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Getting to know your way around the big environmental issues can sometimes be a bit overwhelming and confusing, especially with all the big words and jargon that go along with these big issues.

To help you nut through it, we have built up a glossary with some of those words and their meanings.

Of course there may be more, so if there are others that we haven't included, let us know and we'll add them to our list.

 

 

ACF

Australian Conservation Foundation

Acid Rain

is rain with a higher than normal acidity. The main cause of acid rain comes from the burning of fossil fuels through industrial activity. This releases compounds like nitrogen and sulphur into the atmosphere. These attach to the raindrops when it rains.

Acidification

the process by which geographical areas or ecosystems become more acidic.

Adaptation

the process of changing physical structure, appearance or behaviour in response to the environment and changes in the environment.

Aerosol

a suspension of fine solid or liquid droplets in a gas, other than water or ice. Can be either natural or human induced. Most human induced aerosols are considered to be pollutants. Typically, the term aerosol refers to the output of the aerosol can.

Agriculture

the science of using land to produce crops and raise livestock.

Air Pollution

usually refers to the presence of any chemical or particulate that changes the normal structure of our air. Some common air pollutants include smoke and dust, or fumes from cars, aerosol cans and other solvents.

Algal Bloom

the sudden and abundant growth of microscopic algae in water bodies brought on by pollutants or nutrients often associated with human activities.

Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)

an intergovernmental organization of low-lying coastal and small Island countries. Established in 1990, the main purpose of the alliance is to consolidate the voices of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to address global climate change.

Anthropogenic

any impact on the environment that is caused by human activity.

Anthropogenic emissions

greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by human activities. Also includes emissions of GHG precursors and aerosols.

Appliance

the name given to many household pieces of equipment that are used to make housework easier or to make living more comfortable.

Aquifer

underground materials (such as rock and sand) containing a supply of water.

Atmosphere

all the gaseous mass surrounding the Earth. The Earths atmosphere is made up of many layers, including the troposphere, the stratosphere, mesosphere, ionosphere (or thermosphere), exosphere, and the magnetosphere.

Atom

the smallest particle of matter. There are millions of atoms in a grain of salt and billions in a drop of water.

AYCC

Australian Youth Climate Coalition

Bacteria

tiny microscopic organisms. Some bacteria can cause disease.

Baseload

the minimum amount of demand required from an electricity supply over 24 hours.

Biochar

a type of charcoal which results from the heating of natural organic matter in an oxygen-limited environment. Biochar is chemically and biologically stable and won't break down for hundreds to thousands of years. It is rich in carbon content, which means that it can be used to lock carbon in the soil. Biochar is attracting attention for its potential to mitigate against further climate change through capturing and storing atmospheric carbon.

Biodegradable

organic matter that can break down and decompose under normal, natural conditions, such as food scraps, animal products and even most types of paper.

Biodiesel

is a fuel made from vegetable oil. It can be used pure or it can be blended with regular diesel.

Biodiversity

the variations between all living organisms on Earth or within given ecosystems (including those that live on the land, in the sea, in freshwater systems). It includes diversity within a species but also between species and ecosystems.

Biodynamic

is a type of organic farming that recognises and aims to cooperate with the natural processes of the Earth and its systems. Biodynamic farmers believe that if the soil is healthy and the farm's natural forces are in balance then the farm will thrive in a natural way which will in turn provide a safer and healthier environment for the farms animal and human residents.

Biofuel

a general term for fuels that are derived from living or recently dead biomass (this is different from fossil fuels which comes from long-dead organic matter). Biofuels can be solid, liquid or gas, and include biodiesel. Biofuels are often made from vegetable oils or animal fats or from sugar or starch crops.

Biomass

the total mass or amount of all living or recently dead things in one particular area. It can include wood and other plant matter, and even animal waste. Fuel made from biomass is called biofuel.

Biosequestration

the process of capturing and storing carbon in living organisms such as plants and algae. This occurs through the natural process of photosynthesis. Planting trees to offset carbon emissions is one of the most recognised form of biosequestration.

