Glossary
Geochemical Carbon Sequestration
**Geochemical Carbon Sequestration** is an innovative process aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change by capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) in geological formations. This method leverages natural chemical reactions between CO₂ and minerals, such as silicates and...
Geospatial Analysis in Climate Science
**Geospatial Analysis in Climate Science** is an essential method for understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change. This analytical approach leverages geographical information systems (GIS) and remote sensing technologies to gather, visualize, and interpret spatial data related to...
Geothermal Energy
**Geothermal Energy** is a renewable energy source that harnesses the Earth's internal heat to generate electricity and provide heating solutions. Originating from the natural radioactive decay of minerals and from solar energy absorbed at the surface, this thermal energy is stored beneath the...
Geothermal Gradient
**Geothermal Gradient** refers to the rate at which the Earth's temperature increases with depth beneath the surface. This gradient is a crucial factor in the study of geothermal energy, as it indicates the natural heat flow originating from the Earth's core. Measured in degrees Celsius per...
Global Carbon Budget
**Global Carbon Budget** refers to the finite limit of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions that humanity can release into the atmosphere while still having a reasonable chance of keeping global temperature rise within the internationally accepted targets, such as the 1.5°C or 2°C limits set by the...
Global Climate Models (GCMs)
**Global Climate Models (GCMs)** are sophisticated computer-based tools designed to simulate the Earth's climate system. These models integrate various components of the climate, such as the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and ice, to predict how different factors influence the climate over...
Global Warming
**Global Warming** refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, creating a "greenhouse...
Global Warming Potential (GWP)
**Global Warming Potential (GWP)** is a metric used to compare the ability of different greenhouse gases to trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere over a specific period, usually 20, 100, or 500 years. By standardizing the comparison, GWP provides a comprehensive measure of how much a particular gas...
Green Bonds
**Green Bonds** are financial instruments specifically designed to raise funds for projects that have positive environmental and climate benefits. These bonds are a form of debt securities issued by governments, corporations, and institutions to finance projects aimed at sustainability, such as...
Green Building
**Green Building**, also known as sustainable or eco-friendly building, involves designing, constructing, and operating buildings in ways that reduce or eliminate negative impacts on the environment and human health. This includes using energy-efficient systems, sustainable materials, and water...
Green Certification
**Green Certification** is a formal recognition given to businesses, buildings, products, or services that meet specific, rigorous environmental standards. These certifications are awarded by independent, third-party organizations and serve to verify that the certified entity adheres to...
Green Climate Fund (GCF)
The **Green Climate Fund (GCF)** is a global initiative established to support developing countries in their efforts to combat climate change. Launched in 2010 by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the GCF aims to channel financial resources to projects and...
Green Economy
A **Green Economy** is an economic system aimed at fostering sustainable development without degrading the environment. It focuses on the intersection of economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity. In a Green Economy, policies and practices strive to reduce carbon emissions,...
Green Economy Indicators
**Green Economy Indicators** are metrics and data points that help measure the environmental, social, and economic performance of an economy moving towards sustainability. These indicators encompass a variety of elements such as renewable energy usage, carbon emissions, sustainable agriculture,...
Green Energy Tariff
**Green Energy Tariff** is a specialized plan offered by energy providers that ensures the electricity you use is sourced from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro, and biomass. This tariff is designed to support the generation of green energy, helping reduce your carbon footprint...
Green Finance
**Green finance** refers to financial investments that support environmentally sustainable projects and initiatives. This includes funding for renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution prevention, sustainable agriculture, and conservation efforts. Green finance aims to mobilize capital...
Green Infrastructure
**Green Infrastructure** refers to a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural spaces that delivers a wide range of ecosystem services. These services include managing stormwater, improving air quality, providing wildlife habitats, and enhancing well-being through recreational...
Green Investment
**Green Investment** refers to the allocation of capital towards projects, companies, or financial instruments that contribute positively to the environment and promote sustainability. This type of investment seeks to generate a financial return while simultaneously supporting environmental goals...
Green Job
A **Green Job** encompasses roles and occupations that directly contribute to preserving or restoring the environment and promoting sustainability. These jobs are integral to driving the transition from a carbon-intensive economy to one that is energy-efficient and low-carbon. Green jobs exist...
