Acid rain
Rain with increased acidity due to absorption of gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulphur dioxide.
Bali Roadmap
The Bali roadmap, named after the Indonesian island where the deal was struck in December 2007, is an important milestone. The roadmap will plot how all countries must take action to tackle climate change, with aims to produce an international convention by the end of 2009.
Biodegradable
Any material that can be broken down by living things including micro-organisms such as bacteria.
Biodiversity
The variety of different species within a set habitat. For example, the biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest is greater than that of the Gobi desert.
Biofuels
A fuel that is made from (in whole or in part) renewable organic sources, such as rapeseed oil. These can include refined fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel as well as unrefined such as wood.
Biomass
In energy terms, biomass refers to the use of organic material for the generation of heat, electricity or motive power. Biomass is produced from organic materials, either directly from plants or indirectly from industrial, commercial, domestic or agricultural products. It is carbon neutral as the CO2 released when energy is generated from biomass is balanced by that absorbed during the fuel's production.
Carbon capture
New technology can now capture large amounts of carbon emissions and store them in isolated areas.
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide, CO2 is a gas that occurs naturally in the atmosphere, it is a by product of respiration. An excess of this gas is produced through burning fossil fuels, driving your car and even boiling the kettle. When the CO2 builds in the earth's atmosphere it contributes to the Greenhouse Effect and is one of the Greenhouse Gases.
Carbon footprint
We all have a carbon footprint; it's the amount of CO2 each of us produces in our daily lives (for example through using electricity in our homes or driving) and the impact that has on the environment. Other gases like methane (produced by cows!) also contribute to a carbon footprint, for example consuming meat and dairy products adds to our footprint.
Carbon negative
Any process or product that removes carbon from the atmosphere. Growing trees are carbon negative.
Carbon neutral
Because so many of the things we do involve burning carbon at some stage (for example though riding a bike does not produce emissions, manufacturing the bike did) it's so far been difficult to say what being carbon neutral really is. But many people agree that it's all about cutting down carbon emissions as much as possible by doing things like switching to renewable energy. You can also be more carbon neutral if you offset things like foreign holidays (see below).
Carbon offset
Carbon offsetting is a way of balancing your carbon emissions. There are a number of ways of doing this including funding schemes to plant trees or replace energy production from fossil fuels with renewable energy such as wind or solar power. It can help to reduce your carbon footprint but is best viewed as a last resort once actual energy use has been reduced as much as possible.
Carbon tax
This is the tax on the use of fossil fuels like oil. It's based on the amount of carbon each fuel gives out when it's used.
Carbon trading
Carbon trading is a way of reducing carbon emissions. Many companies are now part of a carbon trading scheme where the government gives each company a set amount of carbon credits each year. If a company doesn't use all of their credits, they can sell them to other companies who have used all of theirs.
Climate change
Over the years our climate has changed. Climate change can be due to natural causes, but most scientists agree that the rises in the earth's temperature are linked to the way we live and activities like burning fossil fuels. This means that the temperature of the earth is getting hotter, causing ice caps to melt and sea levels to rise. According to the World Wildlife Fund, climate change could cause a global, humanitarian and environmental disaster. Find out more at www.wwf.org.uk/climatechange
Cradle to cradle
This is a construction and production ethos proposed by Walter R. Stahel that aims to make all components of a made object reusable or disposable with no negative ecological effects.
Deforestation
Deforestation is simply the process of removing trees from land. Trees help absorb CO2, one of the main gases that contribute to climate change, so the more trees get chopped down, the less carbon is absorbed. Deforestation now contributes to nearly 20% of global carbon emissions, according to the Forestry Commission.
Desalination
This is the process of removing salt from the sea and other salt water. It's a way of increasing the water supply for humans and farm animals.
Dioxins
A group of chemicals, some of which are highly toxic, which can be formed by incomplete combustion (such as you may find in incinerators) and are believed to contribute to pollution and climate change.
Eco friendly
An object or action that is believed to be less harmful to the environment than a common alternative. For example, walking to work is more eco friendly than driving.
Ecological footprint
The Ecological Footprint measures how our lifestyles affect other people as well as the planet. It works out how much land and sea is needed to feed everyone and to provide all the energy, water and raw materials like wood we use in our everyday lives.
Ecosystem
A system made up of a community of living organisms. You might talk about the ecosystem of an English Forest or the Antarctic as a whole.
Energy efficient
Energy efficient products use less energy, but work just as well, if not better, than standard products. Energy efficient light bulbs use up to 80% less energy and last much longer than standard light bulbs. Find out more here. There are lots of other energy efficient products available from fridges to computers, so look out for them next time you buy.
