Glossary


Biosphere The part of Earth and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist, or that is capable of supporting life.


Black carbon Carbon formed through incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuels and biomass. It warms the planet by absorbing sunlight and re-emitting heat to the atmosphere, and by reducing albedo (the ability to reflect sunlight) when deposited on snow and ice.


Bleaching When water is too warm, corals will expel the algae living in their tissues, causing the coral to turn completely white. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are then under more stress and subject to mortality.


Blue economy There is no one definition, but “blue economy” generally refers to sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and ocean ecosystem health.


Business as usual A scenario for future patterns of activity that


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assumes there will be no significant change in people’s attitudes and priorities, and no major changes in technology, economics, or policies.


Carbon dioxide A naturally occurring gas that is a by-product of burning fossil fuels and biomass, and of land use change and other human activities.


Carbon dioxide equivalent Unit of measurement that indicates the global warming potential of greenhouse gases.


Circular design Refers to the creation of products and services that no longer have a life cycle with a beginning, middle and end.


Circular economy An approach to industrial processes and economic activity that would enable the resources used to maintain their highest value for as long as possible.


Citizen science Collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists.


Citizen scientist A member of the general public who collects and analyses data relating to the natural world, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists.


Climate change The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change defines climate change as “a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere, and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.”


Conflict minerals Minerals mined in conditions of armed conflict and human rights abuses, which are sold or traded by armed groups.


Contaminant A polluting or poisonous substance.


Coronavirus disease 2019 Illness caused by a novel coronavirus, ‘severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2), which was first identified amid an outbreak of respiratory illness cases in East Asia. The outbreak was first reported to WHO on 31 December 2019. On 30 January 2020,


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