Glossary
This page has a random selection of the many terms that you can find in our glossary. Scroll through the alphabetically-arranged list for definitions of terms commonly found in the climate change literature. You can also check out our links page for more information on climate change and the sources for these definitions.
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z]
- Climate system
- Refers to the totality of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere and their interactions.
- Desertification
- Refers to the process by which dry, barren land encroaches upon fertile, arable land. This process is more likely to become irreversible due to drier soils, as well as land degradation through erosion and compaction.
- Emissions Trading
- A provision in the Kyoto Protocol that allows countries with legally binding targets to trade emission entitlements with another country.
- Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
- Refers to the concept that the natural greenhouse effect has been strengthened due to human activities. Such activities include emissions of greenhouse gases because of the consumption of fossil fuels.
- Greenhouse Effect
- An analogy comparing the heat trapping ability of atmospheric gases to a greenhouse. The 'natural' greenhouse effect is essential for life as we know it. The 'enhanced' greenhouse effect is caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases and is responsible for global warming.
- Particulate Matter
- Microscopic solid or liquid compounds, including soot, dust, mists, aerosols, and fumes.
- Quarantine
- Refers to the isolation of people or animals to prevent the spread of an infectious disease.
- Takagas Waste-to-Energy Project
- An example of a measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by recovering energy from municipal waste. This initiative is a pilot project implemented in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Its name comes from the Swahili word for waste, or taka. Takagas is therefore gas from waste. The goal of the project is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using methane gas and electricity produced from anaerobic digestion of industrial and municipal waste in the Dar es Salaam area.