- active transport
- afforestation
- carbon dioxide (Co2), carbon dioxide equivalent (Co2-e)
- carbon footprint
- carbon-neutral
- carbon sequestration
- carbon sink(s)
- climate change
- climate change adaptation
- eco-footprint, ecological footprint
- embodied energy
- energy conservation, saving energy, energy efficiency
- Fourth IPCC Assessment Report
- future-proof
- greenhouse abatement, greenhouse mitigation
- greenhouse gases (GHG), greenhouse gas emissions, carbon emissions, emissions
- green wash
- global warming, enhanced greenhouse effect
- GreenPower
- IPCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- Kyoto Protocol
- ozone
- particulates
- recycling
- renewable energy
- Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
- re-use
- saving water, water conservation, water efficiency
- solar panels, photovoltaics, PVs, solar array, solar cells
- standby power
- thermal mass
- triple bottom line (TBL, 3BL, or people, profit, planet)
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
- Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS)
- Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS)
climate change
Refers to observed changes in long-term trends in the average climate, such as variations in average temperatures or where, how much, and how often rain falls. Such measurable and sustained variations in climate have a range of effects in making the Earth less conducive to supporting humans than it has been for a very long time. Increased temperatures mean increased risks of drought, bushfire and hot days, whilst variations in rainfall can lead to drought and flood. Both can lead to reduced crop production and items that cost more.
Whilst global warming is the result of increased carbon emissions in the atmosphere that reduce the capacity of the Earth to radiate heat back to outer space, climate change refers to medium-long term changes in our climate patterns that result from global warming.