Residents fined for failing to clear up rubbish dumped in their gardens
An Ashington man and Newbiggin woman who repeatedly failed to clear up large quantities of waste they had allowed to accumulate in their...
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Climate glossary >
What is climate change?
The term ‘climate change’ refers to the trend of global warming caused by the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. There is broad scientific consensus that humans have increased this considerably.
Greenhouse gases are gases which retain heat and warm the planet when they sit in the atmosphere. The most common of these is carbon dioxide (CO2) which is produced by burning fossil fuels such as oil and gas which we use to power our vehicles and heat our homes.
We've pulled together a glossary of the most common terms related to climate change below.
Adaption
The process of adjusting to the changing climate conditions to minimize the negative impacts and take advantage of any opportunities that may arise.
Carbon neutral
Where carbon dioxide emissions produced by an activity are balanced out by funding an equivalent amount of carbon savings elsewhere, ensuring the net carbon emissions are zero.
Global warming
The gradual increase in the Earth's average surface temperature due to the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily from carbon dioxide.
Carbon footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, or product throughout its lifecycle.
Extreme weather events
Severe and unusual weather phenomena, such as hurricanes, droughts, heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and flooding, that have become more frequent and intense due to climate change.
Greenhouse gases
Gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases, that trap heat in the atmosphere.
Ocean acidification
The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, primarily caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, leading to adverse effects on marine ecosystems.
Renewable energy
Energy obtained from sources that are naturally replenished, such as sunlight (solar energy), wind, water (hydropower), and geothermal heat.
Climate change
Refers to long-term shifts in weather patterns and average temperatures on Earth, resulting from human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
Carbon sequestration
The process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to prevent it from contributing to climate change, often through reforestation, afforestation, and carbon capture technologies.
Deforestation
The clearing, removal, or destruction of forests, primarily for human activities such as agriculture, logging, and urbanization.
Fossil fuels
Carbon-rich energy sources formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago, including coal, oil, and natural gas.
Greenhouse effect
The natural process by which certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat from the sun, preventing it from escaping back into space.
Net zero
Means balancing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted with the amount removed from the atmosphere - essentially reducing the net carbon footprint to zero.
Sea-level rise
The increase in the average level of the world's oceans as a result of the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, as well as the expansion of seawater due to warming.
Sustainability
The practice of meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, ensuring a balance between environmental, social, and economic aspects.
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