Environment & Global Issues
El medio ambiente
⏱ 45-60 minWhat you'll learn
- ✓ Discuss environmental problems and their causes
- ✓ Suggest solutions using hay que and se debería
- ✓ Express opinions on global issues
- ✓ Use the subjunctive in environmental context (Higher)
- ✓ Talk about what you do to help the environment
Grammar Focus
Essential grammar for this topic with exam tips and links to full explanations.
Hay que / Se debe for obligations
Use impersonal structures to talk about what needs to be done.
Examples:
Hay que reciclar más
We have to recycle more
Se debe ahorrar agua
We should save water
Es necesario proteger el medio ambiente
It's necessary to protect the environment
Es importante reducir el plástico
It's important to reduce plastic
⚠️Exam tip: Impersonal structures (hay que, se debe, es importante) are key for this topic!
Present continuous for current issues
HigherUse estar + gerund to describe ongoing environmental problems.
Examples:
El planeta se está calentando
The planet is warming up
Los glaciares están derritiéndose
Glaciers are melting
Estamos destruyendo los bosques
We are destroying forests
⚠️Exam tip: The present continuous adds urgency to environmental discussions!
Learn more about Present Progressive →Conditional for solutions
HigherUse conditional to suggest what could or should be done.
Examples:
Deberíamos usar menos plástico
We should use less plastic
Sería mejor usar transporte público
It would be better to use public transport
Los gobiernos deberían hacer más
Governments should do more
⚠️Exam tip: Using conditional for solutions shows mature language use!
Learn more about Conditional Tense →Si clauses for hypotheticals
HigherUse si + imperfect subjunctive + conditional for hypothetical situations.
Examples:
Si todos recicláramos, habría menos basura
If everyone recycled, there would be less rubbish
Si no actuamos, será demasiado tarde
If we don't act, it will be too late
⚠️Exam tip: Si clauses are Higher tier gold - they show complex language!
Learn more about Conditional Sentences →Por vs Para for cause and purpose
Use por for cause/reason; use para for purpose/goal.
Examples:
Hay contaminación por el tráfico
There is pollution because of traffic
El planeta sufre por nuestras acciones
The planet suffers because of our actions
Reciclo para proteger el medio ambiente
I recycle (in order) to protect the environment
Ahorramos energía para reducir emisiones
We save energy (in order) to reduce emissions
⚠️Exam tip: Por = cause (because of), Para = purpose (in order to). Common in environment topics!
Learn more about Por Para →🔗 Key Verbs for this Topic
Quick Reference
Impersonal Obligations
Use hay que + infinitive (one must), se debería + infinitive (one should), and es necesario + infinitive (it is necessary to).
Hay que reciclar másOne must recycle more
Se debería usar menos plásticoOne should use less plastic
Verb Conjugation Tables
reciclar
| yo | reciclo |
| tú | reciclas |
| él/ella | recicla |
| nosotros | reciclamos |
| vosotros | recicláis |
| ellos/ellas | reciclan |
proteger
| yo | protejo |
| tú | proteges |
| él/ella | protege |
| nosotros | protegemos |
| vosotros | protegéis |
| ellos/ellas | protegen |