Environment & Sustainability
Environment & Sustainability
B1 environmental French moves beyond basic weather/nature words into the vocabulary needed to discuss climate, pollution, and sustainable habits — a common topic in exam writing and speaking tasks.
Grammar Comparison
Grammar Comparison
il faut + infinitif for general recommendations about the environment
Il faut réduire nos déchets.
We must reduce our waste.
English 'must/have to' is a single modal verb form regardless of who's involved. French il faut works the same way here with a plain infinitive for a general recommendation aimed at everyone. Later (at B2, lesson 40) you'll meet il faut que + subjonctif for recommendations aimed at a specific person or group — French grammaticalizes that distinction (general vs. targeted obligation) with a mood change, something English 'must' never marks at all. For now, the plain infinitive form is enough.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
| French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| le réchauffement climatique | luh ray-shoh-fuh-mahn klee-mah-TEEK | global warming |
| l'environnement (m) | lahn-vee-ron-uh-MAHN | the environment |
| le recyclage | luh ruh-see-KLAHZH | recycling |
| les déchets (m) | lay day-SHEH | waste/trash |
| la pollution | lah poh-lu-see-OHN | pollution |
| une énergie renouvelable | un ay-nair-ZHEE ruh-noo-vuh-LAH-bluh | renewable energy |
| économiser | ay-koh-noh-mee-ZAY | to save/conserve |
| gaspiller | gahs-pee-YAY | to waste |
| protéger | proh-tay-ZHAY | to protect |
| la biodiversité | lah bee-oh-dee-vair-see-TAY | biodiversity |
| les émissions (f) de CO2 | lay zay-mee-see-OHN duh say-oh-DUH | CO2 emissions |
| le développement durable | luh dayv-lohp-MAHN du-RAH-bluh | sustainable development |
| trier les déchets | tree-AY lay day-SHEH | to sort waste (for recycling) |
| un sac en plastique | uhn sahk ahn plah-STEEK | a plastic bag |