Carbon Footprint
The level of carbon dioxide emissions attributable to a country, company, yourself etc.
Greenwashing
Greenwashing is when an organisation promotes themselves and/or their goods and services in a way that sounds more eco-friendly or environmentally safe than they actually are, so that consumers who care about the environment believe they are ethical, sustainable, and eco-friendly.
Net zero
A combination of emission reductions and an increase in carbon absorption strategies (such as tree planting or sequestration – capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide), resulting in net global emissions of zero.
Clean energy transition
Significant structural and clean change in an energy system.
Adaptation
Adjusting to the actual or expected future climate. The goal however is to act now to reduce our future vulnerability to the harmful effects of climate change.
Mitigation
Actions that reduce the volume of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Circular economy
A circular economy is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. Basically, a system where nothing really gets thrown away, and everything is re-used and recycled. Also known as a ‘closed-loop’ economy.
Green recovery
Ensuring a cleaner, greener future is at the heart of plans to rebuild a strong economy after COVID-19.
Environmental justice
A phrase underscoring the broad idea that the people who did the least to cause climate change and pollution are often the most at risk from its consequences.
Just transition
The shift to an economy that runs on renewable energy without killing jobs.
Carbon offset
Something you buy that is intended to cancel some or all of the carbon dioxide produced in the manufacture or use of that product.
Climate resilience
Our ability to deal with climate change’s effects.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
An outline of what each country has resolved to do to reduce its emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change, as part of the United Nations process for tackling climate change. These plans are submitted every five years.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
A collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. The SDGs were adopted in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by the year 2030.
Source: Climate Action for Associations