"Carbon" - Generally refers to "Carbon Dioxide and Other Greenhouse" Gases. These are gases responsible for warming our planet, which results in climate change.
Carbon Footprint - A carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, event, organization, service, place or product, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents.
Carbon Budget - The amount of net carbon emissions (i.e. emissions less drawdowns) before we reach certain warming limits. The carbon budget for 2°C is therefore larger than the budget for 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
COP26 - COP stands for Conference of the Parties, a conference generally held annually amongst delegates of all countries within the United Nations. The talks are about climate change and how countries are planning to tackle it.
Decarbonisation - Transitioning to an economy that has lower carbon emissions. Generally referring to a transition away from fossil fuels as a primary energy source (whether that's electricity production, transportation or something else).
Drawdowns - Refers to processes in which carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are removed from the atmosphere. This happens as part of the natural carbon cycle but there are also ways in which humans can ”drawdown” carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases artificially (e.g. Carbon Capture and Storage).
Emissions - Refers to processes in which carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere. This happens as part of the natural carbon cycle but there are many ways in which humans are ”emitting” carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (e.g. by burning fossil fuels for electricity production or transportation).
Fossil Fuels - When the animals die, they decompose, and their remains become sediment, trapping the stored carbon in layers that eventually turn into rock or minerals. Some of this sediment might form fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, or natural gas, which release carbon back into the atmosphere when the fuel is burned.
GHGs (Greenhouse Gases) - Gases such as Carbon Dioxide, Methane or Nitrous Oxide that are responsible for warming our planet (global warming), which results in climate change.
Greenhouse Effect - The way in which heat is trapped within the Earth's atmosphere by greenhouse gases. These heat-trapping gases have a blanketing effect around Earth, keeping the planet warmer than it would be without them.
GtCO2 - Gigatonnes of Carbon Dioxide, the same as a billion tonnes.
IPCC (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) - The United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. Dedicated to providing the world with objective, scientific information to help understand human-induced climate change, including its natural, political, and economic impacts and risks, and possible response options.
Net Zero - Where the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of an organisation (or city, or state) are equal to or less than the emissions it removes from the environment. I.e. carbon emissions and drawdowns are balanced.
Opinion Piece - Where the "Type of Material" is labelled as an "Opinion Piece" this is to indicate that is reflective of our opinion rather than being scientific in nature. Hopefully we have made it clear how we have reached our conclusions/ advice but please reach out if anything isn't clear or if you have an alternative point of view that you think we should consider.
Uncontrolled Climate Change - This is the scenario where it becomes unlikely we will be able to effectively combat positive feedback loops, meaning global temperatures spiral to a new equilibrium point. If we reach this “point of no return” we would likely face increasing global temperatures throughout this century and therefore increasingly worsening impacts from climate change (we don’t want to go there).
Carbon Footprint - A carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, event, organization, service, place or product, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents.
Carbon Budget - The amount of net carbon emissions (i.e. emissions less drawdowns) before we reach certain warming limits. The carbon budget for 2°C is therefore larger than the budget for 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
COP26 - COP stands for Conference of the Parties, a conference generally held annually amongst delegates of all countries within the United Nations. The talks are about climate change and how countries are planning to tackle it.
Decarbonisation - Transitioning to an economy that has lower carbon emissions. Generally referring to a transition away from fossil fuels as a primary energy source (whether that's electricity production, transportation or something else).
Drawdowns - Refers to processes in which carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are removed from the atmosphere. This happens as part of the natural carbon cycle but there are also ways in which humans can ”drawdown” carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases artificially (e.g. Carbon Capture and Storage).
Emissions - Refers to processes in which carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere. This happens as part of the natural carbon cycle but there are many ways in which humans are ”emitting” carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (e.g. by burning fossil fuels for electricity production or transportation).
Fossil Fuels - When the animals die, they decompose, and their remains become sediment, trapping the stored carbon in layers that eventually turn into rock or minerals. Some of this sediment might form fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, or natural gas, which release carbon back into the atmosphere when the fuel is burned.
GHGs (Greenhouse Gases) - Gases such as Carbon Dioxide, Methane or Nitrous Oxide that are responsible for warming our planet (global warming), which results in climate change.
Greenhouse Effect - The way in which heat is trapped within the Earth's atmosphere by greenhouse gases. These heat-trapping gases have a blanketing effect around Earth, keeping the planet warmer than it would be without them.
GtCO2 - Gigatonnes of Carbon Dioxide, the same as a billion tonnes.
IPCC (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) - The United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. Dedicated to providing the world with objective, scientific information to help understand human-induced climate change, including its natural, political, and economic impacts and risks, and possible response options.
Net Zero - Where the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of an organisation (or city, or state) are equal to or less than the emissions it removes from the environment. I.e. carbon emissions and drawdowns are balanced.
Opinion Piece - Where the "Type of Material" is labelled as an "Opinion Piece" this is to indicate that is reflective of our opinion rather than being scientific in nature. Hopefully we have made it clear how we have reached our conclusions/ advice but please reach out if anything isn't clear or if you have an alternative point of view that you think we should consider.
Uncontrolled Climate Change - This is the scenario where it becomes unlikely we will be able to effectively combat positive feedback loops, meaning global temperatures spiral to a new equilibrium point. If we reach this “point of no return” we would likely face increasing global temperatures throughout this century and therefore increasingly worsening impacts from climate change (we don’t want to go there).