These are all words for the type of place in which sb/sth exists or is situated. 以上各词均指人或事物生存或所处的环境。

• environment the conditions in a place that affect the behaviour and development of sb/sth 指影响人或事物的行为或发展的环境：◆An unhappy home environment can affect children's behaviour. 不幸的家庭环境可能对孩子的行为造成影响。◆a pleasant working environment 令人愉快的工作环境
• setting a place or situation of a particular type, in which sth happens or exists 指事物所处的环境或发生的背景：◆The island provided an idyllic setting for the concert. 这岛为音乐会提供了优美的田园布景。
• surroundings everything that is around or near sb/sth 指周围的环境：◆The huts blend in perfectly with their surroundings. 这些棚屋与周围的环境浑然一体，非常和谐。
• background the things or area behind or around the main objects or people that are in a place or picture 指对主要人物、事物起衬托作用的事物、背景：◆The mountains in the background were capped with snow. 远处的山峦白雪覆盖。

Patterns

• in (a/an) environment/setting/surroundings
• (a/an) new/unfamiliar environment/setting/surroundings
• sb/sth's immediate environment/surroundings
• (a) dramatic setting/background

Environmental damage 环境破坏

• cause/contribute to climate change/global warming 引起气候变化/全球变暖
• produce pollution/CO₂/greenhouse (gas) emissions 产生污染/二氧化碳/温室气体排放
• damage/destroy the environment/a marine ecosystem/the ozone layer/coral reefs 破坏环境/海洋生态系统/臭氧层/珊瑚礁
• degrade ecosystems/habitats/the environment 使生态系统/栖息地/环境退化
• harm the environment/wildlife/marine life 危害环境/野生动物/海洋生物
• threaten natural habitats/coastal ecosystems/a species with extinction 构成对自然栖息地/沿海生态系统/物种灭绝的威胁
• deplete natural resources/the ozone layer 大量损耗自然资源/臭氧层
• pollute rivers and lakes/waterways/the air/the atmosphere/the environment/oceans 污染河流湖泊/航道/空气/大气层/环境/海洋
• contaminate groundwater/the soil/food/crops 污染地下水/土壤/食物/庄稼
• log forests/rainforests/trees 采伐森林/热带雨林/树木

Protecting the environment 保护环境

• address/combat/tackle the threat/effects/impact of climate change 设法解决/防止/应对气候变化带来的威胁/影响/冲击
• fight/take action on/reduce/stop global warming 对抗/采取行动应对/减缓/阻止全球变暖
• limit/curb/control air/water/atmospheric/environmental pollution 控制空气/水/大气/环境污染
• cut/reduce pollution/greenhouse gas emissions 减少污染/温室气体排放
• offset carbon/CO₂ emissions 抵消碳/二氧化碳的排放
• reduce (the size of) your carbon footprint 减少碳足迹（量）
• achieve/promote sustainable development 实现/促进可持续发展
• preserve/conserve biodiversity/natural resources 保持生物多样性；保护自然资源
• protect endangered species/a coastal ecosystem 保护濒危物种/沿海生态系统
• prevent/stop soil erosion/overfishing/massive deforestation/damage to ecosystems 防止/阻止水土流失/过度捕捞/大面积森林砍伐/对生态系统的破坏
• raise awareness of environmental issues 增强环境意识
• save the planet/the rainforests/an endangered species 拯救地球/热带雨林/濒危物种

Energy and resources 能源和资源

• conserve/save/consume/waste energy 保护/节约/消耗/浪费能源
• manage/exploit/be rich in natural resources 管理/开发/有丰富的自然资源
• dump/dispose of hazardous/toxic/nuclear waste 倾倒/处理有害/有毒/核废料
• dispose of/throw away litter/ (especially BrE) rubbish/ (especially NAmE) garbage/ (NAmE) trash/sewage 处理/扔掉垃圾/废物；排放污水
• use/be made from recycled/recyclable/biodegradable material 使用回收/可回收/可生物降解材料；由回收/可回收/可生物降解材料制成
• recycle bottles/packaging/paper/plastic/waste 回收瓶子/包装材料/纸/塑料/废品
• promote/encourage recycling/sustainable development/the use of renewable energy 促进/鼓励回收利用/可持续发展/使用可再生能源
• develop/invest in/promote renewable energy 研发/投资/推动可再生能源
• reduce your dependence/reliance on fossil fuels 减少对化石燃料的依赖
• get/obtain/generate/produce electricity from wind, solar and wave power/renewable sources 利用风、太阳能、潮汐/可再生能源发电
• build/develop a (50-megawatt/offshore) wind farm 修建一座（50 兆瓦/海上）风力发电站
• install/be fitted with/be powered by solar panels 安装太阳能板；由太阳能板提供动力