Green Logistics
**Green Logistics** refers to the process of minimizing the ecological impact of logistics activities while maintaining efficiency and delivery standards. It encompasses a wide range of practices aimed at optimizing the supply chain, reducing waste, and minimizing carbon emissions. The core...
Green Manufacturing
**Green Manufacturing** refers to the practice of producing goods and services by employing processes that reduce environmental impact, conserve natural resources, and prioritize sustainability. This approach integrates eco-friendly techniques and green technologies to minimize waste, lower...
Green Marketing
**Green Marketing** refers to the practice of developing and promoting products or services based on their environmental benefits. This type of marketing encompasses a broad range of activities, from sustainable production processes and eco-friendly packaging to energy-efficient logistics and...
Green Product Design
**Green Product Design** is the strategic and thoughtful process of creating products that have minimal environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. This approach considers every stage of a product's existence— from raw material sourcing, manufacturing, and usage, to end-of-life disposal. By...
Green Public Procurement
**Green Public Procurement (GPP)** refers to the process by which public authorities seek to procure goods, services, and works with a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle. By prioritizing eco-friendly alternatives, GPP drives markets towards innovations that protect the...
Green Retrofitting
**Green Retrofitting** is the process of modifying existing buildings and infrastructure to enhance energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and promote sustainability. Unlike new constructions that can be designed with the latest eco-friendly materials and technologies from the start,...
Green Roofs
**Green Roofs** are specially designed roofing systems that incorporate vegetation and soil over a waterproof membrane, providing a range of environmental, economic, and social benefits. Unlike traditional roofing materials like shingles or asphalt, green roofs offer a sustainable alternative by...
Greenhouse Gas Emission Factors
**Greenhouse Gas Emission Factors** are critical metrics used to quantify the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted from various sources, relative to a specific activity or process. These factors are expressed typically in terms of emissions per unit of activity, such as kilograms of CO2 equivalent per...
Greenhouse Gas Emission Scope
**Greenhouse Gas Emission Scope** refers to the categorization of emissions from various activities related to an organization's operations. These scopes help in systematically quantifying and managing the emissions to mitigate the impact on climate change. The term is defined by the Greenhouse...
Greenhouse Gas Fluxes
**Greenhouse Gas Fluxes** refer to the dynamic movement and exchange of greenhouse gases (GHGs) between the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and terrestrial ecosystems. GHGs, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate by...
Greenhouse Gas Inventory
A **Greenhouse Gas Inventory** is a comprehensive accounting of all greenhouse gas emissions and removals associated with a specific entity, such as a country, organization, or project, over a defined time period. It involves systematically collecting, analyzing, and reporting data on the various...
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation
**Greenhouse Gas Mitigation** refers to the strategies and actions undertaken to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. These gases, which include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and fluorinated gases, trap heat in the earth's...
Greenhouse Gas Protocol
The **Greenhouse Gas Protocol** (GHG Protocol) is the world's most widely used framework for measuring and managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Developed through a decade-long partnership between the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development...
Greenhouse Gas Radiative Forcing
**Greenhouse Gas Radiative Forcing** refers to the change in energy balance in the Earth's atmosphere due to the presence of greenhouse gases. These gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O), absorb and emit infrared radiation, leading to a warming effect known...
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)
**Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)** are atmospheric gases that trap heat from the sun, creating a "greenhouse effect" that warms the Earth. Among the most significant GHGs are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and fluorinated gases, each differing in both their warming potential...
Greenwashing
**Greenwashing** is a deceptive practice where a company exaggerates or falsely claims the environmental benefits of a product, service, or policy to appear more environmentally friendly than it actually is. This can mislead consumers and undermine genuine sustainability efforts. Identifying...
Grid Integration of Wind Energy
**Grid Integration of Wind Energy** refers to the methodical process of connecting wind energy generation systems to the existing electrical grid in a manner that ensures reliability, efficiency, and economic viability. This intricate integration involves the seamless incorporation of wind...
Grid Parity
**Grid Parity** is a key milestone in the renewable energy sector, referring to the point at which the cost of generating electricity from renewable sources, like solar or wind, becomes equal to or less than the cost of purchasing power from the conventional electrical grid. This phenomenon is a...
Grid-Tied Solar System
A **Grid-Tied Solar System** is a type of solar photovoltaic (PV) system that is directly interconnected with the public electricity grid. This setup allows homeowners and businesses to seamlessly integrate solar power generation with their existing power supply, providing a sustainable energy...