A
- Acid Rain – Precipitation with high levels of acidic components, often caused by air pollution.
- Adaptation – Adjustments in natural or human systems to cope with climate change.
- Alternative Energy – Energy sources other than fossil fuels (e.g., solar, wind, geothermal).
- Anthropogenic – Resulting from human activities.
- Aquifer – Underground layer of water-bearing rock.
- Atmosphere – The layer of gases surrounding the Earth.
- Air Pollution – The presence of harmful substances in the air.
B
- Biodiversity – The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
- Biodegradable – Capable of being decomposed naturally by microorganisms.
- Biofuel – Fuel derived from organic matter (e.g., ethanol, biodiesel).
- Biomass – Organic material used as fuel, such as wood or crop waste.
- Biosphere – The global ecological system integrating all living beings and their environments.
- Brownfield – Contaminated land that requires cleaning before redevelopment.
- Buffer Zone – A protective area between an ecosystem and human activity.
C
- Carbon Footprint – The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by an individual or organization.
- Carbon Neutral – Balancing carbon emissions with carbon removal.
- Carbon Offset – A reduction in emissions to compensate for emissions elsewhere.
- Circular Economy – An economic system that minimizes waste and promotes recycling.
- Climate Change – Long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns.
- Composting – The process of breaking down organic matter into nutrient-rich soil.
- Conservation – The protection and preservation of natural resources.
- Coral Bleaching – The whitening of corals due to stress, often caused by rising ocean temperatures.
D
- Deforestation – The large-scale removal of trees.
- Desertification – The process by which fertile land becomes desert.
- Drought – A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall.
- Dumping – The disposal of waste, often illegally, in the environment.
- Decomposition – The breakdown of organic matter by bacteria and fungi.
E
- Ecology – The study of relationships between organisms and their environment.
- Ecosystem – A community of organisms interacting with their physical environment.
- EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) – A process to evaluate the effects of a proposed project on the environment.
- Emissions – Pollutants released into the atmosphere.
- Endangered Species – Species at risk of extinction.
- Energy Efficiency – Using less energy to perform the same task.
- Environmental Justice – The fair treatment of all people regarding environmental laws and policies.
- Eutrophication – Excess nutrients in water bodies leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion.
F
- Fossil Fuels – Coal, oil, and natural gas derived from ancient organic matter.
- Fracking – Hydraulic fracturing, a method of extracting natural gas and oil from deep underground.
- Forest Degradation – The decline in forest quality and health.
- Floodplain – Low-lying land adjacent to a river that floods regularly.
G
- Geothermal Energy – Energy derived from the heat of the Earth’s interior.
- Greenhouse Effect – The trapping of heat in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases.
- Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) – Gases like CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O that contribute to global warming.
- Groundwater – Water stored underground in aquifers.
- Greenwashing – Misleading claims about environmental benefits by a company or product.
- Greywater – Wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry that can be recycled.
H
- Habitat – The natural home of a plant or animal.
- Hazardous Waste – Waste that poses risks to health and the environment.
- Hydroelectric Power – Electricity generated from moving water.
- Hydroponics – A method of growing plants without soil, using nutrient-rich water.
I
- Industrial Pollution – Pollution from factories and industrial activities.
- Invasive Species – Non-native species that cause harm to local ecosystems.
- Irrigation – Supplying water to crops artificially.
J
- Junk Science – Misleading scientific claims used to promote agendas, often in environmental debates.
K
- Keystone Species – A species that has a significant impact on its ecosystem.
L
- Landfill – A site for disposing of waste.
- Land Degradation – The decline in land quality due to human activities.
- LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) – A green building certification system.
M
- Microplastics – Tiny plastic particles that pollute the environment.
- Mitigation – Efforts to reduce or prevent environmental harm.
- Monoculture – The cultivation of a single crop over large areas, often leading to soil depletion.
N
- Natural Capital – The world’s natural assets, such as forests and water bodies.
- Net Zero – Achieving a balance between carbon emissions and carbon removal.
- Noise Pollution – Harmful or excessive levels of noise in the environment.
- Non-Renewable Resources – Resources that cannot be replenished quickly, such as fossil fuels.
O
- Ozone Layer – A protective layer in the atmosphere that absorbs harmful UV radiation.
- Organic Farming – Farming without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
- Overfishing – The depletion of fish populations due to excessive harvesting.
P
- Paris Agreement – A global treaty to combat climate change.
- Permaculture – Sustainable agricultural practices that mimic natural ecosystems.
- Photovoltaic Cells – Solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity.
- Pollution – The contamination of the environment.
Q
- Quarrying – The extraction of stone, minerals, or sand from the Earth.
R
- Recycling – The process of converting waste materials into new products.
- Renewable Energy – Energy sources that are naturally replenished (e.g., solar, wind, hydro).
- Resilience – The ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances.
S
- Sustainable Development – Meeting present needs without compromising future generations.
- Soil Erosion – The removal of topsoil by wind or water.
- Solar Energy – Energy harnessed from the sun.
- Sustainable Agriculture – Farming practices that protect the environment.
T
- Tidal Energy – Energy generated from ocean tides.
- Toxic Waste – Hazardous waste that poses a threat to health and ecosystems.
- Triple Bottom Line – A framework considering economic, environmental, and social factors in sustainability.
U
- Urbanization – The expansion of cities into natural landscapes.
V
- Vegetative Cover – Plants that help prevent soil erosion and maintain ecosystems.
W
- Waste Management – The collection, disposal, and recycling of waste.
- Water Scarcity – The lack of sufficient fresh water resources.
- Wetlands – Ecosystems that are flooded by water, important for biodiversity.
X, Y, Z
- Zero Waste – A philosophy aiming to minimize waste generation.
