Green Dictionary

 

Green Dictionary

The general rise in environmental awareness has brought with it a confusing lexicon of its own. Below, our lists of the key terms:

Biofuel
A solid, liquid or gas fuel derived from recently-living biological material, which can be both sustainable and carbon-neutral.
The carbon released during the fuel’s use is reabsorbed by the growth of new plants, which can then be used to produce more fuel.

Carbon capture
Technological solutions for capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) as it is released into the atmosphere, thus preventing its negative effect on the climate.

Carbon emissions
CO2 is the most common greenhouse gas. The term carbon emissions’ refers to CO2 that is released as a by-product of activities such as the burning of fossil fuels.

Carbon footprint
A measure of the amount of CO2 emitted through the combustion of fossil fuels; it can be measured on a personal, national or activity-specific basis.

Carbon offsetting
Practice that negates the overall amount of carbon released into the atmosphere by cutting levels elsewhere, for example by planting trees or investing in renewable energy or energy-conservation projects.

Carbon trading
International agreement set up by the International Emissions Trading Association aimed at slowing climate change. Firms are given a carbon allowance; if their emissions fall below this limit, they can sell allowance credits to those that have exceeded theirs. It effectively means that firms with lower emissions are rewarded, while those with higher ones are fined.

Climate change
The variation in the Earth’s global climate over time, which is often directly attributable to human behaviour.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
A social, ethical and environmentally responsible approach to business activity.

Corporate sustainability
The capability of a company to continue its activities indefinitely, taking into account their impact on financial, social and environmental capital.

Ecological footprint
The area of land and water used by humans to produce the resources they need and absorb their waste, including CO2.

Energy efficiency
Using less energy to obtain the same results without affecting the service provided, often through advances in technology that cut energy waste. British Gas, for example, has created a free personalised energy-saver report for customers, as well as offering green products. The Mayor of London is helping, too, having set up a scheme that offers discount fitting of insulation in homes to ensure that in the long term consumers save energy as well as money.

Environmental impact assessment (EIA)
The EIA ensures that the environmental consequences of projects are identified and addressed before government authorization is given.

Global warming
Global warming and global cooling describe the natural temperature cycles that the Earth has undergone throughout its history. However, the term global warming’ is increasingly used to describe the effects of
man’s influence on the climate.

Greenhouse gaz
Gas that absorbs infrared radiation – the sun’s heat and energy – in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include water vapour, CO,, methane
(CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), | halogenated fluorocarbons (HCFCs), ozone (O3), perfluorinated carbons (PFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have disrupted the delicate balance that keeps the Earth’s climate relatively stable
causing a greenhouse effect.

Kyoto Protocol
A part agreed by governments at a 1997 United Nations conference in Kyoto. Japan, to reduce trie amount of greenhouse gases emitted by developed countries it was the first legally binding global agreement of its kind.

Micro-generation
The small scale generation of energy, for example by solar panels or domestic wind turbines. It often refers to generation from renewable sources at a domestic or community level.

Nuclear power
Generates electricity using heat from an atomic reaction. The process of generation produces negligible amounts of carbon. However, it carries a huge financial burden as well as the potential for disaster.

Renewable resources
These can be replenished by natural processes at a rate comparable to human consumption. Renewable resources include paper and leather, while solar radiation, tides and winds are perpetual resources. Petrol, coal and diesel are non-renewable.

Socially responsible investment (SRI)
An investment strategy that takes into account a firm’s ethical social and environmental performance as well as its financial performance.

UN Global Compact
A voluntary initiative that aims to boost responsible corporate citizenship by encouraging firms to support rune key principles in the area of human rights, labour standards and the environment.

Waste cycle
Reduction, re-use and recycling schemes to deal wrth waste. Marks & Spencer, for example, has introduced recyclable packaging and cut down on the use of disposable bags.

WEEE (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment)
This EU directive aims to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment by increasing re-use and recycling and reducing the amount of WEEE going to landfill sites. Producers are responsible for financing the collection, treatment and recovery of waste electrical equipment.