Adaptation
Action that helps to cope with the effects of climate change, for example flood defences to protect against increased flood risk and planting of crops that are more resilient to high temperatures and droughts
Biodiversity
The enormous variety of life on Earth. It can be used more specifically to refer to all of the species in one region or ecosystem.
Biodiversity Net Gain
An approach to development that leaves biodiversity in a measurably better state than before the development started. Biodiversity Net Gain is measured using a metric that is published by the Government.
Carbon footprint
The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, event, organisation, service, place or product.
Carbon neutral
Where the amount of carbon dioxide being emitted is equal to the amount of carbon dioxide being absorbed from the atmosphere. Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and then storing it is known as carbon sequestration.
Carbon offsetting
A way of compensating for carbon emissions being emitted by participating in, or funding, efforts to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Carbon reduction
Reducing the amount of carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) being emitted by an individual, event, organisation, service, place or product
Circular economy
This nvolves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible.
Climate action group
A community group, usually made up entirely of volunteers, which works locally to take action on climate change.
Climate change
The change in average weather conditions, such as temperature or rainfall, over a long period of time.
Climate mitigation
Action taken to reduce climate change by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted, and by increasing the amount of greenhouse gases absorbed from the atmosphere.
CO2e (Carbon dioxide equivalent)
Also written as CO2 equivalent or Co2eq, this is a standard unit for measuring carbon footprints which consist of lots of different greenhouse gases. It expresses the impact of each different greenhouse gas in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide which would result in the same amount of warming.
Decarbonisation
The reduction or elimination of carbon dioxide emissions.
Ecosystems
All the plants and animals that live in a particular area together with the complex relationship that exists between them and their environment.
Electric vehicles (EVs)
A vehicle which runs on electricity rather than petrol or diesel. EVs are recharged and do not release any greenhouse gas emissions as they are driven. See where chargers are located in council-run car parks.
Environment Act 2021
The government legislation which sets out the targets, plans and policies for improving the natural environment. More information is available on the government website.
Environmental targets
The UK government targets, set in 2022, to protect our environment, clean up our air and rivers and boost nature.
Global warming
The steady rise in global average temperature in recent years, caused by man-made greenhouse gas emissions.
Greenhouse gases
Gases in the earth’s atmosphere that trap heat. The main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases. While many greenhouse gases are naturally occurring, it is the increased emissions from human activities that are causing global warming.
The main emissions come from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, for the energy that we rely on to heat (and cool) our homes, power our transport, cook our food and make many of the products we use.
Heat pump
A device that can heat a building (or part of a building) by transferring thermal energy from the outside using a refrigeration cycle.
Nature recovery
Actions we need to take to protect, sustainably manage, improve and restore the natural environment.
Net Zero
The balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. We reach net zero when the amount we add is no more than the amount taken away.
Renewable energy
Energy which is produced from sources like the wind and sun that are naturally replenished and therefore more sustainable than ‘fossil fuels’ such as coal, oil or gas.
Retrofitting
Making changes to existing buildings to reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions. See our dedicated webpage on retrofitting for more information.
Solar panels
Solar electricity panels, also known as photovoltaics (PV), capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity. By installing solar panels, you can generate your own renewable electricity.
Solar farms
Also known as solar parks, solar power plants or photovoltaic power stations), these are an area of land with a large number of solar panels installed which generate electricity.
Unlike solar panels on buildings, solar farms generally supply energy to public utilities rather than to power the building the panels are installed upon.
Zero waste
The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water or air that threaten the environment or human health.