POLS 370 — Comprehensive Vocabulary Guide (Units 2–5)

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms and definitions from Units 2 to 5 of the POLS 370 course.

Climate Change

Long-term shifts in temperature, precipitation, and weather patterns — primarily human-driven. it is affecting the balance of ecosystems that support life and biodiversity, and impacting health.

Global Warming

The rise in Earth's average surface temperature due to trapped greenhouse gases (GHGs).These gases absorb more solar radiation and trap more heat,

Anthropogenic

Human-caused changes to the environment, such as emissions and deforestation.

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)

Gases that trap heat: CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, water vapor, and fluorinated gases.

Carbon Footprint

a measure of the greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere by a particular person, organization, product, or activity

Carbon Sink

Natural systems (forests, oceans, soils) that absorb more carbon than they emit.

Mitigation

any action taken by governments, businesses, or people to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions, or to enhance carbon sinks that remove these gases from the atmosphere.- e.g., renewable energy, reforestation.

Adaptation

actions that help reduce vulnerability to the current or expected impacts of climate change like weather extremes and hazards, sea-level rise, biodiversity loss, or food and water insecurity.— e.g., sea walls, drought-resistant crops., regenerative agriculture

Climate Resilience

Ability for a community or environment to anticipate, recover and adapt to climate stressors and initial shocks.

Climate Justice

means putting equity and human rights at the core of decision-making and action on climate change.

Net Zero / Carbon Neutrality

Balancing emissions produced by human activity with equivalent removals or offsets.

Sustainable Development

Meeting present needs without harming future generations’ ability to meet theirs.

Renewable Energy

Naturally replenishing energy sources like solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, sustainable biomass.

Deforestation

Clearing forests for agriculture or development, reducing carbon sinks.

Decarbonization

reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that a society produces, as well as increasing the amount that is being absorbed. Transitioning from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy systems.

Climate Finance

Funding that supports mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Vulnerability

Degree to which people or systems are susceptible to climate harm.

Loss and Damage

Addressing irreversible climate harms beyond adaptation capacity.

IPCC

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — UN body assessing climate science.Created in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP

AR6 Synthesis Report

2023 IPCC report confirming human-caused warming is unequivocal.

NASA Earth System Observatory

Network of satellites monitoring climate indicators in real time.

Extreme Weather

Changes in frequency/intensity of heatwaves, floods, droughts, storms; linked to warming.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

an international environmental treaty adopted in 1992 to combat dangerous human interference with the climate system. It entered into force in 1994 and enjoys near universal membership, having been signed by 198 parties. It is the parent treaty of both the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

17 UN goals connecting social, economic, and environmental progress (esp. SDG 13).

Indicators

Quantitative measures tracking SDG and climate progress.

Climate-Smart Agriculture

Practices improving resilience, productivity, and lowering emissions in farming.

Climate Finance Gap

Difference between required vs. current funding for adaptation/mitigation.

Global Stocktake

Paris Agreement’s 5-year review to assess collective progress.

Tragedy of the Commons

Shared resources are overused when individuals act in self-interest (Hardin, 1968).

Collective Action Problem

When shared benefits reduce incentive to contribute, causing free-riding.

Externality

Unpriced cost or benefit imposed on others (e.g., pollution).

Free Rider

Actor benefiting from others’ efforts without contributing.

Polycentric Governance

Multiple decision centers (local to global) cooperating independently (Ostrom).

Public Goods

Non-excludable and non-rival goods (e.g., climate stability).

Common-Pool Resources

Rival but non-excludable resources (e.g., fisheries, forests).

Private Goods

Excludable and rival goods (food, property).

Club Goods

Excludable but non-rival goods (Netflix, toll roads).

CBDR-RC

Common but Differentiated Responsibilities & Respective Capabilities under UNFCCC.

Montreal Protocol

1987 ozone treaty; phased out 98–99% of ozone-depleting substances.

Kyoto Protocol

1997 treaty; binding GHG targets for developed countries; flexibility mechanisms.

Paris Agreement

a legally binding international treaty aiming to limit global warming to well below 2° C, preferably to 1.5° C, compared to pre-industrial levels. It was adopted by 196 Parties in 2015 at COP21 in Paris and entered into force in 2016.

NDCs

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are climate pledges and action plans that each country is required to develop in line with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5° C. NDCs represent short to medium-term plans that are updated every five years with higher ambition on climate.

NDCs outline mitigation and adaptation priorities a country will pursue

Annex I / Annex B Countries

Industrialized countries with formal/binding commitments under UNFCCC/Kyoto.

Flexibility Mechanisms

Market-based Kyoto tools: Clean Development Mechanism, Joint Implementation, emissions trading.

Compliance vs. Transparency

Kyoto enforced binding targets; Paris relies on reporting/review to drive ambition.

Global Governance

International systems of treaties and institutions addressing shared problems.

Food Security

All people have physical/economic access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food at all times.

Availability

Food supply via production, stocks, and trade.

