Climate Change Glossary

Gain critical skills needed to analyze climate data, interpret policies, and contribute to sustainable solutions in various sectors.

Climate Change Glossary

For Your Clarity and Understanding

A

Adaptation
Adjustments in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.

Afforestation
Planting of new forests on lands that historically have not contained forests.

Anthropogenic
Resulting from the influence of human beings on nature, particularly relating to environmental pollution and pollutants originating from human activity.

B

Biofuel
A type of energy derived from renewable plant and animal materials, such as ethanol from corn or biodiesel from vegetable oil.

Biodiversity
The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. High biodiversity often indicates a healthy ecosystem.

C

Carbon Footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly and indirectly by human activities, typically expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂e).

Carbon Sequestration
The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global climate change.

Climate Change
Long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other aspects of the Earth’s climate system, primarily driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.

COP (Conference of the Parties)
The supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). COP meetings are held annually to assess progress in dealing with climate change.

D

Deforestation
The large-scale removal of forests, which can lead to biodiversity loss and contribute to increased atmospheric CO₂ levels.

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

E

Emissions
The release of substances (usually gases) into the atmosphere. In the context of climate change, emissions often refer to greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.

Ecosystem
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

F

Fossil Fuels
Natural fuels formed from the remains of ancient organisms, including coal, oil, and natural gas. Burning fossil fuels releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming.

G

Global Warming
The observed and ongoing rise in global average temperature near Earth’s surface, largely due to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.

Greenhouse Effect
The warming of Earth’s surface and the air above it. It is caused by gases in the air that trap energy from the sun, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor.

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect. Key GHGs include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and fluorinated gases.

H

Habitat
The natural home or environment of an organism, providing the necessary conditions for life.

I

IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)
A body of the United Nations responsible for assessing the science related to climate change. It provides policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.

M

Mitigation
Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases. Mitigation can include using new technologies and renewable energies, making older equipment more energy efficient, or changing management practices or consumer behavior.

O

Ocean Acidification
The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth’s oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. This process can harm marine life, particularly organisms with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons.

R

Renewable Energy
Energy from sources that are naturally replenishing and sustainable, such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal power.

S

Sustainability
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, often through the balanced integration of environmental, economic, and social priorities.

T

Tipping Point
A critical threshold that, when exceeded, can lead to significant and often irreversible changes in the environment or climate system.

U

UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)
An international environmental treaty aimed at addressing climate change. It was adopted in 1992 and serves as the foundation for global climate negotiations, including the annual COP meetings.

W

Weather
The state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility. Weather is distinct from climate, which refers to long-term trends and patterns.

This glossary covers fundamental concepts and terms associated with climate change, providing a solid foundation for understanding the topic.

Astrid Hartman

Excellent course, one of the best I've seen and I sorely needed this step-by-step instruction. Thank you!