Essential Climate Change Jargon/Buzzwords you need to be aware of
Essential Climate Change Jargon/Buzzwords you need to be aware of
As climate crisis goes mainstream, a roundup of important jargon to help you follow the conversation
After 30 long years, looks like climate crisis is all set to go properly mainstream and with any luck we’ll not stop hearing of climate change until the crisis finally goes away. Unfortunately, this also means we’ll have to put up with the interminably complex jargon that will be firmly entrenched in the climate conversation for the years to come. So here’s a handy list to get you started on the complex climate change terms that I think will dominate the news cycle over the next few years and you should know these to easily follow the news articles and the climate conversation in the public sphere.
Also, please note that I’m going to give very brief and super simplified definitions for the sake of understanding, so further reading is highly encouraged to gain clarity on these topics. This list is meant to be a springboard to further learning, not the definitive scientific explainer.
Here we go!
1. Geoengineering
Geoengineering is literally what it means, large scale artificial engineering of the earth systems to either reduce/manage the amount of solar radiation reaching the earth’s surface (known as Solar Radiation Management or SRM) or artificially enhancing the existing systems on earth to absorb the extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (known as Greenhouse Gas Removal or GGR ). The ideas include large scale deployment of reflective surfaces in space or on surface to reflect the sunlight back, thinning of clouds, pumping aerosols in the atmosphere or adding extra minerals in the ocean/air that will either capture the carbon dioxide or enable the existing carbon sinks to absorb more carbon dioxide. Geoengineering is one of the most controversial climate solutions that is no longer a fringe theory but one that is fast gaining prominence due to the unstoppable rise of both greenhouse gas emissions and warming. However, the complex, interconnected nature of our climate system and the vast amount of unknowns and uncertainties involved makes geoengineering a rather risky proposition because we cannot possibly accurately predict the repercussions of artificially altering the ocean or atmospheric composition. Because, errm, just in case we forgot, climate crisis today is an unintended consequence of what can be termed as accidental geoengineering!
Read more about geoengineering here and solar geoengineering here.
2. Anthropocene/Anthropogenic
Earth’s 4.5 billions year old history is measured in something called Geological Time Scale which includes four Eons made up of several Eras each. Each Era in turn is made up of several Periods, which are further divided into Epochs and Ages. We are currently in Holocene Epoch, which is part of Quaternary Period, which is part of Cenozoic Era, that is part of Phanerozoic Eon. With me so far? (See illustration). Holocene is the most recent interglacial warming phase after the last glacial period ended, approximately 11,650 calendar years before present (circa 1950s).
Once scientists realised humans have fundamentally altered the planet’s natural climate and ecosystem, they floated an unofficial epoch known as Anthropocene starting from 1960s that marks the phase after the significant impacts of the Industrial Revolution were observed. Anthropocene as an epoch is still undergoing the formalisation process and discussions are ongoing on defining it exactly. But the term has meanwhile gained widespread acceptance within the scientific community and larger climate community to mean a new geological timescale where humans have significantly altered the earth’s climate and ecosystem. This new epoch is characterised by increased human-caused greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, warming temperatures and changing climate as a result, and changes to earth’s biodiversity and ecosystem.
So now anytime you see the term anthropogenic, understand it to mean human-caused. Anthropogenic global warming = Human-caused global warming. Anthropogenic emissions = Human-caused greenhouse gas emissions etc etc.
3. Decarbonisation
This is another term that you will have sear into your memory because it will gain super prominence in the coming years and is an important concept. Decarbonisation is converting existing fossil-fuel powered, carbon dioxide spewing systems so they emit lesser or zero carbon dioxide. If an entity has decarbonised entirely, it means in the entire lifecycle from the creation and supply of a product or service, it is not pumping any extra greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This is done either by completely drawing on renewable energy for all processes starting from manufacturing to operations to distribution or removing its emitted share of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through a variety of ways. The second option one is murky and ambiguous but shifting to clean energy sources is the easiest and most efficient way to decarbonise anything.
4. Clean Energy/Green energy
Before I define clean energy, maybe I should clarify what exactly is dirty energy. Fossil fuel powered energy is called dirty because when coal, oil or natural gas is burned, they release carbon dioxide and this extra carbon dioxide from energy production is the leading driver of climate change. Clean or Green energy is any energy source that does not emit carbon dioxide when it is used and does not pollute the atmosphere like fossil fuels do. Renewable energy sources like solar, wind, nuclear, hydro, geothermal heat etc all come under clean energy sources. The future that we want is one that is entirely powered by clean energy sources.
