Climate Change Glossary

Adaptation

Actions taken to adjust to actual or expected climate change and its effects reducing harm or taking advantage of new opportunities.

Afforestation

Planting trees in an area where there were no previous tree cover to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Albedo

The measure of how much sunlight is reflected by a surface. Ice and snow have high albedo reflecting most sunlight while forests and oceans have low albedo absorbing more heat.

Anthropogenic

Resulting from or produced by human activities.

Biochar

Charcoal produced from plant matter and stored in the soil as a means of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem which can be affected by climate change.

Biogeochemical Cycles

The movement of elements and compounds among the living and non-living parts of an ecosystem.

Carbon Budget

The maximum amount of carbon dioxide emissions permitted to keep global temperature rise within a certain limit.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Technologies or approaches used to capture carbon dioxide emissions from sources like power plants and storing it underground to prevent it from entering the atmosphere.

Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)

Methods or technologies aimed at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Carbon Footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly or indirectly by human activities measured in units of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Carbon Intensity

The amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced per unit of energy or economic output.

Carbon Neutral

Achieving a balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks.

Carbon Sequestration

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide typically by plants soils or geologic formations.

Carbon Sink

Natural systems that absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere such as forests oceans and soil.

Carbon Tax

A fee imposed on the burning of carbon-based fuels intended to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.

Carbon Trading

A market-based system where countries or companies can buy or sell carbon emissions allowances.

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

A mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol that allows industrialized countries to invest in emission reduction projects in developing countries as an alternative to more costly emission reductions in their own countries.

Climate

The long-term average of weather patterns in an area typically averaged over 30 years.

Climate Adaptation Finance

Financing aimed at helping countries adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.

Climate Change

Long-term changes in temperature precipitation wind patterns and other aspects of the Earth’s climate system.

Climate Feedback

Processes that can either amplify or diminish the effects of climate forcings. Positive feedbacks enhance climate change while negative feedbacks counteract it.

Climate Forcing

An external factor that changes the energy balance of the Earth’s climate system such as volcanic eruptions solar variations and human activities.

Climate Justice

The fair treatment of all people regardless of race color national origin or income with respect to the development implementation and enforcement of environmental laws regulations and policies.

Climate Mitigation

Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases.

Climate Modeling

The use of computer models to simulate the climate system and predict future climate changes.

Climate Resilience

The ability of a system to absorb disturbance and reorganize while undergoing change so as to still retain essentially the same function structure identity and feedbacks.

Climate Vulnerability

The degree to which a system is susceptible to or unable to cope with adverse effects of climate change.

COP (Conference of the Parties)

The supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which meets annually to review the Convention’s implementation.

Decarbonization

The process of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from economic activities especially by using low-carbon energy sources.

Deforestation

The removal of trees and forests often resulting in increased carbon dioxide emissions and reduced carbon sequestration.

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert often as a result of drought deforestation or inappropriate agriculture.

Ecological Footprint

A measure of human demand on Earth’s ecosystems; the amount of natural capital used by humans.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits humans receive from ecosystems including clean water air and fertile soil which can be affected by climate change.

Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA)

Using biodiversity and ecosystem services to help communities adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.

El NiƱo

A periodic climate pattern characterized by warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.

Emissions

The release of greenhouse gases and other pollutants into the atmosphere.

Emissions Trading System (ETS)

A market-based approach to controlling pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants.

Energy Efficiency

Using less energy to provide the same service thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy Transition

The shift from fossil fuel-based energy systems to renewable energy sources.

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

The increase in Earth’s temperature due to higher concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

An evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project or development.

Extreme Weather Events

Severe weather phenomena such as hurricanes droughts and floods which are becoming more frequent or intense due to climate change.

Feedback Loop

A system where the output influences the input which can either amplify or reduce changes in climate.

Fossil Fuel Divestment

The practice of withdrawing investments from industries that contribute to climate change particularly fossil fuel companies.

Fossil Fuel Subsidies

Financial support from governments to fossil fuel companies which can encourage the continued use of fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels

Natural resources like coal oil and natural gas that release carbon dioxide when burned contributing to global warming.

Geoengineering

Deliberate large-scale interventions in the Earth’s climate system to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Global Warming

The observed increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases.

Green Climate Fund (GCF)

A fund established within the framework of the UNFCCC to assist developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.

Green Economy

An economic system aimed at reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.

Green Infrastructure

Infrastructure designed to manage water and environmental resources in an environmentally sustainable way.

Greenhouse Effect

The process by which greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere warming the planet.

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)

Gases like carbon dioxide methane nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.

Heat Island Effect

The phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than their rural surroundings due to human activities.

Heatwave

A prolonged period of excessively hot weather which can be exacerbated by climate change.

Hydrological Cycle

The continuous movement of water on above and below the surface of the Earth which can be disrupted by climate change.

Industrial Revolution

The period of rapid industrial growth with significant increases in fossil fuel consumption leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions.