Access

Economic/physical ability to obtain food (income, prices, markets).

Utilization

Nutritional use of food (diet diversity, sanitation, health).

Stability

Reliability of availability, access, and utilization over time.

Climate Hotspots

Regions facing the most severe climate impacts (Sahel, South Asia, Horn of Africa).

Adaptation Strategies

Actions reducing vulnerability — climate-smart agriculture, efficient irrigation, seed choice.

Resilience

Ability of systems/communities to absorb shocks and recover.

Climate-Smart Irrigation

Efficient water use and management technologies/practices.

Soil Health

Maintaining organic matter for water retention and nutrients; boosts drought tolerance.

Crop Diversification

Growing multiple crops to spread climate risk and stabilize income.

Food Systems

Networks of production, processing, distribution, and consumption.

Livelihood Insecurity

When climate stress undermines income and food access.

Food Price Volatility

Unpredictable price spikes due to climate shocks, conflict, or market disruption.

Collective Action Failure

Breakdown in cooperation despite shared goals.

Governance Gap

Global problems outpace national politics and institutions.

Intergenerational Equity

Fairness between present and future generations.

Mitigation vs. Adaptation Trade-Offs

Balancing prevention (mitigation) with coping (adaptation).

Climate Justice and Equity

Who contributes vs. who suffers from climate impacts and why fairness matters.

Resilience Building

Developing long-term capacity to adapt and recover from shocks.

Feedback Loops

Processes that amplify (positive) or dampen (negative) climate effects.

Sustainable Pathways

Development routes consistent with the Paris 1.5°C target.

climate change impacts in north america

Studies have found that climate change is leading to an increase in wildfire season length, frequency, and burned area. (So

climate change already impacts water availability in Africa by disrupting rainfall patterns and shrinking glaciers and lakes. (Source: WMO(opens in a new tab)) In addition, extreme temperatures and persistent drought are increasing food insecurity in Africa. (Source: International Monetary Fund(opens in a new tab))

SDG 1

no poverty

SDG 2

zero hunger

SDG 3

good health and well being

sdg 4

quality education

sdg %

gender equality

sdg 6

clean water and sanitation

sdg 7

affordable and clean energy

SDG 8

decent work and economic growth

SDG 9

industry, innovation and infrastructure

SDG 10

reduce inequalities and promote social, economic, and political inclusion for all.

SDG 11

sustainable cities and communities

sdg 12

responsible reduction and consumption

SDG 13

climate action

SDG 14

life below water- sustainable management and protection of marine resources

sdg 15

life on land- sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems

sdg 16

peace, justice and strong institutions

• promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development

sdg 17

partnerships for the goals-enhance global partnerships for sustainable development

Weather

refers to atmospheric conditions at a particular time in a particular location, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, wind, and visibility. these conditions do not happen in isolation, they have a ripple effect.

Climate

the average of weather patterns in a specific area over a longer period of time, usually 30 or more years, that represents the overall state of the climate system.

climate crisis

refers to the serious problems that are being caused, or are likely to be caused, by changes in the planet’s climate, including weather extremes and hazards, ocean acidification and sea-level rise, loss of biodiversity, food and water insecurity, health risks, economic disruption, displacement, and even violent conflict.

tipping point

a threshold after which certain changes caused by global warming and climate change become irreversible, even if future interventions are successful in driving down average global temperatures. These changes may lead to abrupt and dangerous impacts with very serious implications for the future of humanity and our planet

how can carbon footprint be reduced?

by shifting to low-carbon energy sources like wind and solar, improving energy efficiency, strengthening industry policies and regulations, changing purchasing and travel habits, and reducing meat consumption and food waste.

Nature-based solutions

actions to protect, conserve, restore, and sustainably use and manage ecosystems to support climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, preserve biodiversity, and enable sustainable livelihoods. They are actions that prioritize the importance of ecosystems and biodiversity and are designed and implemented with the full engagement and consent of local communities and Indigenous Peoples,

the ways that nature based solutions are used?

across terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems.

Indigenous knowledge

this is intergenerational and community-based, is a great source of meaningful climate solutions that can advance mitigation, enhance adaptation, and build resilience.

loss and damage refers to what?

economic and non-economic losses

Economic loss and damage

includes things like the costs of rebuilding infrastructure that has repeatedly been damaged due to cyclones or floods, or the loss of coastline land (and homes and businesses) due to sea-level rise and coastal erosion.

Non-economic loss and damage

include negative impacts that can’t be easily assigned a monetary value. This can include things such as trauma from experiencing weather extremes and hazards, loss of life, the displacement of communities, loss of history and culture or loss of biodiversity.

climate security

refers to evaluating, managing, and reducing the risks to peace and stability brought on by the climate crisis. This means ensuring that climate mitigation and adaptation goes beyond doing no harm and contributes positively to peace and stability

renewable energy

energy derived from natural sources that are constantly being replenished, such as wind, sunlight, the flow of moving water, and geothermal heat