Environment & cities

a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause is studied

现象

• Urban heat islands are a well-documented phenomenon in cities of every size.
• Researchers struggled to explain the phenomenon until better data became available.

Collocations: a natural phenomenon · a widespread phenomenon · explain a phenomenon

to make something harmful or unpleasant less severe

缓解；减轻

• Planting street trees helps mitigate the urban heat island effect.
• The company took steps to mitigate the damage caused by the recall.

Collocations: mitigate the effects · mitigate risk · mitigating measures

the basic systems a country or city needs to function, such as roads, power, and water

基础设施

• Ageing infrastructure struggles to cope with more frequent heat waves.
• The government pledged to invest heavily in transport infrastructure.

Collocations: public infrastructure · invest in infrastructure · digital infrastructure

the process by which more people come to live in cities and cities grow

城市化

• Rapid urbanization has transformed the region within a single generation.
• Urbanization brings economic opportunity alongside environmental strain.

Collocations: rapid urbanization · the pace of urbanization

to balance or cancel out the effect of something

抵消；补偿

• Higher salaries in the capital are largely offset by housing costs.
• Tree planting can partially offset the heat stored by paved surfaces.

Collocations: offset the cost · partially offset · offset by

to become progressively worse in condition or quality

恶化

• Air quality deteriorates sharply during prolonged heat waves.
• Without maintenance, the buildings deteriorated within a decade.

Collocations: deteriorate rapidly · deteriorating conditions · health deteriorated

to make something stronger, larger, or more intense

放大；加剧

• Climate change amplifies the health risks of extreme urban heat.
• Social media can amplify a small story into a national debate.

Collocations: amplify the effect · amplify concerns · greatly amplified

to reduce the amount of something significantly, especially a resource

耗尽；使枯竭

• Overfishing has depleted stocks in several major fisheries.
• Long hours at work can deplete an employee's energy and motivation.
• Groundwater reserves are being depleted faster than they can be replenished.

Collocations: deplete resources · rapidly depleted · deplete reserves

to bring something back to its original condition or position

恢复；修复

• The wetland restoration project aims to restore habitats lost to development.
• New leadership helped restore public confidence in the institution.
• Historians worked for years to restore the damaged manuscript.

Collocations: restore confidence · restore a habitat · fully restored

laws considered as a group, or the process of making laws

立法；法规

• New legislation requires companies to disclose their carbon emissions.
• The bill became legislation after months of debate in parliament.
• Critics argue the legislation does not go far enough to protect workers.

Collocations: pass legislation · propose legislation · environmental legislation

easily harmed, hurt, or affected by something negative

脆弱的；易受伤害的

• Coastal communities are especially vulnerable to rising sea levels.
• Elderly patients are more vulnerable to complications from the flu.
• The reforms aim to protect the most vulnerable members of society.

Collocations: vulnerable to · particularly vulnerable · vulnerable populations