Biosphere

the part of the Earth and the atmosphere where living things exist.

By-catch

the part of a fishing catch made up of non-target species that is unwanted or commercially unusable.

Cap and trade

an approach to limiting greenhouse gas emissions that sets a maximum emissions level (a cap) for a region or nation and which then requires participating emitters to obtain permits to pollute. Companies or governments with extra pollution permits can sell or trade them to those parties whose permits are insufficient to cover their full emissions. Another name for Emissions Trading.

Carbon

is the basis of all known life forms on Earth. It is also the fourth most common chemical in the universe. Pure carbon is apparent in many forms: it is found in coal, natural gas, peat, wood and oil.

Carbon Capture and Storage

carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) is a technology aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels during industrial and energy-related processes. CCS involves the capture, transport and long-term storage of carbon dioxide, either in vegetation and soils, in oceans, or in suitable rocks buried underground (see also Carbon Sequestration).

Carbon Cycle

the continuous cycle of carbon through the atmosphere, oceans, and living organism.

Carbon Footprint

this refers to the amount of carbon that a person or community, is responsible for. Our carbon footprint is made up of our energy use in our homes and workplaces, through our transport choices, and through the stuff that we buy and the food that we eat.

Carbon Neutral

when a person or a business doesn't add to the net amount of CO2 in the atmosphere then they can be described as Carbon Neutral. This is a great aspiration with a really tough follow through: it requires either offsetting emissions (by compensating for emissions produced through actions that absorb emissions eg planting trees) or by producing no emissions in the first place (think renewable energy). Sadly, in practice it is actually impossible to live a completely carbon neutral existence most of the products and services that we rely upon will have embodied energy.

Carbon Offset

a process for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is an emission reduction credit purchased from another organization's project that results in fewer greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere.

Carbon Sink

a process that absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it produces. The main ‘sinks' are plants and oceans.

Carbon Sequestration

refers to the capture and long-term storage of carbon in forests and soils, oceans or rocks, so that the build-up of carbon dioxide (one of the principal greenhouse gases) in the atmosphere will reduce or slow. Managing land and vegetation to increase carbon storage can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (see also Carbon Capture and Storage).

Car Pooling

also known as lift sharing or ride sharing. It is the shared use of a car by the driver and one or more passengers. It is a great way to reduce the CO2 emissions of private transport, and is especially good for commuters going to work or school. It's also a nice way to get to know your work or school mates. General rules: take turns to drive your cars so that one person isn't always driving; no backseat driving; and no farting.

CFCs

chlorofluorocarbons. Are compounds containing chlorine, fluorine and carbon that were once widely used as coolants in fridges and air conditioners and in hairspray and deodorant cans. These compounds travel high up into the stratosphere and have been largely responsible for the hole in the ozone layer. CFCs have now been largely phased out following the international agreement, the Montreal Protocol.

Clean coal

an umbrella term used to describe technologies being developed that aim to reduce the environmental impact of coal energy generation. These may include: chemically washing minerals and impurities from the coal, gasification, treating the flue gases with steam to remove sulfur dioxide, and carbon capture and storage. Also known as New Generation Coal.

Clear-felling

the cutting, harvesting or chopping down of all the tree in an area at one time with no plans to replant or regenerate the forest.

Climate

the long-term average weather of a region. This includes typical weather patterns, heat waves and cold spells, and the frequency and intensity of storms. Climate is not the same thing as weather.

Climate Change

the variation in average global and regional climate that is caused by both natural processes and human activity.

CO2

carbon dioxide. Made up of the elements of carbon and oxygen it exists naturally in the atmosphere. However, because it is a greenhouse gas meaning that it affects the temperature of the earth having the exact level of CO2 is very important. Human industrial processes are contributing CO2 to the atmosphere that is above the limits that the earth and its atmosphere can naturally absorb.

Conference of the Parties (COP)

Regular meetings of governments from around the world that have signed an international treaty to discuss its status and possible revision. The fifteenth COP of the UNFCCC to discuss climate change will be held in Copenhagen 30 November 11 December 2009.

