When we talk about climate change and corporate carbon emissions, it can be confusing as to what exactly we mean by all the different terms.
So here’s a quick Carbon Charter guide to some of the most common ‘carbon jargon’.
Carbon Footprint – Key to Carbon Charter certification, a carbon footprint represents the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by an individual, event, organization, service, place or product. It is expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) – this wraps up all key greenhouse gas emissions into one unit of measurement for simplicity.
Carbon Literacy – This is the awareness and understanding of climate change and the climate impacts of mankind’s everyday actions. The Carbon Charter Carbon Literacy course explores all the terms listed here and supports delegates to take positive actions.
Carbon Neutral -This is where the sum of your greenhouse gas emissions is offset by carbon sinks or carbon credits. This term has largely been replaced by Net Zero (below), which is more rigorous. For more on the differences between Carbon Neutral and Net Zero, see What is Net Zero?
Carbon Offset – A carbon offset balances the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere or stored elsewhere (usually through carbon credits or donations to carbon sinks like land restoration projects or the planting of trees).
Carbon Sequestration – This is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (usually in plants and soils or through geo-engineering processes). Reservoirs that retain carbon and keep it from entering Earth’s atmosphere are known as carbon sinks.
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) – These are the gases which contribute to the greenhouse effect, which is the process by which gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap heat (just like the glass roof of a greenhouse). The main gases responsible for the greenhouse effect include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapour (which all occur both naturally and as a result of human activities), and fluorinated gases (which are only synthetic).
Net Zero – This means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere. This encourages carbon reduction rather than just carbon offsetting. We reach Net Zero when the amount we add is no more than the amount taken away. Carbon offsetting can be used for any residual emissions but a credible strategy always requires significant reductions in emissions. Read more at What is Net Zero?
Paris Agreement -The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12th December 2015. Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, and preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
Science-based Targets – Carbon reduction targets which are aligned to the most recent climate science and what is needed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees are considered to be ‘science-based’ targets. The Science Based Targets Initiative provides guidance on this and can certify corporate targets and commitments.
Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions – the Greenhouse Gas Protocol classifies emissions as ‘scopes’. Scope 1 refers to emissions arising from direct fuel use (such as gas or diesel), Scope 2 are emissions from electricity supplied through the grid and Scope 3 are emissions arising from across the value chain (such as from the products an organisation procures and emissions from waste generated on site.