Do you find the discussion of sustainability confusing and alien? Does it make your head hurt simply to try to understand it?

 

Well, we’ve translated the most common climate terms into plain and simple English so everyone, including children, can understand the big sustainability terms.

 

By understanding the complexities surrounding the climate crisis, we will all be able to make better, more informed decisions.

 

+1.5°C The target limit for global warming set by scientists to avoid the worst effects of climate change, like extreme weather and rising sea levels.

 

+2°C A dangerous level of global warming that would cause more severe heatwaves, droughts, and stronger storms, making life much harder for people and nature.

 

+3°C A very harmful level of global warming where large parts of the planet would become too hot to live in, sea levels would rise a lot, and extreme weather would be common.

 

B Corp A company that meets high standards for doing good for people, the planet, and the economy.

 

Biodegradable Something that breaks down naturally and doesn’t leave waste behind.

 

Carbon Emissions Pollution (CO₂ and other gases) released into the air from things like cars, factories, and burning fuel.

 

Carbon Footprint The amount of pollution (CO₂) we create from things like driving cars, using electricity, and making products.

 

Carbon Neutral Balancing the pollution we create by doing things like planting trees or using clean energy.

 

Carbon Sink A natural place, like a forest or ocean, that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it releases, helping to slow down climate change.

 

Circular Economy A system where things are reused, repaired, and recycled instead of being thrown away.

 

Circularity Designing products and systems so that nothing goes to waste - everything is reused, recycled, or repurposed.

 

Climate Change The Earth’s weather is changing because of pollution, making it hotter and causing more storms.

 

Climate Overshoot When global warming temporarily or permanently goes beyond the safe limits (like 1.5°C or 2°C), causing dangerous effects on the planet.

 

COP (Conference of the Parties) A yearly global meeting where leaders from different countries discuss how to fight climate change.

 

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) When companies take responsibility for how they affect people, communities, and the environment by making positive changes.

 

Decarbonisation Reducing or removing carbon emissions from the air by using cleaner energy sources.

 

Deforestation Cutting down too many trees, which harms animals and adds pollution to the air.

 

Doughnut Economics A way of thinking about the economy that balances the needs of people (like food, health, and jobs) with the limits of the planet (like clean air, water, and a stable climate).

 

Eco-friendly Something that is good for the environment and doesn’t harm nature.

 

ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) A way to measure how companies treat the environment, people, and how they run their business fairly.

 

Fast Fashion Cheap, trendy clothes that are made quickly but harm the environment because they create a lot of waste.

 

Global Warming The increase in Earth’s temperature due to pollution from human activities like burning fossil fuels.

 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs) Gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) that trap heat in the atmosphere and cause global warming.

 

Green Transportation Ways of travelling that don’t pollute, like biking, walking, or using electric buses.

 

Greenwashing When a company or product pretends to be eco-friendly but isn’t really doing much to help the environment.

 

IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) A group of scientists from around the world who study climate change and give advice on how to fix it.

 

Microplastics Tiny pieces of plastic that pollute our water and can harm fish, animals, and even people.

 

Net Zero Balancing the amount of carbon emissions we produce with the amount we remove from the air, so the total impact is zero.

 

Organic Food that is grown without chemicals that harm the environment.

 

Paris Agreement A global deal where countries promise to work together to keep global warming below 2°C and try to stay under 1.5°C.

 

Race to Zero A global campaign led by the UN to get businesses, cities, and countries to cut their carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.

 

Recycling Turning old things into something new instead of throwing them away.

 

REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) A program that helps countries protect forests to fight climate change.

 

Regenerative Farming Farming in a way that helps the soil, plants, and animals stay healthy.

 

Renewable Energy Energy that never runs out, like the sun, wind, and water power.

 

Resilience The ability of people, communities, or nature to recover from problems like extreme weather or climate disasters.

 

Rewilding Bringing nature back to areas that have been damaged, like planting forests or protecting wild animals.

 

Scope 1 Emissions Pollution (CO₂) from things a company owns or directly controls, like factory machines or company cars.

 

Scope 2 Emissions Pollution from the electricity, heating, or cooling a company buys and uses.

 

Scope 3 Emissions Pollution caused by things a company doesn’t own but is connected to, like how products are made, shipped, or used.

 

SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) 17 goals created by the United Nations to make the world a better place by 2030, focusing on things like clean energy, ending poverty, and protecting nature.

 

Solar Power Electricity made from sunlight.

 

Sustainability Keeping the Earth healthy so that future generations can live happily.

 

Sustainable Living Making choices that help the planet, like using less plastic, saving water, and buying less.

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Tipping Point A moment when climate change becomes unstoppable, causing big and permanent damage to the planet.

 

Transitioning Moving from polluting activities (like using coal) to sustainable ones (like using wind or solar energy).

 

UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) A global agreement where countries work together to fight climate change.

 

Water Conservation Using water wisely so we don’t waste it.

 

Zero Waste A way of living where nothing is thrown away – everything gets reused or recycled.