Carbon Glossary

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  • Blue Carbon

    Blue carbon might sound a bit technical, but it's actually quite straightforward. This term refers to the incredible ability of coastal ecosystems like mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes to capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It's like these coastal habitats are the unsung heroes quietly helping combat climate change by trapping carbon in their roots and sediments. So, when we talk about blue carbon, we're giving a nod to the vital role these coastal ecosystems play in keeping our planet in balance.

  • Carbon Accounting

    Carbon accounting might sound a bit like number crunching, but it's essentially keeping tabs on how much carbon your activities release into the atmosphere. It's like a detailed report card for your environmental impact. By meticulously measuring and managing the carbon emissions associated with everything from energy use to business operations, carbon accounting helps individuals and businesses take meaningful steps towards reducing their carbon footprint. It's a practical way to turn good intentions into measurable actions for a healthier planet.

    Carbon Assessment

    A carbon assessment is like taking a thorough health check for your environmental impact. It involves evaluating and quantifying the carbon emissions associated with specific activities, processes, or even an entire organization. Through this assessment, you get a clear picture of your carbon footprint, helping you identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions to reduce your overall impact on the environment. It's a practical tool for anyone looking to navigate towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly path.

    Carbon Capture

    Carbon capture is an advanced technology designed to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated from industrial processes or power plants. This process intercepts and isolates CO2 before it is released into the atmosphere, mitigating its contribution to climate change. The captured CO2 can then be stored underground or utilized in various industrial applications. Carbon capture serves as a crucial tool in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to environmental sustainability and fostering cleaner industrial practices.

    Carbon Credit

    A carbon credit is essentially an environmental currency earned through initiatives that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions. When individuals or businesses take actions that decrease their carbon footprint, they earn these credits. These credits can then be traded or sold to entities looking to offset their emissions. It's a way of encouraging and rewarding activities that contribute to carbon reduction, creating a market-driven incentive for environmentally responsible practices. In essence, carbon credits play a role in balancing out our collective impact on the planet.

    Carbon Dioxide

    A colourless, odourless gas composed of carbon and oxygen, produced through natural processes like respiration and combustion of fossil fuels. CO2 is a significant greenhouse gas, playing a central role in the Earth's carbon cycle. While essential for plant life through photosynthesis, excessive CO2 emissions from human activities contribute to the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming and climate change. Monitoring and mitigating CO2 levels are crucial elements in addressing environmental sustainability and climate resilience efforts.

    Carbon Footprint

    Your carbon footprint is a measure of the total greenhouse gases released into the environment due to your activities. It encompasses everything from energy consumption to travel and purchasing habits. Keeping it small is crucial for minimizing environmental impact.

    Carbon Management

    Carbon management is the systematic tracking and reduction of a company's carbon emissions. It involves monitoring and optimizing processes to minimize the environmental footprint of business operations.

    Carbon Negative

    Describes a process, product, or entity that removes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits, effectively reducing the overall concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

    Carbon Neutral

    Carbon neutrality is a state achieved when an entity's net carbon emissions are effectively zero. This equilibrium results from a combination of reducing internal emissions, adopting low-carbon practices, and offsetting any remaining emissions through investments in projects that remove or prevent the release of an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases. It represents a commitment to a balanced environmental impact, where efforts to reduce emissions are complemented by measures that counterbalance any residual carbon footprint.

    Carbon Positive

    Describes a situation, project, or activity that goes beyond carbon neutrality by actively removing and storing more carbon dioxide than it generates, resulting in a net positive impact on atmospheric carbon levels.

    Carbon Removal

    Carbon removal is the process of taking carbon from the atmosphere and storing it where it won’t contribute to climate change. 

    Carbon Tax

    A government-imposed tax on the carbon content of fuels or the emissions produced by industries, intended to incentivise emission reductions.

