Ecosystem services The benefits people obtain from ecosystems. These include provisioning services, such as food and
water, regulating services, such as flood and disease control, cultural services, such as spiritual,
recreational and cultural benefits, and supporting services, such as nutrient cycling, that maintain
the conditions for life on Earth. Sometimes called ecosystem goods-and-services.
Endangered species A species is endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria
A to E specified for the endangered category of the IUCN Red List, and is therefore considered to
be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Energy efficiency Using less energy to achieve the same output or goal.
Environmental assess- An environmental assessment is the entire process of undertaking a critical and objective evalua-
ment (EA) tion and analysis of information designed to support decision making. It applies the judgment of
experts to existing knowledge to provide scientifically credible answers to policy relevant questions,
quantifying where possible the level of confidence. It reduces complexity but adds value by summa-
rizing, synthesizing and building scenarios, and identifies consensus by sorting out what is known
and widely accepted from what is not known or not agreed. It sensitizes the scientific community to
policy needs and the policy community to the scientific basis for action.
Environmental health Those aspects of human health and disease that are determined by factors in the environment. It
also refers to the theory and practice of assessing and controlling factors in the environment that
can potentially affect health. Environmental health includes both the direct pathological effects of
chemicals, radiation and some biological agents, and the effects (often indirect) on health and
well-being of the broad physical, psychological, social and aesthetic environment. This includes
housing, urban development, land use and transport.
Environmental policy A policy initiative aimed at addressing environmental problems and challenges.
Environmental prob- Environmental problems are human and/or natural influences on ecosystems that lead to a con-
lems straint, cutback or even a cessation of their functioning. They may be broadly categorized into
environmental problems with proven solutions, and problems with emerging solutions. See also
conventional environmental problems and persistent environmental problems.
Equity Fairness of rights, distribution and access. Depending on context, this can refer to resources, serv-
ices or power.
Evapotranspiration Combined loss of water by evaporation from the soil or surface water, and transpiration from plants
and animals.
E-waste (electronic A generic term encompassing various forms of electrical and electronic equipment that has ceased
waste) to be of value and is disposed of. A practical definition of e-waste is “any electrically powered ap-
pliance that fails to satisfy the current owner for its originally intended purpose.”
Forest Land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 metres and a canopy cover of more
than 10 per cent, or trees able to reach these thresholds in situ. It does not include land that is
predominantly under agricultural or urban land use.
Forest degradation Changes within the forest that negatively affect the structure or function of the stand or site, and
thereby lower the capacity to supply products and/or services.
Fossil fuel Coal, natural gas and petroleum products (such as oil) formed from the decayed bodies of animals
and plants that died millions of years ago.
Global (international)
environmental gov-
The assemblage of laws and institutions that regulate society-nature interactions and shape environ-
ernance
mental outcomes.
Global warming Changes in the surface air temperature, referred to as the global temperature, brought about by the
enhanced greenhouse effect, which is induced by emission of greenhouse gases into the air.
Globalization The increasing integration of economies and societies around the world, particularly through trade
and financial flows, and the transfer of culture and technology.
Governance The manner in which society exercises control over resources. It denotes the mechanisms through
which control over resources is defined and access is regulated. For example, there is governance
through the state, the market, or through civil society groups and local organizations. Governance
is exercised through institutions: laws, property rights systems and forms of social organization.
Green procurement Taking environmental aspects into consideration in public and institutional procurement.
68 VITAL GEO GRAPHICS