Current Global Environmental Issues Lecture

Vocabulary flashcards covering the major terms, treaties, causes, effects, and mitigation concepts related to global environmental issues such as climate change, ozone depletion, desertification, deforestation, biodiversity loss, global warming, acid rain, and the roles of key greenhouse gases.

Climate Change

Long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns on Earth, primarily driven by human-caused greenhouse-gas emissions.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG)

A gas that traps heat in the atmosphere (e.g., CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, O₃, CFCs).

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

UN scientific body that assesses research on climate change and its impacts.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

1992 treaty that sets principles and goals for stabilizing greenhouse-gas concentrations.

Kyoto Protocol

1997 agreement under the UNFCCC that sets legally binding emission-reduction targets for developed nations.

Sea-Level Rise

Increase in average ocean height caused by thermal expansion of water and melting ice, threatening low-lying areas.

Environmental Refugee

Person displaced due to environmental factors such as sea-level rise, drought, or natural disasters.

El Niño

Climate phenomenon involving warming of Pacific Ocean waters, leading to global weather extremes.

Ozone Layer

Stratospheric layer rich in ozone (O₃) that absorbs harmful UV-B radiation.

Ozone-Depleting Substance (ODS)

Chemical that breaks down stratospheric ozone, e.g., CFCs, halons, HCFCs.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Man-made chemicals once used in refrigeration and aerosols that destroy the ozone layer.

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)

Transitional substitutes for CFCs; less damaging to ozone but still harmful and greenhouse-active.

Montreal Protocol

1987 treaty that phases out production and use of ozone-depleting substances.

Skin Cancer

Disease whose risk increases with higher UV-B exposure due to ozone depletion.

Desertification

Land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas caused by factors such as over-cultivation and overgrazing.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

1996 treaty aimed at preventing and reversing desertification through national action programmes.

Deforestation

Permanent removal of forests, often for agriculture or fuel, leading to soil erosion and biodiversity loss.

Groundwater Recharge

Process by which water infiltrates soil to replenish aquifers; reduced when forests are cleared.

Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) / UN Forum on Forests (UNFF)

UN bodies established to promote sustainable forest management and policy dialogue.

Biodiversity

Variety of life on Earth at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.

United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)

1992 treaty that promotes conservation, sustainable use, and fair benefit-sharing of genetic resources.

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

2000 agreement under the CBD regulating trans-boundary movement of living modified organisms.

Biosafety

Protection from potential risks of biotechnology, including genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Global Warming

Increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to enhanced greenhouse effect.

Greenhouse Effect

Process by which GHGs absorb outgoing IR radiation, warming Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere.

Infra-Red (IR) Radiation

Heat energy emitted by Earth; long-wave IR is trapped by GHGs.

Thermal Expansion

Expansion of ocean water as it warms, contributing to sea-level rise.

Acid Rain

Precipitation with pH below 5.6 formed when SO₂ and NOₓ react with water in the atmosphere.

Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂)

Gas from fossil-fuel burning that forms sulphuric acid and contributes to acid rain.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOₓ)

Gases from combustion processes that form nitric acid, leading to acid rain and smog.

pH Scale

Measure of acidity/alkalinity; 7 is neutral, lower values are acidic.

Limestone (CaCO₃) Liming

Process of adding lime to acidified lakes or soils to neutralize acidity.

Freons

Trade name for many CFCs used as refrigerants and propellants.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

CFC replacements with zero ozone-depletion potential but high global-warming potential.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

Index comparing the warming effect of a greenhouse gas to CO₂ over a set time.

Renewable Energy

Energy from sources that are naturally replenished, such as solar, wind, and hydro.

Carbon Tax

Fiscal policy that charges emitters per unit of CO₂ released to encourage emission reductions.

Energy Efficiency

Using less energy to provide the same service, thereby reducing GHG emissions.

Re-afforestation

Planting trees on deforested land to restore carbon sinks and ecosystems.

Desulphurization

Removal of sulphur from fuel or exhaust gases to curb SO₂ emissions.

Heat Wave

Prolonged period of excessively hot weather, often intensified by climate change.

Vector-Borne Disease

Illness transmitted by organisms such as mosquitoes; ranges expand with warmer temperatures.

Environmental Refugee

Person forced to leave home due to environmental factors like sea-level rise or drought.

Precautionary Approach

Principle that lack of full scientific certainty should not delay measures to prevent environmental harm.

Anthropogenic

Originating from human activity (e.g., anthropogenic climate change).