Discussing Environmental Issues

➧ Learn and practice vocabulary related to environmental issues, sustainability, and conservation
➧ Understand and use relative clauses | defining and non-defining
➧ Practice discussing global environmental problems and proposing solutions

Q. Why is it important?
A. Environmental issues are critical topics in today’s world. Being able to discuss them in English will help you engage in important global conversations.

Key Topics
➧ Climate change
➧ Pollution
➧ Deforestation
➧ Conservation efforts
➧ Renewable energy

Examples
➧ Pollution is a growing problem in many cities.
➧ Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, are becoming more popular.

Q. What are relative clauses?
A. Relative clauses give additional information about a noun in a sentence.

Relative Pronouns
➧ Who
➧ Which
➧ That
➧ Whose
➧ Where
➧ When


Defining Relative Clauses
➧ Provide essential information about the noun | no commas

Non-Defining Relative Clauses
➧ Provide extra, non-essential information | use commas


➧ The company that recycles plastic bottles is helping reduce waste.
➧ The Amazon rainforest, which is the largest in the world, is under threat from deforestation.

Environmental Issues and Solutions

Climate Change
➧ Long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns

Pollution
➧ The presence of harmful substances in the environment

Deforestation
➧ The cutting down of trees in large areas

Sustainability
➧ Practices that do not deplete resources or harm the environment

Renewable Energy
➧ Energy from sources that are not depleted when used, like solar and wind


➧ Climate change, which affects the entire planet, is caused by human activities.
➧ Deforestation, which leads to habitat loss, is a major problem in many countries.

Homework
Write a 150-word essay on an environmental issue you feel strongly about. Use at least three relative clauses | defining and non-defining.

Example
Climate change, which affects people all over the world, is caused by the burning of fossil fuels. In my city, air pollution, which is mostly from cars, is a major issue. We need to invest in public transportation, which could reduce emissions significantly.