Conservation

when used in relation to biodiversity it means the management, maintenance, restoration, sustainable use and protection of the natural environment.

Crude Oil

the base form of oil as it is extracted from the ground and sed to make all petroleum products.

CSIRO

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. The CSIRO is Australia's national science agency.

Deciduous

trees that drop their leaves at the end of a growing season.

Decomposition

the breakdown and decay of organic materials.

Deforestation

the complete removal of trees from a particular region. Deforestation is now recognised as one of the leading contributors to climate change.

Desalination

the process of removing salt from water, particularly from seawater.

Desertification

the process whereby fertile land is turned into desert due to overgrazing and poor land use practices.

Developing World

those countries in which the majority of people have yet to develop a standard of living similar to that of industrial countries.

Drift Net

a very large fishing net that is supported by floats and that is carried along in the current.

Drought

a long period of low or no rainfall that affects the ability to grow crops, keep farm animals and obtain and retain freshwater.

Eco-friendly

is the abbreviation of the term ‘ecologically friendly' and is often applied to services, product, processes, goods or people that are believed to have minimal environmental harm.

Ecolabel

this a label on a product that indicates that the product and the processes used in its manufacture have met certain ecological or social responsibility standards. Ecolabelling schemes vary according to country and to the type of product they are designed for, but broadly may be used as a reward for environmental soundness in one or more stages of the products life-cycle including production, packaging, use, or disposal.

Ecological Debt

a term used to describe the situation where human demand for resources exceeds the Earth's natural ability to supply these resources. Under these circumstances, we are running up an ecological debt that we owe to the planet.

Ecological Footprint

a tool for measuring the ecological impact of a person, product or service. Refers to the environmental impact of human behaviour through assessing how much space or productive land is needed to support that behaviour. The larger the footprint, the greater the impact on the Earth.

Eco-philosophy

a branch of philosophy that sees humans as being as one with nature. It is a belief that humans are a part of the process of the evolution of the Earth and its natural systems, and that we cannot be considered separate from nature.

Ecosystem

a community of plants and animals and their relationship with their environment and with each other.

Eco-theology

focuses on the relationships between religion and nature, and is particularly concerned with environmental problems and issues. It addresses the God's intent for the earth and its inhabitants.

Ecotourism

tourism in areas of natural or ecological interest that also (hopefully) tries to minimise the impact on these areas through the involvement of local land managers and wilderness experts.

Embodied Energy or Water

refers to the amount of energy/water that is required to manufacture, package and transport a product or service from the point of supply to the point of use. When calculating the CO2 savings from a new product, the energy/water used to make that product, the embodied energy/water, should also be considered.

Emissions

greenhouse gases produced by energy use. The term ‘emissions' often refers to CO2 but also applies to other greenhouses gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride.

Emissions Trading

is an economic tool for controlling air pollution. By trading, parties can emit less than their allowed emissions and trade or sell excess pollution credits to other parties that emit more than they are allowed.

ETS

Emissions Trading Scheme. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his crew have been trying to get one set up for Australia, with little success to date.

Endemic Species

a species that is native to a particular region and which generally has a limited area within which it exists.

Energy Efficient

something that is energy efficient uses less energy to do the same amount of work.

Environment

a broad term that refers to the surroundings of a particular area or interest, for example, the term ‘natural environment' refers to all living and non-living organisms on Earth. The term ‘built environment' refers to the constructions that humans have built (such as towns and the buildings themselves) that support human activity.

Environmental Impact

term used to describe the effects of a particular action on the environment.

Erosion

occurs when natural weathering processes such as wind and rain cause material to break away from the Earth's surface.

Extinct

the last animal or plant of a species that has died out forever. A species becomes extinct when the last existing member of that species dies.

Fair Trade

is a social movement that advocates the payment of a fair economic price for a product, as well as the need to meet fair social and environmental standards related to the production of that product. In particular the fair trade movement focuses on exports from developing countries to developed countries, most notably handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, wine, fresh fruit and flowers.

