Climate Change Week 1

Chemical that can be used for cooling refrigerators and air conditioners

A commitment by 24 nations to reduce CFC production by 50% by the year 2000

Absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases and reradiation of the enrgy back toward Earth

An estimate of how much a molecule of any compound can contribute to global warming over a period of 100 years relative to one molecule of CO2

A process in which an increase in ocean CO2 causes more CO2 to be converted to carbonic acid, which lowers the pH of the water

An international agreement that sets a goal for global emissions of greenhous gases from all industrialized countries to be reduced by 5.2% below their 1990 levels by 2012

A pledge by 196 countries to keep global warming less than 2oC above pre-industrial levels. Also known as the Paris Climate Accord.

A process or result generated by human beings.

The process of removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in a fixed molecule in soil, oceans, or plants.

An organism or landscape that emits carbon into the atmosphere.

An organism or landscape that stores carbon.

Substances released into the air that are measured by their concentrations or parts per million in the atmosphere.

A greenhouse gas that is produced by the disgestive systems of livestock and decomposition in landfills.

A greenhouse gas that is produced from animal waste, and nitrogen fertilizers in soil.

A greenhouse gas found in the troposphere. It is produced through reactions between nitrous oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when burning coal, gasoline and other fuels. Ozone consists of three oxygen atoms and is the main component of smog.

Gases in Earth’s atmosphere that raise the temperature of our planet, including carbon dioxide and methane. They create a layer in the Earth’s atmosphere which traps heat and keeps it in, contributing to global warming.

A term for non-renewable energy sources including coal, oil and gas. These were created over millions of years by the decomposition of plant and animal matter.

Energy from sources that are naturally and constantly renewed. Wind and solar power are examples of renewable energy.

Net zero means reaching a place where human activity is not adding more carbon to our atmosphere than planet Earth is naturally able to absorb and store.

Action taken to help people or wildlife deal with the impacts of climate change.

A product, process or action whose use can be continued without depleting the Earth’s natural resources and avoiding harm to the environment or people.

The total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide) that the actions of an individual, an organisation, a nation etc. produce.

An increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature that occurs when the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases.

The long-term changes in the Earth’s climate that are warming the atmosphere, ocean and land.