This lesson practises 30 C2 collocations on Environment & Climate. Collocations are fixed word pairings that native speakers expect — Cambridge examiners test them in Use of English Part 1 and reward precise lexis in Writing. Run through the interactive drills first, then open this glossary to revise every item in the set. For question-by-question feedback, use Review mode after you finish the session.
run dry
By late August, several village wells had begun to run dry.
widespread flooding
Weeks of rain caused widespread flooding across the region.
face severe weather conditions
Fishermen may face severe weather conditions far from shore.
restore ecological balance
Replanting native trees may help restore ecological balance to the valley.
searing heat
Workers took frequent breaks during the searing heat.
irreversible climate change
Scientists warn that irreversible climate change would transform the region's ecosystems.
renewable energy
Investment in renewable energy is becoming cheaper than new coal power in many markets.
disposal of household waste
The new rules govern the disposal of household waste.
toxic waste
The site was fenced off after inspectors discovered toxic waste.
fluctuate wildly
In spring, river levels can fluctuate wildly after sudden storms.
herd of cattle
A herd of cattle moved slowly across the restored grassland.
offset carbon emissions
The airline offers passengers a way to offset carbon emissions from long-haul flights.
shoal of sardines
A shoal of sardines flashed beneath the clear water.
alternative energy source
Tidal power is an alternative energy source for coastal communities.
wildly inaccurate
The rumour that the water supply was poisoned proved wildly inaccurate.
disastrous consequences
Failure to cut emissions could have disastrous consequences for low-lying islands.
inclement weather
The hike was cancelled because of inclement weather.
adverse weather conditions
Mountain communities can face adverse weather conditions for much of the winter.
unexplored wilderness
The expedition mapped an area of unexplored wilderness in the north.
bursting with energy
After the migration, the young foxes were bursting with energy across the moor.
faintly ridiculous
It seemed faintly ridiculous to claim that one tree could offset years of pollution.
reduce their carbon footprint
Households can reduce their carbon footprint by improving insulation.
summon up the energy
After a long day of clearing litter, the volunteers had to summon up the energy to finish the path.
absolutely vital
Protecting peatlands is absolutely vital if the region is to meet its climate targets.
boundless energy
The children seemed to have boundless energy during the tree-planting day.
offshore wind farm
The offshore wind farm now supplies electricity to thousands of homes.
mitigate environmental degradation
Restoring wetlands can mitigate environmental degradation caused by intensive farming.
harebrained scheme
Residents rejected the harebrained scheme to build a car park on the marsh.
wildly exaggerated
The claim that wind turbines use more energy than they produce is wildly exaggerated.
temperatures fluctuate
Temperatures fluctuate sharply in the mountain region.