Environmental protection is one of the most important issues facing our planet today. Using riddles can be an entertaining and thought-provoking way to raise awareness about sustainability and our relationship with the natural world. Below are 91 riddles about saving the earth, along with their answers.
Easy Riddles
Riddle 1
What is invisible but if it disappears, we can’t live without it?
Answer: Air
Riddle 2
I’m home to all living things, both plant and animal. I’m blue, green, and full of wonders. What am I?
Answer: Planet Earth
Riddle 3
We’re a precious resource, falling from the sky. You need us for life, so use us wisely.
Answer: Raindrops
Riddle 4
I’m hot and dangerous, burning everything in sight. But I’m important to life, giving you warmth and light.
Answer: Fire
Riddle 5
I’m home to lions, zebras, and giraffes too. Protect me forever, for I’m precious to you.
Answer: The wild
Riddle 6
I’m big and mighty, the lungs of the planet. Saving me is urgent, please don’t forget it.
Answer: The rainforest
Riddle 7
I’m the basis of life, you find me in cells. Use me responsibly, or the future foretells.
Answer: Water
Riddle 8
With the sun I work to help plants grow. Capture me wisely to energy flow.
Answer: Photosynthesis
Riddle 9
We’re gas giants, surrounding your precious earth. Protecting our balance should have the most worth.
Answer: The atmosphere/air
Riddle 10
I’m found in the soil, essential to life. Use me sparingly, reduce waste and strife.
Answer: Fertilizer/nutrients
Medium Riddles
Riddle 11
We’re tiny machines that give energy for free. Harness our power, to fossil fuels say “see ya!”
Answer: Solar panels
Riddle 12
With pedal power I’m emission free. I’ll get you where you need to be.
Answer: Bicycle
Riddle 13
I’m a hot, fiery force from the earth’s core below. Use me for power and watch emissions go.
Answer: Geothermal energy
Riddle 14
I’m all the rage, powered by river and stream. I’m hydroelectric, a green energy dream.
Answer: Hydroelectric dam
Riddle 15
I swirl round and round, my energy never ends. I’ll help you do work, I’m your windmill friend.
Answer: Wind turbine
Riddle 16
With me you can talk, text and search worldwide. But making me wisely is crucial, decide.
Answer: Cell phone/mobile device
Riddle 17
I can be mined, recycled, or picked from a heap. Use me responsibly, I’m finite and deep.
Answer: Metal/minerals
Riddle 18
I light your streets and power your nights. Make me efficiently to be eco-bright.
Answer: Light bulb
Riddle 19
We’re green and leafy, absorbing carbon each day. Save us from loss, and the planet will say…
Answer: Trees/forests
Riddle 20
I’m fluffy and soft, keeping you cozy at night. But making me wisely is an eco-fight.
Answer: Blanket/fabric
Hard Riddles
Riddle 21
I’m a gas in the air, though very small. My levels rising could threaten you all.
Answer: Carbon dioxide
Riddle 22
We’re tiny particles from industrialization. Reducing our levels is a global fixation.
Answer: Air pollution
Riddle 23
I erode coasts and alter the earth over time. With rising seas I’m a threat sublime.
Answer: Climate change
Riddle 24
I’m the waste humans generate every day. Reduce, reuse me – show me the way!
Answer: Garbage/refuse
Riddle 25
I’m essential to industries and cars. But spills of me threaten oceans and marshes.
Answer: Oil
Riddle 26
I house electronics and power your computer to boot. Dispose of me wisely, don’t pollute!
Answer: Battery
Riddle 27
We’re minuscule bits of plastic floating at sea. Preventing our spread is the key.
Answer: Microplastics
Riddle 28
I’m a gas that rises to the upper sky. My ozone layer is thinning, oh why?
Answer: CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
Riddle 29
I’m the waste from your nuclear energy plant. Dispose of me safely, don’t let me contaminant.
Answer: Radioactive/nuclear waste
Riddle 30
We’re abundant but finite, oil and gas and more. Use us sparingly, find renewables in store.
Answer: Fossil fuels
Very Hard Riddles
Riddle 31
I’m an international agreement to limit warming worldwide. Combined effort to save the planet, unified.
Answer: The Paris Climate Agreement
Riddle 32
We’re leaders in sustainability, where change starts within. Design and ethics guide our business and kin.
