Sustainability Vocabulary

noun the act of consuming something

verb to eat, drink, or use up something

• It is important to monitor the amount of food we consume each day.
• I can't believe how much junk food I consume when I'm stressed.
• I consume way too much caffeine to stay awake during late-night study sessions.
• Her passion for music consumes her every waking moment.

noun a place where waste is deposited and left to decompose or be disposed of

• The city council approved the construction of a new garbage dump on the outskirts of town.
• I heard they're gonna build a new garbage dump near the highway.
• They're gonna dump all that trash in the garbage dump out back.
• Her mind felt like a cluttered garbage dump, full of unwanted thoughts and memories.

noun maintenance or upkeep

verb to keep in existence or continuance; preserve; retain

• It is important to maintain a professional demeanor in the workplace.
• I try to maintain a tidy house by cleaning regularly.
• I have to maintain my chill when dealing with difficult customers.
• She struggled to maintain her composure during the emotional speech.

noun an act of saving or rescuing; preservation or protection from harm, danger, or loss

verb to rescue or preserve from harm, danger, or loss

• It is important to save money for future emergencies.
• I'm trying to save up for a new car.
• I need to save some cash before we go out.
• She tried to save the relationship, but it was too late.

noun a target of completely neutralizing or balancing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere with an equivalent amount being removed

adjective describing a state or goal of achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gases emitted and removed from the atmosphere

• The company has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
• We're trying to go net zero by cutting down on our energy usage.
• Our goal is to be net zero on emissions within the next decade.
• Striving for net zero is like aiming for the stars in terms of sustainability.

noun Crisis is a noun that refers to a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger.

adjective Climate is an adjective that describes something related to the weather conditions in a particular area over a long period of time.

• The climate crisis is a pressing issue that requires immediate global attention.
• Have you heard about the climate crisis? It's really scary stuff.
• Dude, the climate crisis is totally freaking me out.
• The climate crisis is like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

noun a type of energy that is produced from renewable sources such as wind, solar, or hydro power

• The government is investing heavily in research and development of green energy technologies.
• I heard that using green energy can help save money on electricity bills.
• Dude, we need to start using more green energy to help the environment.
• Switching to green energy is like giving the Earth a big hug.

noun A person or machine that collects waste or garbage for disposal or recycling.

• The waste collector is responsible for collecting and disposing of garbage in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner.
• The waste collector comes by every Tuesday to pick up our trash.
• The waste collector dude swings by to grab our junk once a week.
• As a waste collector of negative thoughts, she made sure to dispose of any toxic emotions that came her way.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or state of being

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb

conjunction a word that connects words, phrases, or clauses

interjection a word or phrase that expresses emotion or exclamation

article a word that specifies a noun as definite or indefinite (e.g., 'a', 'an', 'the')

• In the world of design, the principle of 'small is beautiful' is often emphasized for its elegance and efficiency.
• I always prefer a small and cozy house over a big one - you know, small is beautiful!
• I'm all about that 'small is beautiful' life - less is more, you know?
• When it comes to relationships, I believe in the saying 'small is beautiful' - quality over quantity.

noun very small pieces of plastic that pollute the environment

• The presence of microplastics in our oceans is a growing concern for environmental scientists.
• I heard that microplastics are really bad for marine life.
• Dude, microplastics are like tiny pieces of plastic that mess up the ocean.
• Microplastics are like invisible invaders causing harm to marine ecosystems.

noun The Boris bike program aims to provide a convenient and eco-friendly transportation option for residents and visitors in London.

• The city council implemented a Boris bike scheme to promote eco-friendly transportation.
• Let's take a Boris bike to the park for a quick ride.
• I love cruising around on a Boris bike, it's so convenient.
• Using a Boris bike is like having your own personal transportation at your fingertips.

noun the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.

• The study of aecology focuses on the interactions between organisms and their environment.
• I find aecology to be really interesting because it looks at how living things interact with their surroundings.
• Aecology is all about how living things vibe with their surroundings.
• In a way, aecology is like studying the dance between nature and its inhabitants.