Glossary

Glossary - Environmental Concerns and Globalisation

Abatement: Reducing the degree or intensity of, or eliminating, pollution.

Air Quality: A measure of the level of pollution in the air.

Biodiversity: The variety of life on this planet and how it interacts within habitats and ecosystems. Biodiversity covers all plants, animals and micro-organisms on land and in water.

Biomass: All the living material in a given area; often refers to vegetation.

Carbon Credit: A unit of carbon dioxide bought to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Ecosystem: The interacting system of a biological community and its nonliving environmental surroundings.

Environment: The sum of all external conditionsaffectingthelife,development, and survival of an organism.

Environmental Impact Statement: A statement about the expected effects on the environment of a proposed project or development such as a new road or waste water treatment plant, including how any severe effects on the environment will be addressed.

Greenhouse Effect: The warming of the Earth’s atmosphere caused by a build-up of carbon dioxide or other trace gases; many scientists believe that this build up allows light from the sun’s rays to heat the Earth but prevents a counterbalancing loss of heat.

Radioactive: A material is said to be radioactive if it emits radiation.

Reforestation: The process of planting trees in forest lands to replace those that have been cut down.

Sustainable Development: Development using land or energy sources in a way that meets the needs of people today without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Thermal Pollution: Discharge of heated water from industrial processes that can affect the life processes of aquatic organisms.

Zero Emissions: An engine, motor or other energy source that does not produce any gas or release any harmful gases directly into the environment.