Answer: Green/sustainable company
Riddle 33
I’m soft and recyclable, made from plant starches. An eco-friendly alternative used for lunches.
Answer: Biodegradable/compostable container
Riddle 34
We’re alternative fuels that corn and sugar beget. We’re ethanol, biodiesel – petroleum we offset.
Answer: Biofuels
Riddle 35
I’m harvested from farms but cause less emission. I’m renewable methane, a green composition.
Answer: Biogas
Riddle 36
We’re revolutionary textures, stretchy and slick. We avoid harmful plastics – chemicals we kick.
Answer: Bioplastics
Riddle 37
I’m organic waste recycled into riches. From banana peels to eggshells, nothing switches.
Answer: Compost
Riddle 38
We harness the wind, our turbines abound. Spinning green power with nary a sound.
Answer: Wind farm
Riddle 39
I’m harnessing waves, currents and tides. Converting their power to electrical rides.
Answer: Tidal energy generator
Riddle 40
I shine bright each day but cause no pollution. I’m solar power, a clean substitution.
Answer: Solar panel
Extra Hard Riddles
Riddle 41
We’re tiny particles forming when fuels burn. Reducing our levels should be your concern.
Answer: Particulate matter/particle pollution
Riddle 42
I’m an endless resource but am hit most by climate change. Protect me urgently to rearrange.
Answer: The ocean
Riddle 43
I’m the waste product of your gasoline engine. My catalyst removes toxins most urgent.
Answer: Exhaust/emissions
Riddle 44
We’re lead, arsenic, mercury too, released when coal burns. Keep us from your environment, you’ve been warned.
Answer: Coal ash/coal combustion residuals
Riddle 45
I’m a facility using the earth’s heat below. Geothermal energy, I’m the way to go.
Answer: Geothermal power plant
Riddle 46
We’re teeny molecules harming the ozone layer. To restore it fully, time is of the essence here.
Answer: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Riddle 47
I’m liquified natural gas, called LNG for short. For cleaner fuel options, my exports get bought.
Answer: Liquified natural gas (LNG)
Riddle 48
We’re trapped heat-energy causing your earth to warm. Our levels ever rising trigger climate alarm.
Answer: Greenhouse gases
Riddle 49
I’m excess carbon absorbing the ocean stores. My increased acidity the marine world abhors.
Answer: Ocean acidification
Riddle 50
I’m the process of reducing your eco-print. To help save the planet, I’m a must-commit.
Answer: Going green/becoming sustainable
Super Hard Riddles
Riddle 51
I’m the conversion of land to human needs. Done unsustainably, the planet it bleeds.
Answer: Land development
Riddle 52
My opaque air causes health hazards far and wide. I’m deadly smog, restrictions I’ve defied.
Answer: Smog
Riddle 53
I’m fine debris littering the ocean floor. My microfibers the sea life deplore.
Answer: Marine litter
Riddle 54
I’m the wastewater dumped into your streams. Containing toxins, I’m far from clean.
Answer: Effluent
Riddle 55
Our levels have maxed out, higher we’ll cease to survive. We’re record CO2, taking climate past the tipping point.
Answer: Carbon dioxide emissions/levels
Riddle 56
I’m king coal, a fossil fuel used worldwide. My emissions continue to rapidly rise.
Answer: Coal
Riddle 57
We’re tiny droplets forming high up in the sky. As greenhouse gas, we trap heat emitted, oh why?
Answer: Aerosol/atmospheric aerosol
Riddle 58
I’m strip mining, extracting layers of ore. Reclaiming your land, my impacts restore.
Answer: Surface mining
Riddle 59
I’m the process of reducing waste stream inflow. An eco-solution for our earth to undergo.
Answer: Waste minimization
Riddle 60
We’re teeny black particles emitted diesel engines emit. Our health impacts severe, the task urgent to limit.
Answer: Soot/black carbon
Expert Level Riddles
Riddle 61
I’m liquefied then exported across oceans wide. I’m called LNG, for fuel demands I provide.
Answer: Liquefied natural gas (LNG)
Riddle 62
I’m the gas that makes up the air that you inhale. You exhale carbon dioxide, to the earth don’t fail.
Answer: Oxygen
Riddle 63
Our ranks are dwindling, making oxygen vital. Save our species to breathe life survival.