Feedback Mechanism

a tool that allows some of the final product or output to be fed back into the system.

Fish Stocks

a measure or estimate of the abundance of commercial fish in a particular area.

Food Chain

a sequence of organisms, usually animals, where each member is preyed upon by the organism one the higher in the food chain. For example, krill are at the bottom of the food chain in the oceans, being the smallest animal in the oceans food hierarchy.

Food Miles

a term that refers to the distance that food travels between where it is grown or produced to where it is consumed. For example, for someone living in Melbourne who likes eating lots of pasta, pasta that comes from Italy will have much higher food miles than pasta from Australia as it will have travelled much further to the dinner plate.

Fossil Fuels

non-renewable fuels formed by the decay of organic materials over many millions of years. Fossil fuels include natural gas, crude oil and coal, all of which have become primary sources of energy for humans. The burning of fossil fuels to release their energy also releases carbon that has been stored in the earth for a long time. The release of this stored carbon affects the balance between stored carbon and carbon present in the atmosphere as CO2.

Fragmentation

when continuous environments are broken down into smaller pieces due to habitat destruction.

GDP

Gross Domestic Product. A measure of a country's economic national income and output. It is the total market value of all the final goods and services produced in a country over a given period of time.

Geoengineering

The modern concept of geoengineering is usually taken to mean proposals to deliberately manipulate the Earth's climate to counteract the effects of global warming from greenhouse gas emissions. Some examples of geoengineering include: carbon sequestration or solar radiation management techniques.

Geosequestration

the same principle as Carbon Capture and Storage and Carbon Sequestration, but with a focus on burying carbon in suitable rocks and not in the ocean or in vegetation.

Geothermal

energy that comes from heat that is naturally generated and stored in hot rocks, hot water or hot streams.

Global Footprint Network

organization aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the Ecological Footprint as a tool for promoting ecological, social and economic sustainability.

Global Warming

refers to the gradual and progressive rise of the earth's surface temperatures as a result of increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Green

also known as ‘going green'. Means to adopt a lifestyle that is more sustainable by respecting the natural environment and actively working to reduce our individual and collective ecological footprints.

Greenhouse Effect

the greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon that keeps the earths temperature at around 14 degrees C. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere raise the temperature of the earth by trapping the sun's energy and preventing this energy from escaping back into space. Without the greenhouse effect the earth would be a very cod place.

Greenhouse Gases

any gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect. There are six main types of gases: carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and CFCs.

Green Purchasing

when an organisation ‘greens' its purchasing of all the goods and services that it needs to operate, it shifts its buying dollars and cents away from services and goods that cause environmental and social harm. Instead goods and services that are more environmentally sound and socially just are sought.

Greenwashing

when a business or an organization misleads the public about the extent of its environmental performance, and spends considerable time and effort advertising themselves as being green rather than actually changing their behaviour and becoming green.

Groundwater

water held in porous rocks beneath the surface of the Earth.

Gulf Stream

a warm current of the North Atlantic Ocean originating in the Gulf of Mexico.

Habitat

the natural home of a plant or animal.

Hybrid

a hybrid car runs off both a petrol engine and an electric motor and changes between the two systems according to the driving conditions.

Hydropower

energy harnessed from the force of water.

Historical Responsibility

the idea that we have a responsibility to act for past behaviours. In the context of climate change, it refers to the notion that present generations in developed countries should assume responsibility for the actions of their forbearers and commit to climate change action on that basis.

Insulation

a covering of material that is designed to keep heat in or out. Insulation is used in the walls and rooves of many houses to keep them at a more even temperature, and to save energy that would be needed for either heating or air-conditioning.

Inter-generational Equity

a principle that means that decisions made today give future generations the same access to the same set of opportunities that are available to the present generation.

Intra-generational Equity

a principle meaning justice and access to equal opportunities among a present population.

IPCC

International Panel on Climate Change. Established in 1988 the IPCC is an scientific body established to evaluate the risk of human-induced climate change.

