Environmental concerns are becoming increasingly critical to discuss in every language, and Russian is no exception. Whether you are a language learner or simply looking to broaden your vocabulary, understanding how to discuss environmental issues can be remarkably useful. Here’s a selection of Russian vocabulary accompanied by definitions and example sentences, which can help you navigate conversations about the environment.

Окружающая среда (okruzhayushchaya sreda) – Environment
The word refers to the surrounding natural world, including air, water, and land, in which people, animals, and plants live.
Загрязнение окружающей среды – серьёзная проблема современности.

Загрязнение (zagryazneniye) – Pollution
This term covers the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment.
Фабрики часто становятся источниками загрязнения воздуха.

Устойчивое развитие (ustoychivoye razvitiye) – Sustainable development
Refers to economic development that is conducted without depletion of natural resources.
Устойчивое развитие помогает сохранить природные ресурсы для будущих поколений.

Переработка (pererabotka) – Recycling
The process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects.
Переработка пластика снижает уровень загрязнения.

Экологический (ekologicheskiy) – Ecological
Pertaining to or concerned with the relation of living organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
Экологический кризис может иметь глобальные последствия.

Выбросы (vybrosy) – Emissions
Gases or substances that are sent into the air, often from industrial processes or vehicles.
Высокий уровень выбросов углекислого газа способствует глобальному потеплению.

Вырубка лесов (vyrubka lesov) – Deforestation
The act of clearing a wide area of trees.
Вырубка лесов приводит к потере биоразнообразия.

Углеродный след (uglerodnyy sled) – Carbon footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Многие люди пытаются уменьшить свой углеродный след.

Энергосбережение (energosberezheniye) – Energy conservation
The effort made to reduce the consumption of energy by using less of an energy service.
Энергосбережение помогает бороться с климатическими изменениями.

Возобновляемые источники (vozobnovlyaemye istochniki) – Renewable resources
Resources that can be replenished naturally within a short period of time, such as solar power, wind power, and hydro power.
Использование возобновляемых источников энергии снижает зависимость от ископаемого топлива.

Глобальное потепление (global’noye poteplyeniye) – Global warming
The long-term rise in the average temperature of the Earth’s climate system.
Глобальное потепление – одна из самых обсуждаемых тем в экологии.

Биоразнообразие (bioraznoobrazie) – Biodiversity
The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
Сохранение биоразнообразия жизненно важно для нашей планеты.

By incorporating these words into your vocabulary, you’ll be better equipped to both understand and engage in discussions about environmental issues in Russian. Not only is this knowledge practical for everyday communication, but it’s also invaluable for those who are interested in the fields of science, policy, and advocacy in Russian-speaking contexts. Remember, environmental issues are a global concern, and having the language to talk about them is the first step in taking action towards a more sustainable world.