041.PDF

041 - Global Warming | ESL Podcast

ESL Reading

Global warming is one of the top priorities on the agenda of

governments all over the world. The general consensus among scientists

is that the current warming of the earth is caused by greenhouse gas

emissions from human activity. It’s a difficult problem to address

because the activities that cause global warming are very

interconnected with our lifestyles and economic systems. There is also

disagreement about what the best way to tackle the problem is. Some

people want extremely strict emission regulations on businesses, while

others believe that would only cripple the economy. Some economists

like the idea of carbon trading , while others don’t like the idea of being

able to “pay money to pollute”.

Phrases and Vocabulary used:

Priorities : A priority is something that is given high importance. Even

though he was offered a higher paying job in a different city, he didn’t

take it because his family was more of a priority to him.

Agenda : A list, plan, or outline of things that need to be done.

Consensus : The majority opinion. A general agreement about

something. The consensus of the group was to meet once a week.

Greenhouse gas : Any gas that traps radiation from the sun and

contributes to the gradual warming of the earth.

Emissions : Something released into the air. In this case we are talking

about the emission of greenhouse gases.

Address : Here, “address” is used as a verb and it means “deal with” a

problem. It’s a little bit formal. How do you think the government will

address the issue of global warming.

Interconnected : to be connected together or tied together. In this case

it means “hard to separate”. Our lifestyles involve driving cars and using

air conditioners etc. These activities cause greenhouse gas emissions. In

other words, a lot of what we do already causes the release of greenhouse

gases.

Tackle : This is another word that we sometimes use to say “solve” or

“deal with” a problem. Do you have any ideas as to how we should tackle

this problem?

Cripple : cause harm to, slow down, make weaker. Cripple the economy

means to make the economy much worse.

Carbon Trading : A system where companies or countries set emissions

targets for greenhouse gas emissions. If you go over your limit of

greenhouse gas emissions, then you can buy the “right to emit more

gases”. It’s a way to give companies a good reason to try to emit less

gas. If they emit too much they have to pay money. If they emit less

gas, then they can earn money by letting other companies buy their right

to emit more gas.