Answer: Trees/rainforests
Riddle 64
I’m the practice of returning nutrients back to the soil. A sustainable method, no need for oil.
Answer: Composting
Riddle 65
We’re teeny particles that drive climate change fast. Our dark surfaces heat absorb, temperature rising past.
Answer: Black carbon
Riddle 66
I’m the gas you unearth for fuel and power. Use me unwisely, the climate will sour.
Answer: Natural gas/methane
Riddle 67
With the sun’s rays I make clean energy each day. I’m photovoltaic panels, the ecofriendly way.
Answer: Solar panels
Riddle 68
I’m emitted from livestock, though small I seem. My methane packs a climate punch, extreme.
Answer: Methane from livestock/cows
Riddle 69
I’m the process of waste getting new life. Through reuse and recycling, circularity is rife.
Answer: Upcycling
Riddle 70
I’m transportation powered by batteries clean. Emissions I cut, environment serene.
Answer: Electric vehicle
Riddle 71
We’re leaders worldwide reducing our emissions tally. With solar and wind power we’re leading the rally.
Answer: Companies/corporations going 100% renewable
Riddle 72
I shine my light bright but use less energy. I’m LED bulbs, sustainability key.
Answer: LED light bulb
Riddle 73
I’m liquid fuel refined sustainably. Made from corn and soybeans, cleaner energy.
Answer: Biofuel
Riddle 74
We’re teeny particles forming smog opaque. Our health impacts severe when regs we break.
Answer: Ground-level ozone
Riddle 75
I’m gas hydrates trapped deep on the ocean floor. As energy source sought, though environment needs more.
Answer: Methane hydrates
Riddle 76
I’m the waste product of the fuel that you burn. Slashing my emissions, a lesson to learn.
Answer: Carbon dioxide/CO2
Riddle 77
I’m the process of waste getting reused once more. Recycling me wisely, natural resources restore.
Answer: Recycling
Riddle 78
I’m the gas that’s both clean and in abundance. Harness me wisely, environmental balance.
Answer: Hydrogen/hydrogen fuel
Riddle 79
I’m liquid fuel from plants that is cleaner. Made sustainably, the climate keeper.
Answer: Biofuel
Riddle 80
We’re leaders worldwide pledging carbon neutrality. With clean energy and forest bonds we build sustainability.
Answer: Companies/businesses pledging net zero emissions
Riddle 81
I’m decomposing waste to nourish your soil. An organic method, no need to toil.
Answer: Compost/composting
Riddle 82
I’m strip mining, extracting layers of ore. Reclaiming your land, my impacts restore.
Answer: Surface mining
Riddle 83
I’m e-waste, computers and devices galore. Recycle me safely, don’t dump anymore!
Answer: Electronic waste/e-waste
Riddle 84
We’re leaders going green, our emissions falling fast. With clean energy and neutral goals steadfast.
Answer: Companies/businesses committed to reducing carbon emissions
Riddle 85
I’m organic waste recycled into riches. From banana peels to eggshells, nothing switches.
Answer: Compost
Riddle 86
I’m a facility using the earth’s heat below. Geothermal energy, I’m the way to go.
Answer: Geothermal power plant
Riddle 87
I’m e-waste, computers and devices galore. Recycle me safely, don’t dump anymore!
Answer: Electronic waste/e-waste
Riddle 88
I’m gas hydrates trapped deep on the ocean floor. As energy source sought, though environment needs more.
Answer: Methane hydrates
Riddle 89
I’m the conversion of land harming ecosystems wide. Done sustainably, biodiversity thrived.
Answer: Sustainable land development
Riddle 90
I’m the exhaust spewed out by your vehicles each day. Slashed emissions promise cleaner highway.
Answer: Tailpipe emissions
Riddle 91
I’m organic waste recycled into nutrients. Close the loop safely, the environment recruits.
Answer: Compost/composting
Conclusion
Saving our planet is an urgent issue, and raising awareness through riddles is one small way to get people thinking. The riddles and answers above covered a wide range of environmental topics, from pollution and emissions to green technology and sustainability practices. How many were you able to guess correctly? The more we understand the threats facing our earth as well as the solutions, the better equipped we are to take meaningful action to protect our shared home. Keep the earth in mind with each choice you make, small or large. Our collective efforts can and will make a difference.