Kyoto Protocol

an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The main purpose of the Protocol is that it sets binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Countries that are signatories to the Kyoto Protocol have agreed to commit to emissions reductions.

Landfill

is a rubbish dump where waste is disposed of by burial.

Life-cycle Assessment

a tool for determining the environmental impacts associated with a product, process or service throughout its life cycle. A life-cycle assessment will begin with the extraction of the raw materials through to processing, transport, use, reuse, recycling or disposal. At each of these stages the environmental impacts caused are determined and measured.

Meltdown

the accident that occurs when a nuclear reactor overheats and part or all of the fuel turns into liquid and collapses.

Methane

a natural gas that can be burned as fuel. It is also a relatively potent greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential. Farting and burping cows release significant quantities of methane into the atmosphere.

Mitigation

means to make something less harsh or hostile. It is increasingly used in environmental or climate change discussions, where it is argued that practising mitigation will help to reduce the negative consequences of environmental damage or climate change.

Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer

an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of a number of substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. Since its inception in 1987 it has been widely adopted and has been hailed as an example of exceptional international co-operation with Kofi Annan quoted as saying it is "Perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date...”

National Debt

the overall debt owed by a government.

Natural Gas

naturally forming gas found in rocks underneath the Earth's surface.

Nitrogen Oxide

a gas formed when fossil fuels are burned. Nitrogen oxide contributes to acid rain.

Nuclear Energy

the energy created by splitting uranium atoms. Nuclear energy is considered by some to be a clean energy alternative. However many people are concerned that the risks associated with using nuclear energy outweigh any benefits that might be gained from going nuclear.

Nuclear Radiation

rays of tiny particulates that are released when uranium atoms are split.

Nuclear Reactor

a tank containing the uranium atoms that are split to create heat.

Nuclear Waste

waste usually from nuclear poser stations. It is usually radioactive.

Nutrients

sources of nourishment such as food and water.

Obesity

a disease where excess body fat accumulates to a point where health is negatively affected.

Ocean acidification

a side-effect of putting too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This gas ultimately ends up dissolved in the oceans where it forms weak carbon acid, a substance that decreases the ability of corals and shellfish to build their shells and skeletal structure. It is increasingly being considered as the OTHER big global warming issue.

Oil

a thick, liquid fossil fuel found in the earth's crust. Oil is also called petroleum. After it is taken out of the ground it can be refined to make gasoline or refining oil.

Organism

any individual living creature.

Organic Foods

foods that are grown to certain standards that require no conventional pesticides or fertilisers.

Organic Matter

means coming from plants or animals. Generally refers to products made by plants or animals.

Ozone Layer

a thin layer in the atmosphere surrounding the Earth that shields us from most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet light rays.

Particulates

a minute particle of a substance. They include natural substances like dust and smoke, while human made particulates can be associated with gases produced by burning fossil fuels.

Peak Oil

describes the time when the rate of global petroleum extraction reaches its maximum point, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline (meaning there is no more oil left to be extracted and production of oil will eventually stop altogether).

Permafrost

is soil at or below the freezing point of water (0 °C or 32 °F) for two or more years. Ice is not always present but it frequently occurs. Most permafrost is located near to the North and South poles.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

are carbon-based compounds that remain intact for long periods and can accumulate in toxic amounts in humans and wildlife. Australia currently lacks the facilities to deal with the large quantities of POPs it has generated.

Pesticide

Chemicals used in gardening and agriculture used for killing insect and weed pests.

Photovoltaic Cells

devices that convert solar energy into electricity.

Polar Ice Cap

the permanent mass of sea ice that forms a jagged circle around the North Pole, and that covers about 70% of the Arctic Ocean.

Pollutant

a substance that doesn't normally belong somewhere and which, because it doesn't belong there, upsets its surroundings.

Pollute

to make something or somewhere unclean or un-pure.

Pollution

environmental contamination caused by human activity and human waste.

Poverty

not having access to common needs that determine the quality of life. This may include material needs like food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water, but also includes being deprived the opportunity to learn, to obtain better employment, to escape poverty, and to enjoy the respect of fellow citizens.