    CSR

    CSR, or Corporate Social Responsibility, is like a company's way of showing that it cares about more than just the bottom line. It's about businesses going the extra mile to contribute positively to society and the environment. Whether it's supporting local communities, championing environmental causes, or ensuring fair labour practices, CSR is a commitment to being a good corporate citizen. It's not just about what a company sells; it's about how it makes the world a better place while doing it.

  • Decarbonisation

    Decarbonisation is a strategic process aimed at reducing the carbon intensity of various sectors, such as energy, transportation, and industry. It involves transitioning away from carbon-intensive practices, like the use of fossil fuels, towards cleaner, more sustainable alternatives. This can include adopting renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and implementing technologies that capture or offset carbon emissions. Decarbonisation is a crucial step in addressing climate change, aligning with global efforts to create a low-carbon and environmentally sustainable future.

  • ESG

    ESG, or Environmental, Social, and Governance, is a framework used to assess a company's performance in key non-financial areas that impact sustainability and ethical practices. The "E" evaluates a company's environmental impact and efforts toward conservation. The "S" focuses on social responsibility, including aspects like fair labor practices and community engagement. The "G" examines the governance structure, ethical business practices, and transparency. Investors and stakeholders use ESG criteria to gauge a company's commitment to responsible business practices, aiming for long-term positive societal and environmental outcomes.

  • Fossil Fuels

    Non-renewable energy sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which release carbon dioxide when burned, contributing to the greenhouse effect.

  • GHG Protocol

    The GHG Protocol, or Greenhouse Gas Protocol, is a globally recognized accounting tool for measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions. It provides a standardized framework developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The GHG Protocol assists organizations, businesses, and governments in comprehensively assessing their carbon footprint across scopes, including direct emissions (Scope 1), indirect emissions from energy use (Scope 2), and other indirect emissions in the value chain (Scope 3). By adhering to the GHG Protocol, entities can effectively track and report their emissions, fostering transparency and aiding in the development of emission reduction strategies.

    Greenwashing

    The deceptive practice of conveying a false or exaggerated impression of environmental responsibility, often used by organisations to appear more sustainable than they actually are.

  • Life Cycle Assessment

    Life Cycle Assessment is a systematic and comprehensive method for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service throughout its entire life cycle. This includes raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life disposal. LCA considers factors like energy consumption, resource depletion, and emissions to assess the overall environmental footprint. It provides valuable insights for decision-makers seeking to minimize environmental impacts, guiding sustainable design, and promoting responsible consumption by identifying areas for improvement across the entire life cycle.

  • Net Zero

    Net zero is a state where the total greenhouse gas emissions produced by an entity are balanced by the amount removed or offset, resulting in a neutral overall impact on the environment. Achieving net zero involves substantial reductions in emissions through sustainable practices, coupled with the use of carbon removal technologies or investing in projects that absorb or prevent an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases. It represents a significant commitment to addressing climate change and creating a balance between the emissions released and those mitigated or compensated for, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future.

  • Offset

    In the environmental context, offsetting refers to the practice of compensating for one's own carbon emissions by investing in projects or activities that reduce or capture an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases elsewhere. This can include initiatives like reforestation, renewable energy projects, or methane capture. Offsetting allows individuals, businesses, or organizations to counterbalance their carbon footprint, contributing to overall emissions reduction efforts and promoting environmental sustainability.

  • Paris Agreement

    An international treaty adopted in 2015 with the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

  • Science Based Targets Initiative

    An emissions reduction target is science-based if it accords with what climate science tells us about how to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement: to limit global warming to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels and ideally pursue a stricter 1.5°C target.

    Sustainability

    Sustainability involves making choices that balance current needs with the long-term health of the planet. It's a responsible approach to resource use, ensuring that our actions today don't compromise the well-being of future generations.

    Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

    A set of 17 global goals established by the United Nations as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The SDGs encompass a wide range of interconnected objectives, including poverty alleviation, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, climate action, and partnerships for the realisation of a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient world by the year 2030.