2. Climate change

Climate change

Any long-term trend or movement in climate detected by a sustained shift in the average value for any climatic element (e.g. rainfall, drought) (an existential threat)

Greenhouse gases

Atmospheric gases that absorb infrared radiation and cause world temperatures to be warmer than they would otherwise be

Global dimming

Suspended particulate matter in the atmosphere that can reflect solar energy back into space and have a net cooling effect. Due to both natural and human reasons.

Permafrost

Ground that remains at or below 0 degrees for at least 2 consecutive years- Thickness varies from less than 1m to more than 1.5km

Albedo

The amount of incoming solar energy reflected back into the atmosphere by the Earth’s surface

Per capita carbon footprint

Amount of carbon dioxide emissions an average person in a country is responsible for as they go about their daily life

Anthropogenic carbon flow

The current amount of carbon emissions released annually by a country

Deindustrialisation

Loss of traditional manufacturing industries in some high-income countries due to their closure or relocation elsewhere.

Renewable energy

Wind, solar, tidal power sources that result from a flow of energy from the Sun

El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

A sustained sea surface temperature anomaly across the central tropical Pacific Ocean. It brings change in weather conditions that can last from 2 to 7 years. These events are part of a short-term climate cycle that brings variations in climate.

The Greenhouse Effect

Process by which certain gases (water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and CFCs), allow short wave radiation from the sun to pass through the atmosphere and heat up the Earth, but trap a proportion of long-wave radiation emitted from the Earth. Leads to warming of the atmosphere.

The enhanced greenhouse effect

The increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as a result of human activities and their impact on atmospheric systems.

Biome

Large planetary scale plant and animal communities covering vast areas of Earth’s continents. For example, tropical rainforests, deserts

Mitigation

Any action intended to reduce GHG emissions, such as using less fossil fuel-derived energy, thereby helping to slow down climate change. Can be practised by stakeholders at different scales.

Adaptation

Any action designed to protect people from the harmful impacts of climate change but without tackling the underlying problem of greenhouse gas emissions

Geo-engineering

The deliberate, large-scale manipulation of the planetary environment in order to counteract anthropogenic climate change