Parts Per Million (PPM)

When used in discussions around climate change, PPM refers to the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. Currently the optimum level of CO2 for avoiding catastrophic climate change is cited as being 350ppm, meaning that there are 350 parts of CO2 in every 1 million parts that are examined.

Precipitation

water falling as rain, hail or snow.

Precycling

to make shopping choices that support responsible products and packaging. The aim of precycling is to reduce the amount of waste that you produce and to make recycling easier.

Recycle

to find a new and valuable use for an object or material when is has fulfilled its original function. Recycling often involves the break up and reuse of the original object. In general, far less energy is needed to reuse materials than to make new ones from raw materials.

REDD

stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in developing countries, is an effort to create a financial value for the carbon stored in forests. In other words, developing countries are paid to NOT cut down their forests, which reduces the emission output of that country and helps protect biodiversity.

Reforestation

replanting trees and forests to turn a cleared area of land bank into a forest.

Renewable Energy

energy that cannot be completely used up, no matter how much is used. Forms of renewable energy include wind, solar, geothermal and hydro.

Resilience

the ability of natural or human systems to survive in the face of great change. To be resilient, a system must be able to adapt to changing circumstances and develop new ways to thrive. In ecological terms, resilience has been used to describe the ability of natural systems to return to equilibrium after adapting to changes. In climate change, resilience can also convey the capacity and ability of society to make necessary adaptations to a changing world -- and not necessarily structures that will carry forward the status quo. In this perspective, resilience affords an opportunity to make systemic changes during adaptation, such as addressing social inequalities (from Worldwatch Institute).

Salinity

indicates the salt content of a liquid. Frequently is applied to our river systems and groundwater.

Smog

polluted fog caused by car and factory exhaust gases when they are hit by sunlight (a mixture of smoke and fog).

Soil Carbon

the carbon stored within soil. It is part of the organic matter of the soil and is composed of decaying plant and animal matter. Soil carbon is both a source and a sink of greenhouse gases and soil carbon levels can be increased by adopting forms of carbon farming, including time-controlled grazing management and pasture cropping.

Solar Energy

a renewable form of energy that works by collecting and using the heat from the sun.

Solar Hot Water

water heated through collecting and using the heat from the sun.

Stormwater

the water that is not absorbed into the soil and flows down our gutters and drains, particularly in a storm event.

Sulphur Dioxide

a gas formed when fossil fuels are burned. Sulphur dioxide contributes to acid rain.

Sustainability

the ability to use resources such as water and forests carefully so that they will continue to be healthy in the future.

Sustainable Development

development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations through environmental damage or overuse of natural resources.

Tipping Point

describes a point at which a slow gradual change becomes irreversible, after which it proceeds with gathering pace. It comes from the metaphor of a solid, rigid object being tilted to a point where it begins to tip over. In discussions around climate change it refers to the point where the human-induced changes to the earth's climate become irreversible.

Topsoil

the uppermost layer of soil on the earth's crust.

Toxic

any chemical or substance that is capable of causing injury or death.

Triple Bottom Line

an economic term that refers to three particular values or criteria for measuring sustainability. These three criteria are the economic, the environmental and the social.

Uranium

a radioactive metal that is used as a fuel in nuclear reactors.

Waste

is a material or substance that is unwanted or undesired. Depending on the substance, it may also be known as rubbish, trash, or garbage.

Water Cycle

the movement of water around the Earth as it changes between liquid and vapour and sometimes solid (ice).

Wind Energy

a renewable form of energy that works by collecting and using the wind.

Wind Turbine

a rotating machine that converts the energy in wind, kinetic energy, into mechanical energy that can be then used to create electricity.

WWF

World-Wide Fund for Nature.

Zero Waste

is an idea to extend the current notions of recycling to form a circular system where as much waste as possible is reused during the manufacture of a product. Instead of just throwing away the bywaste of the manufacturing process, the aim of zero waste is to use that bywaste to make something else.