Deutsch · B1 · vocabulary · 4 minutes
Environment and climate
Connect environmental causes, consequences, and responses with precise compounds.
Understand the choice
German environmental language builds exact compounds rather than relying on a vague green vocabulary. Distinguish weather events from long-term Erderwärmung and household choices from public Emissionspolitik.
Core rule: Common actions are Abfall trennen, Energie sparen, Emissionen senken, and die Umwelt schützen.
Notice it in context
Die Stadt will den Energieverbrauch senken und mehr Abfall recyceln.
The city wants to reduce energy consumption and recycle more waste.
Will opens a modal bracket; Verbrauch and Abfall are direct objects; senken and recyceln close coordinated actions.
Erneuerbare Energie kann Emissionen deutlich senken.
Renewable energy can significantly reduce emissions.
Energie, Emissionen, and senken connect the technology to its effect.
Die Dürre erhöht das Risiko von Überschwemmungen nicht, aber von Waldbränden.
Drought does not increase flood risk, but forest-fire risk.
Dürre and Überschwemmungen contrast two hazards; von introduces the type.
What to remember
- Müll is everyday rubbish; Abfall is broader and common in policy or industry.
- Umwelt means environment around living things; Umgebung is physical surroundings.
Common trap: Do not translate climate change as Klimawandelung; the standard term is Klimawandel.