behind sth
to rebuild the economy
Rising commodity prices / falling commodity prices
The debate on sth / the debate surrounding sth
international development
spread betting
To appear (more) dovish
A hawkish approach (to)
the downside risks to
to bring sth under control
to fuel corruption
to accept a bribe
to buy off a politician (sbdy)
a tax haven
to have the backing of a/one’s party
widespread skepticism