IB Environmental systems and societies 6.3 Climate Change - Mitigation and Adaptation Key Definitions

Carbon neutrality (or climate neutrality) refers to achieving a net-zero carbon footprint by balancing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted with the amount removed from the atmosphere, typically through carbon offset initiatives like reforestation or carbon capture and storage.

Carbon offsetting is compensating for emissions by investing in activities that remove or reduce an equivalent amount of carbon elsewhere.

Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and storing it in solid or liquid form.

A carbon tax is a financial charge placed on the carbon content of fuels, encouraging businesses and individuals to reduce their carbon footprint.

Climate justice emphasizes fairness, ensuring those who contribute the least to climate change are not the ones who suffer the most.

Decarbonization refers to the process of reducing or eliminating carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from energy production, transportation, industry, and other sectors.

Intentional, large-scale modification of the climate system to counteract global warming, usually without reducing emissions at the source.

Greenhouse gases are atmospheric gases that absorb infrared radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface and re-radiate it back, contributing to atmospheric warming.

Mitigation is any strategy that reduces or prevents greenhouse gas emissions, including transitioning to renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency, and reducing industrial emissions.

Ocean acidification is the process by which the ocean becomes more acidic due to increased levels of dissolved carbon dioxide.

A perspective is a point of view that reflects how an individual perceives and understands the world, based on their beliefs, values, and lived experiences.

Radiative forcing describes how different factors, such as GHGs, aerosols, and albedo, alter the balance of heat in Earth’s atmosphere.

Radiative forcing measures the change in Earth’s energy balance caused by greenhouse gases, influencing global temperature.

Solar Radiation Management (SRM) is a form of geoengineering designed to reflect sunlight away from the Earth to reduce warming.

A stakeholder is any person, group or institution that has an interest in or is affected by climate change and may influence decisions related to it.

The tragedy of the commons describes a situation where individuals or nations overuse a shared resource for personal gain, causing long-term harm to the whole group.

UNFCCC is the foundational global treaty established in 1992 to coordinate international climate action.