5. Energy Access/Energy Poverty
These two terms are relevant for low and middle income countries that are yet to develop fully. As it stands, access to energy directly correlates to improved standard of living. A household or settlement should have adequate, reliable and affordable energy/electricity for domestic, commercial and public use to ensure a good quality of life. This is called energy access. While developed nations have 100% electrification rate, these rates are lower in developing and least developed countries where ensuring energy access removes energy poverty, which can be defined as lack of access to modern energy sources and the associated comfort, progress, productivity benefits and development infrastructure that comes with it.
6. Carbon Tax
Another term that will gain more prominence as economics of climate action gets embroiled more closely with the rising threat of climate crisis, carbon tax is a mitigation mechanism to put a price on carbon emissions and make carbon intensive sectors/enterprises pay for extra carbon dioxide emissions. The aim is that either large emitters will be incentivised to reduce their emissions because there is now a steep cost associated with polluting the atmosphere or that the money can be used to invest in green energy or other climate solutions.
7. Climate Change Adaptation
As the earth’s surface has warmed by close to 1.2°C already and is poised to continue heating up, climate induced disasters will continue to shape our present and future. The world will have to learn to adapt to these changes in the environment, ecosystem and climate system. As temperature rises, more floods, cyclones, sea level rise, pests, heatwaves, droughts, water shortage, landslides etc etc will become inevitable till we bring down the greenhouse gas emissions and temperature to a safe level. Until then, we have no choice but to adapt our lives, societies and infrastructure to these events that will happen with increased frequency and intensity. Read more on adaptation here.
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8. Climate Change Mitigation
Mitigation is nothing but a fancy, jargony term for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. At the moment, our entire existence and economy is interminably tied in with fossil fuels. Everything from our energy requirements to all industrial production and transportation to food security is heavily carbon intensive, pushing out tonnes of CO2 or other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, that ends up overheating the planet. And so, we need to eliminate pumping any additional greenhouse gases into the atmosphere if we want the planet to continue to be habitable in the coming decades and for the next generations. And that’s mitigation. Read more about it here.
9. Climate Resilience
Climate resilience is the ability of individuals, households, communities, societies, cities etc to prepare and withstand the impacts of climate induced disasters without being completely crippled by the recurring events. Basically resilience, but to respond and recover adequately from both slow-onset and rapid-onset climate disasters.
10. Carbon Footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with a particular activity, individual, country or sector is called carbon footprint. Let’s say two people are going to a venue, where one is walking while the other is taking a car. The carbon footprint of the person walking is zero while the carbon footprint of the person taking a taxi would be the amount of greenhouse gases emitted due to the combustion of fuel for the duration of the ride.
11. Carbon Offset
Before I say anything else, I’ll say this — carbon offsetting is first and foremost an evasion tactic. Carbon offset is a mechanism where positive emissions from one place can be compensated by negative emissions in another place, basically nullifying the overall impact of an individual, activity or company. (Like say burn a kilogram of coal here and plant an acre of forest somewhere else, not exactly in the same proportion but you get the gist.) Carbon offsets in some form or the other are a staple of ongoing global climate negotiations but the concept gained much popularity in popular culture when airlines introduced carbon offset credits to compensate for flying’s high carbon footprint. Travellers jumped at the chance to fly guilt free around the world while the airline companies or private establishments claimed they could offset the carbon emissions per traveller per flight by investing money in some forest restoration project or methane capture program or some such where the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases are removed from the atmosphere. The truth is that today’s emissions still contribute to warming for years and there are very few verifiable, viable options that can remove emissions instantly and assuredly. For more, see below.
12. Extreme Weather Event
An extreme weather event is one where the rainfall, snowfall or heat or any other such event is above or below the expected and observed range. Let’s say in the month of June, Mumbai’s expected rainfall range is between 500 to 800mm. But we get 1500mm or 100mm of rainfall in June, then it can be called an extreme weather event. This is just an example and what amount of deviation from the average range constitutes as extreme weather is some technical gobbledygook that you don’t have to concern yourself with but if you hear the term extreme weather, understand that it is a highly unusual occurrence for that place at that particular time.
