Sustainability Vocabulary

Flashcards for vocabulary related to sustainability and environmental issues.

Sustainable development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Renewable resources

Resources that can be replenished naturally over time.

Non-renewable resources

Resources that cannot be easily replenished; finite resources.

Green energy

Energy derived from natural sources that do not deplete natural resources or harm the environment.

Eco-friendly

Not environmentally harmful.

Zero-waste

Aiming to produce no waste.

Recycling

Converting waste materials into new materials and objects.

Composting

The natural process of decomposition of organic matter.

Pollution

The presence or introduction of a substance into the environment that has poisonous or harmful effects.

Climate change

A long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional and global climates.

Global warming

A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants.

Resource efficiency

Using resources to their maximum potential.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Biodegradable

Capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Habitat loss

The destruction of habitats that results in displacement of plants, animals, and other organisms.

Deforestation

The clearing of forests.

Greenhouse gases

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.

Ecological footprint

The impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources.

Upcycling

Reuse discarded objects or material in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original.

Minimalism

Doing without; a lifestyle of simplicity

Sustainable living

A lifestyle that aims to reduce an individual's or society's use of Earth's natural resources and personal resources.