Integrated Assessment Model (IAM)

Models that integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines to assess policy options for mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

A United Nations body that assesses the science related to climate change.

Jet Stream

A high-altitude fast-moving air current that influences weather patterns which can be affected by climate change.

Kyoto Protocol

An international treaty that commits its parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on the scientific consensus that global warming is occurring and that human-made CO2 emissions are driving it.

Land Degradation

The deterioration of land quality due to factors like deforestation overgrazing and poor agricultural practices.

Land Use Change

The alteration of the terrestrial surface including deforestation reforestation urbanization and agriculture impacting carbon sequestration and emissions.

Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS)

National plans outlining climate actions including emission reduction targets and policies as part of the Paris Agreement.

Low-Carbon Economy

An economy based on low carbon power sources that therefore has a minimal output of greenhouse gas emissions into the biosphere.

Low-Carbon Technology

Technologies that produce energy with little to no carbon emissions.

Marine Heatwave

Periods of extreme sea surface temperature anomalies in the ocean that can have significant ecological impacts.

Methane (CH4)

A potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential many times greater than carbon dioxide emitted by natural sources and human activities.

Migration Patterns

Changes in the patterns of movement for people or animals often due to environmental changes or pressures.

Mitigation

Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

National plans outlining climate actions including emission reduction targets and policies as part of the Paris Agreement.

Net Zero

Achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

A powerful greenhouse gas emitted from agricultural and industrial activities as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste.

Ocean Acidification

The decrease in the pH of the Earth’s oceans caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Ocean Currents

Large-scale movement of water within the oceans that can influence climate and weather patterns.

Ocean Deoxygenation

The reduction of oxygen levels in the ocean due to factors like global warming and pollution.

Ozone (O3)

A greenhouse gas that exists in the stratosphere and protects life on Earth by absorbing the majority of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Paris Agreement

An international treaty adopted in 2015 to combat climate change and intensify actions and investments needed for a sustainable low carbon future.

Permafrost

Ground that remains completely frozen for at least two years straight which can release methane and carbon dioxide when it thaws.

Positive Feedback Loop

A process that amplifies changes in a system such as increased greenhouse gas emissions leading to higher temperatures which then cause further emissions.

Precipitation Patterns

Changes in the distribution and intensity of rainfall and snowfall influenced by climate change.

Quaternary Glaciation

The period of the last 2.58 million years characterized by repeated glacial and interglacial cycles.

Radiative Forcing

The change in energy flux in the atmosphere caused by natural or anthropogenic factors influencing the Earth’s climate.

Reforestation

Planting trees in deforested areas to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Renewable Energy

Energy from sources that are naturally replenishing such as solar wind and hydroelectric power.

Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)

A regulation that requires increased production of energy from renewable sources.

Resilience

The ability to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness particularly in the context of climate change impacts.

Risk Management

The identification assessment and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated efforts to minimize monitor and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events.

Sea Level Rise

The increase in the level of the world’s oceans due to the effects of global warming.

Smart Grid

An electrical grid that uses information and communications technology to gather and act on information in an automated fashion to improve the efficiency reliability economics and sustainability of the production and distribution of electricity.

Social Cost of Carbon

An estimate of the economic damages associated with a small increase in carbon dioxide emissions.

Storm Surge

A rise in sea level above the normal tide caused by strong winds and low pressure often due to storms.

Sustainability

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs often in the context of natural resource use and environmental protection.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A collection of 17 global goals designed to be a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

Terrestrial Carbon Sink

Natural systems such as forests and soils that absorb more carbon dioxide than they release.

Thermohaline Circulation

A part of the large-scale ocean circulation driven by global density gradients created by surface heat and freshwater fluxes.

Tipping Point

A critical threshold that when exceeded leads to significant and often irreversible changes in the climate system.

Transpiration

The process by which water is absorbed by plants moves through them and is released as vapor.

Urban Heat Island Effect

The phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than their rural surroundings due to human activities.

Vulnerability

The degree to which a system is susceptible to or unable to cope with adverse effects of climate change.

Vulnerability Assessment

The process of identifying quantifying and prioritizing the vulnerabilities of a system to climate change.

Water Scarcity

The scarcity of water resources due to factors like climate change population growth and pollution.

Weather

The state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time including temperature humidity wind and precipitation.

Weather Patterns

Long-term changes in temperature precipitation wind patterns and other aspects of the Earth’s climate system.

Wildfire

An uncontrolled fire that spreads rapidly through vegetation which can be exacerbated by climate change.

Xeriscaping

Landscaping designed to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation often used in arid regions to conserve water.

Yield

The amount of a crop produced in a given area which can be affected by climate change due to altered weather patterns and increased temperatures.

Zero Emissions

The goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero through various means including renewable energy energy efficiency and carbon capture technologies.

Zero Waste

The philosophy of reducing the amount of waste produced by a person or society ideally to none.