13. Climate Justice
The idea that not all people, countries, industries etc are equally causing or evenly being impacted by climate change is central to the concept of climate justice. While few cause the problem of global warming, a vast majority faces the repercussions and are unable to deal with the impacts of climate change due to preexisting vulnerabilities and limitations. Climate justice seeks to acknowledge the vast disparity prevalent within our societies, and propose mitigation actions and adaptation solutions accordingly so the marginalised and disadvantaged aren’t further exploited and deprived in the name of global welfare.
14. Climate Action
Climate Action is a set of policy interventions as well as mitigation and adaptation solutions on a global to local level to deal with and eventually stop climate change. My preferred definition is climate action = mitigation + adaptation + sustainable living.
15. Circular economy
A circular economy is one that seeks to eliminate waste completely and significantly reduce the amount of resources consumed. In this economic system, manufacturing will not create extra waste and the unused raw materials or byproducts will be used to manufacture other required and useful products. Also, products are expected to have long lifecycles as they get repaired/refurbished/recycled/reused endlessly in theory, moving away from our current culture where disposable, single use products and ridiculous amounts of waste such as plastic or worn down remnants keep filling our landfills and oceans as we buy more and more. Since overconsumption and resource exploitation is both a key feature and driver of our current crisis, expect to hear a lot more of the utopian circular economy chatter in the years to come.
16. Net Zero/Carbon neutrality
Carbon neutrality is attained when the amount of carbon dioxide emissions pumped into the atmosphere balances out to be zero by either removing the same amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or by eliminating emissions altogether. In the case of the former, it is called net zero emissions because CO2 is both being pumped into the atmosphere and being removed at the same rate/quantity to cancel out the overall emissions. If the emissions are eliminated altogether, then it is true zero emissions because nothing is being put into the atmosphere anymore. Remember, true zero is far better than net zero but also that much difficult to achieve.
17. Adaptive Capacity
Adaptive capacity refers to the ability of systems, individuals and communities to respond and adjust to changes in the ecosystem and climate system adequately. Improving the adaptive capacity of communities and making them climate resilient will be a crucial aspect of climate adaptation strategies in future. There, now you’re fluent in climate speak too! ;)
18. Energy Transition/Just transition
Energy transition refers to a global shift of energy system deriving power from source to another. Currently what we mean by energy transition is a shift from fossil fuel powered energy production and consumption model to one powered by low carbon and renewable energy sources. Within that, just transition refers to not leaving people currently employed in/dependent on the fossil fuel sector in the lurch and minimising their hardships while securing their livelihoods when transitioning to renewable energy.
19. Carbon Capture and Sequestration/Storage
Now that our man Elon Musk has tweeted about it and announced big prize money too, expect to never hear the end of it. Carbon capture and sequestration(CCS) is one of those magical technofixes that many are hoping will reverse climate change. In this still-emerging technology, carbon dioxide is expected to be either captured at source like power plants or literally pulled from thin air and stored in a safe storage site where it won’t enter the atmosphere again for a long time.
As it stands, we most definitely need CCS solutions to limit warming to 1.5°C because this particular pathway assumes some kind of carbon dioxide removal mechanism will be developed in near future and a significant amount of CO2 will be removed at scale by 2100. Also, the impact of some hard to decarbonise sectors such as aviation or other greenhouse gas emissions that can’t be eliminated can be offset if we have CCS capacity to cancel them out. However, it is very important to remember that CCS cannot replace the need to actually cut down emissions drastically in near future and completely by 2050. CCS will be a part of the solution but it won’t be the silver bullet that will magically vanquish climate crisis.
20. Global Warming/Climate Change
Lastly thought I’d clarify these two terms that are often used interchangeably but are not the same. If we’re going to live with these terms for all our foreseeable future, might as well be pedantic about it, right? Global warming refers to the rise in mean temperature of earth’s surface due to the heat trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Climate change refers to the resultant impacts of global warming i.e., melting glaciers to sea level rise to extreme weather events to shifting seasons so on and so forth. Simply put, global warming is causing climate change.
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For a more comprehensive listing of climate change jargon, you can read the full IPCC Glossary here.
If you feel the public should know about some other terms, feel free to add the term and description in the comments below. If you want to know about any particular jargon, also feel free to add it in the comments below. I’ll answer.
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This is a great glossary to understand climate science. A few other terms readers should know include:
- What is 1.5℃?
- What is Global Warming Potential? (This term would help explain how the GHGs increase the rate at at which the energy escapes to space, leading to increasing earth's temperature)
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