Fairtrade Mark
The Fairtrade Mark is an independent consumer label which appears on UK products as a guarantee that they have given their producers a better deal. Farmers supplying Fairtrade products receive a minimum price that covers the cost of sustainable production and an extra premium that is invested in social or economic development projects. Visit www.fairtrade.org.uk for more information.
Food miles
This is the distance food travels from where it is grown to where it is consumed. This can be used to measure the impact each product has on the environment. However, to get the whole picture it's also important to look at how the food travelled and how it was produced in the first place. Fruit and veg from your own garden has no food miles at all!
Fossil fuels
Oil, natural gas and coal are all fossil fuels. They are formed in the ground from the remains of dead plants and animals over millions of years.
FSC wood
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) helps to make sure that wood products come from sustainable forests. When you see the FSC label, you can be sure the wood product you are buying has come from a forest that is responsibly managed, with respect for wildlife and the people who live there. Visit www.fsc-uk.org for more information.
Global warming
The temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere is gradually warming. However recently the rate at which this is happening has rapidly increased. Scientists agree that this is caused by greenhouse gasses being released into the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels and other industrial processes.
Greenhouse effect
The increase in greenhouse gasses means that more of the sun's heat is trapped in our atmosphere. This is called the greenhouse effect. It alters the delicate balance of our climate and the result is global warming.
Greenhouse gas
There are two main types of greenhouse gases: natural ones like methane and those made by humans burning fossil fuels. They trap and absorb the sun's heat. The more greenhouse gas we produce, the more we contribute to the Greenhouse Effect.
Greywater
Water from showers, baths and washing machines that makes up 50% to 80% of domestic wastewater, which can sometimes be used to water the garden and for car washing.
Hybrid car
Hybrid Cars are a new generation of cars which use electricity as well as fuel for power. This means they emit less CO2 and are friendlier to our environment.
Hydroelectric
Hydroelectric power is electricity generated by running water. It's a great way of using a natural force to create electricity.
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
This is a report on climate change produced by the United Nations. It was put together by over 600 experts and reviewed and agreed by 113 governments. The fourth report concluded that there has been an increase in climate change likely to be caused by human activities.
Kyoto Protocol
This is an agreement reached in 1997 by industrial nations around the world to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Landfill
Disposal of rubbish by burying it under the ground. The UK buries 27 million tonnes of rubbish every year according to The Local Government Association - more than any other European country.
Local and seasonal food
This is food that's produced close to you and grown in season rather than imported from abroad out of season. It doesn't include food produced by artificial means like strawberries grown in winter greenhouses.
Methane
Methane is the second most important gas contributing to the human-made greenhouse effect after carbon dioxide. Around 40% of methane in the UK comes from landfill sites according to Defra, and around 37% from agriculture, including livestock.
Micro-generation
This is when businesses or homes make their own energy using solar panels or domestic wind turbines.
MSC fish
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) rewards environmentally responsible fisheries with its blue product label. This means the fishery is well managed, helping to preserve fish populations for future generations. See www.msc.org for more information.
Non-renewable resource
Any resources that cannot be re-made or re-grown at the rate they are consumed. Examples include coal, oil and natural.
Nuclear Power
Nuclear power is energy made by using the heat produced by an atomic reaction. There are a number of nuclear power stations in the UK.
Organic Food
Organic food is produced using organic farming methods, which restrict the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides and avoids the genetic modification of food.
Ozone
This toxic form of oxygen can cause real problems for us at surface level, but protects us from the sun's ultraviolet rays in the upper atmosphere - the ozone layer.
Photovoltic
A device that converts light energy into electricity, eg solar panels that convert the sun's energy into electricity through a series of grids.
Polar melt
The continuing melting of polar ice at a faster rate than its seasonal growth, causing an ongoing shrinking of the ice caps.
Renewable energy
Wave, wind and solar power are all renewable energies: they produce electricity without harming our environment.
Stern Report
This is a detailed report by Sir Nicholas Stern on the global economic effects of climate change and global warming. Though it was commissioned by the UK government, countries across the world have received it with interest.
Sustainable development
If everyone in the world lived the same way as we do in the UK, we'd need three planets to support us, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Sustainable development is about using all of our natural resources more responsibly, so we can meet our needs today without affecting the ability of future generations to meet their needs too.
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)
Any carbon compound that evaporates easily in normal environmental conditions - petrol for example.
Wind turbines
You'll see these dotted around the country quite often now. They're a modern day windmill which uses the power of the wind to produce electricity.
Zero carbon home
A house that produces no net C02 emissions from the energy used by people living in it. This does not include initial construction materials.