español · B1 · vocabulary · 4 minutes
Environment and sustainability
Discuss environmental problems through concrete actions and resources.
Understand the choice
Discuss environmental action through causes, resources, and practical responses: reduce waste, recycle, use renewable energy, and describe pollution or drought. Learn the noun and the policy-sized action together.
Core rule: Tener que + infinitive expresses a practical obligation.
Notice it in context
Tenemos que reducir los residuos y reciclar más.
We have to reduce waste and recycle more.
Tener que + infinitive expresses a practical obligation.
La ciudad usa energía renovable.
The city uses renewable energy.
Renovable follows and agrees with energía.
La sequía afecta a toda la región.
The drought affects the whole region.
Afectar a introduces what is affected.
What to remember
- Medio ambiente is the environment; ambiental is the adjective in phrases such as impacto ambiental.
- Residuo is discarded material, while basura is everyday rubbish; formal discussions often prefer residuos.
Common trap: Do not use soportable for sustainable. Sostenible means environmentally or economically sustainable; soportable means bearable.