Responding to climate change Definitions Flashcards
Biomass
the mass of living biological organisms in a given area or ecosystem at a given time
Reforestation
the practice of restoring previously existing forests and woodlands that have been destroyed or damaged
Carbon capture and storage(CCS)
the process of capturing carbon dioxide(CO₂) is collected at emission sources(e.g. power plants, industrial facilities, etc.), transporting and then storing or burying it in a deep underground location
Transnational corporation(TNC)
a company which operates in two or more countries
Decarbonization
the process of reducing carbon dioxide(CO₂) emissions associated with energy production or consumption
Ocean fertilization
the process of adding nutrients(mainly nitrogen, phosphorus and iron) to the upper layers of the ocean to stimulate phytoplankton activity(photosynthesis) in an attempt to reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels
Desalination plant
an industrial facility for the extraction of fresh water from saltwater by the removal of salts(usually by distillation)
Vulnerability
the degree to which people are susceptible to, or unable to cope with, the adverse effects of climate change
Exposure
the degree to which people are exposed to climate change
Sensitivity
the degree to which people could be harmed by exposure to climate change
Adaptive capacity
the degree to which they people could mitigate the potential harm by taking action to reduce their exposure or sensitivity
Mitigation
attempts to reduce the causes of climate change
Carbon tax
a tax levied on greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon trade
the buying and selling of credits that permit a company or other entity to emit a certain amount fo carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases
Carbon market
a trading system in which carbon credits are sold and bought
Energy efficiency
the process of achieving a greater output per unit of energy input
Photovoltaic(PV) cell
an electronic device that converts sunlight(photons, specifically) into electricity
Upwelling
a process in which currents bring deep, cold water to the surface of the ocean
Forest carbon stock
the amount of carbon that has been sequestered from the atmosphere and is now stored within the forest ecosystem(mainly within living biomass and soil, and to a lesser extent also in dead wood and litter)
Carbon offset schemes
programmes that allow individuals, companies and governments to compensate for their greenhouse gas emissions by investing in projects that reduce or remove an equivalent amount of CO₂ or other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere
Civil society
the aggregate of non-governmental organizations, community groups, and other voluntary associations that exist independently of the government and the market and which promote social interests, advocacy and community engagement
