Environment (Leaving Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Environment - El medio ambiente
Vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la deforestación | deforestation |
| la lluvia ácida | acid rain |
| las mareas negras | oil spills |
| la sobrepoblación | overpopulation |
| el calentamiento global | global warming |
| la contaminación | pollution |
| la sequía | drought |
| las especies amenazadas | threatened species |
| la polución de los mares | sea pollution |
| los combustibles fósiles | fossil fuels |
| el tráfico | traffic |
| las fábricas | factories |
| los atascos | traffic jams |
These vocabulary terms are frequently tested in Leaving Cert exams. Focus particularly on la deforestación, el calentamiento global, and la contaminación as they appear in most environmental essay questions.
Example sentences:
- La deforestación causa muchos problemas medioambientales. (Deforestation causes many environmental problems.)
- El calentamiento global es nocivo para el planeta. (Global warming is harmful to the planet.)
- Las fábricas contribuyen a la contaminación del aire. (Factories contribute to air pollution.)
Environmental solutions vocabulary
When discussing solutions, Spanish uses specific verbs and expressions that demonstrate environmental awareness and responsibility. Learning these action-oriented terms will help you propose concrete solutions in your essays.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| reciclar | to recycle |
| ahorrar energía | to save energy |
| usar transporte público | to use public transport |
| proteger el planeta | to protect the planet |
| apagar la luz | to turn off the light |
| ducharse en vez de bañarse | to shower instead of having a bath |
| desenchufar los aparatos | to unplug electrical appliances |
| cerrar el grifo | to turn off the tap |
| usar bolsas de plástico | to use plastic bags |
| comprar productos verdes | to buy eco-friendly products |
| plantar árboles | to plant trees |
Example sentences:
- Es importante que reciclemos el plástico y el vidrio. (It's important that we recycle plastic and glass.)
- Debemos ahorrar agua para proteger el medio ambiente. (We must save water to protect the environment.)
- Voy a usar menos energía en casa. (I'm going to use less energy at home.)
Note the subjunctive use after es importante que - this pattern appears frequently in environmental discussions and is crucial for achieving higher grades.
Useful expressions for environmental topics
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Me preocupa mucho | I'm really worried about |
| En mi opinión | In my opinion |
| Creo que | I believe that |
| Pienso que | I think that |
| Es esencial que | It's essential that |
| Es necesario que | It's necessary that |
| Es urgente que | It's urgent that |
| Por eso | Therefore |
| Sin embargo | However |
| Además | Furthermore |
Example sentences:
- Me preocupa mucho la contaminación del aire. (I'm really worried about air pollution.)
- En mi opinión, es esencial que usemos el transporte público. (In my opinion, it's essential that we use public transport.)
- Pienso que el problema más grave es el calentamiento global. (I think the most serious problem is global warming.)
The expressions Me preocupa mucho, En mi opinión, and Pienso que are excellent for starting paragraphs and showing personal engagement with environmental issues.
Grammar focus - Expressing necessity and opinion
When discussing environmental issues, you'll frequently use the subjunctive mood after expressions of necessity and opinion.
Pattern: Es + adjective + que + subjunctive
This construction is essential for environmental essays:
- Es importante que reciclemos más. (It's important that we recycle more.)
- Es necesario que protejamos el planeta. (It's necessary that we protect the planet.)
Remember: After Es importante que, Es necesario que, and Es esencial que, you MUST use the subjunctive mood.
Negative commands for environmental protection:
- No cortes tantos árboles (Don't cut down so many trees)
- No tyres basura al suelo (Don't throw rubbish on the floor)
- No malgastes energía (Don't waste energy)
- No construyas tantas casas grandes (Don't build so many big houses)
Sample exam response
Worked Example: Environmental Essay Response
Prompt: Write about environmental problems and what we can do to help.
En mi opinión, hay tantos problemas medioambientales como la sobrepoblación y la deforestación, pero pienso que el problema más grave es la contaminación del aire ya que es nocivo y causa el calentamiento global. Las fábricas y los atascos contribuyen a la contaminación del aire, y por eso es esencial que usemos el transporte público.
En el pasado me preocupaba más la deforestación y la destrucción de los bosques, dado que causa las especies amenazadas. Organicé un evento para recaudar dinero para proteger el planeta.
Para proteger el planeta, no corte tantos árboles y plante más bosques y selvas. Yo voy a intentar usar menos energía. Apagaré la luz y desenchufaré los aparatos eléctricos. Voy a hacer todo lo posible para ayudar el medio ambiente.
Translation: In my opinion, there are so many environmental problems like overpopulation and deforestation, but I think that the most serious problem is air pollution because it's harmful and causes global warming. Factories and traffic jams contribute to air pollution, and therefore it's essential that we use public transport.
In the past I was most worried about deforestation and the destruction of forests, because it causes endangered species. I organised an event to raise money to protect the planet.
To protect the planet, don't cut down so many trees and plant more woods and forests. I'm going to try to use less energy. I will turn off the light and I will unplug electrical items. I'm going to do everything possible to help the environment.
Key features demonstrated:
- Opinion expressions: En mi opinión, pienso que
- Subjunctive after necessity: es esencial que usemos
- Past, present, and future tenses for chronological structure
- Connecting words: por eso, dado que
Key Points to Remember:
- Use subjunctive after expressions like es esencial que, es importante que, and es necesario que
- Environmental vocabulary combines with opinion phrases to create sophisticated arguments
- Negative commands (No + verb) are useful for stating what people shouldn't do
- Past, present and future tenses help structure environmental discussions chronologically
- Connect ideas using por eso (therefore), sin embargo (however), and además (furthermore)
- Master key vocabulary like la contaminación, el calentamiento global, and reciclar for exam success