Green Transition Terminology
biodiversity offsetting
Compensating for the loss of biodiversity in one area by ensuring biodiversity is preserved or enhanced in another.
carbon capture and storage (CCS)
Technologies or processes that capture carbon dioxide emissions from sources like power plants and store them underground to prevent them from entering the atmosphere.
carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS)
The process of capturing carbon dioxide emissions from sources like power plants and either reusing it or storing it so it will not enter the atmosphere.
carbon credits
Permits that allow the holder to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. One credit permits the emission of a mass equal to one ton of carbon dioxide.
carbon footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product, measured in units of carbon dioxide equivalent.
carbon offsetting
Compensating for emissions by investing in projects that reduce or remove an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
carbon pricing
Using market mechanisms to charge emitters a price per ton of carbon dioxide emissions.
carbon sink
Natural or artificial reservoirs that accumulate and store some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period.
carbon tax
A tax imposed on carbon emissions to incentivize the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
carbon trading
A market-based system where countries or organizations can buy or sell allowances or credits for greenhouse gas emissions.
circular economy
An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources by closing the loop of product life cycles through recycling and reuse.
climate change mitigation
Actions taken to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases with the goal of limiting global warming and its related impacts.
climate finance
Local, national, or transnational financing, which may be drawn from public, private, and alternative sources of financing, that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change.
climate justice
A term and movement that acknowledges climate change can have differing social, economic, public health, and other adverse impacts on underprivileged populations.
climate neutrality
Achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by balancing emissions with removal or offsetting.
conservation easements
Legal agreements that permanently limit uses of land to protect its conservation values.
corporate social responsibility (CSR)
A business model that helps a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public.
decarbonization
The process of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, often by transitioning to renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency.
distributed generation
Decentralized electricity generation from sources like solar panels and wind turbines, often close to the point of use.
ecosystem services
The benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, such as clean water, air, and pollination of crops.
emission reduction targets
Specific goals set by individuals, companies, or governments to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases they emit over a given period.
emission standards
Legal limits on the amount of pollutants that can be released into the environment.
energy efficiency
Using less energy to provide the same service or achieve the same outcome, often through improved technology or practices.
esg
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are standards for a company’s operations that socially conscious investors use to screen potential investments.
feed-in tariff
A policy mechanism that provides long-term contracts to renewable energy producers, typically based on the cost of generation.
gold standard
The Gold Standard is a certification standard for carbon offset projects that is considered one of the most rigorous in terms of its requirements for social and environmental benefits.
green building
The practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life cycle.
green climate fund (GCF)
A fund established within the framework of the UNFCCC to assist developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
green procurement
The acquisition of products and services that have a reduced impact on human health and the environment.
greenhouse gas emissions
The release of gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases, that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.
greenwashing
A form of marketing spin in which green PR or green marketing is deceptively used to persuade the public that an organization's products, aims, and policies are environmentally friendly.
gri
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is an international independent standards organization that helps businesses, governments, and other organizations understand and communicate their impacts on issues such as climate change, human rights, and corruption.
habitat conservation
The practice of protecting and preserving natural habitats to ensure the survival of wildlife.
hydroelectric power
Energy produced from the movement of water, typically through dams or flowing rivers.
intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC)
An intergovernmental body of the United Nations responsible for advancing knowledge on human-induced climate change.
issb
International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) is responsible for developing global standards for sustainability disclosures.
low-carbon economy
An economy that has a minimal output of greenhouse gas emissions into the biosphere, but specifically refers to the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
nationally determined contributions (NDCs)
Climate action plans to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts that are developed by countries and submitted to the UNFCCC.
net metering
A billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid.
net zero
The balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere, achieving a state of no net increase in greenhouse gases.
pollution control technologies
Equipment and processes used to reduce or eliminate the emission of pollutants.
pollution prevention plans
Strategies and practices aimed at reducing or eliminating the generation of pollutants.
renewable energy
Energy from sources that are naturally replenished, such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass.
renewable portfolio standard (RPS)
Regulations requiring a certain percentage of electricity to come from renewable sources.
resilience
The capacity of social, economic, and environmental systems to cope with hazardous events or disturbances, responding or reorganizing in ways that maintain their essential function, identity, and structure.
sbti
Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute, and the World Wide Fund for Nature that defines and promotes best practices in emissions reductions and net-zero targets in line with climate science.
scope 1 emissions
Direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the company. This includes emissions from combustion in owned or controlled boilers, furnaces, vehicles, and other equipment, as well as emissions from chemical production in owned or controlled process equipment.
scope 2 emissions
Indirect GHG emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating, and cooling consumed by the company. These emissions occur at the facility where the energy is generated.
scope 3 emissions
All other indirect GHG emissions that occur in the value chain of the company, both upstream and downstream. These are emissions that are not directly owned or controlled by the company but are related to its activities.
sustainability
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
sustainable agriculture
Farming practices that maintain productivity and usefulness to society indefinitely without causing severe or irreversible damage to ecosystem health.
sustainable forestry
Managing forests to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
sustainable supply chains
Managing supply chain operations to ensure they are socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable.
sustainable transportation
Modes of transport that have a low impact on the environment, such as public transit, cycling, and walking.
task force on climate-related financial disclosures (TCFD)
A body that develops voluntary, consistent climate-related financial risk disclosures for use by companies in providing information to investors, lenders, insurers, and other stakeholders.
united nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC)
An international environmental treaty adopted on 9 May 1992 and entered into force on 21 March 1994, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
verra
Verra is a nonprofit organization that develops and manages standards for greenhouse gas emission reductions and sustainable development.
wildlife corridors
Areas of habitat that connect wildlife populations separated by human activities or structures.
world green building council (WGBC)
A network of national green building councils in more than seventy countries, which is transforming the places we live, work, play, heal, and learn.
The definitions provided are derived from commonly accepted explanations within the fields of environmental science, climate policy, and sustainable development. While they are not directly from a specific standard, they align well with the terminology and concepts found in various international standards and frameworks. Here are some key standards and frameworks that support the definitions provided:
Relevant Standards and Frameworks
ISO Standards (International Organization for Standardization)
ISO 14000 Series: A family of standards related to environmental management that helps organizations minimize their environmental impact.
ISO 50001: Energy management systems – Requirements with guidance for use.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDGs: A set of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030, addressing issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice.
Greenhouse Gas Protocol
GHG Protocol: Provides standards, guidance, tools, and training for business and government to measure and manage climate-warming emissions.
IPCC Guidelines (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)
IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Provides methodologies for estimating national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions.
EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities
EU Taxonomy: A classification system establishing a list of environmentally sustainable economic activities, aiming to provide companies, investors, and policymakers with appropriate definitions.
GHG Emissions Standards
Various national and international standards: Such as those set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the European Union, and other governmental bodies regulating emissions and air quality.
ANSI Standards (American National Standards Institute)
ANSI/ASQ Z1.4: Sampling procedures and tables for inspection by attributes.
ANSI E1.11: Entertainment Technology – USITT DMX512-A – Asynchronous Serial Digital Data Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories.