environmental degradation

Utilisation IELTS

Useful for discussing the causes and consequences of human activity on the natural world in Task 2 essays, and for understanding reading and listening passages on environmental issues.

Exemples

1. Deforestation, pollution, and soil erosion are major forms of environmental degradation.
2. The report warns that environmental degradation is accelerating in coastal regions.
3. Economic development often has to be balanced against the risk of environmental degradation.
4. Many governments now recognise environmental degradation as a serious threat to public health.

Collocations

severe environmental degradation

The region has experienced severe environmental degradation due to unregulated mining.

widespread environmental degradation

Widespread environmental degradation has reduced the ability of local communities to farm the land.

prevent environmental degradation

Strict regulations are needed to prevent further environmental degradation.

contribute to environmental degradation

Single-use plastics contribute significantly to environmental degradation.

reverse environmental degradation

Reforestation projects aim to reverse environmental degradation in degraded areas.

Famille de mots

Nom

degradation

Verbe

degrade

Adjectif

degraded

Paraphrases

• deterioration of the environment: A direct paraphrase, useful for variety in writing.
• damage to the natural environment: A simpler alternative, clearer for speaking.
• ecological destruction: A stronger, more urgent variant.
• environmental damage: More general, often used in news and reports.

Erreurs courantes

• environmental degradation is happen to environmental degradation is occurring. Degradation is a state or process, so 'happen' is not used; 'occur' or 'take place' works.
• the environmental degradation of the city to the environmental degradation in the city. We say degradation in a place, not of a place when meaning location.
• economic growth cause environmental degradation to economic growth causes environmental degradation. Subject-verb agreement: growth is singular so 'causes'.
• suffer from environmental degraded to suffer from environmental degradation. Use the noun form after 'from'.