| Term | Definition | Last updated |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptation | The process of adjusting to the actual or expected effects of climate change. Typically,… |
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| Agriculture | The production of food and non-food (e.g. fuel, medicines, materials) products from crops and… |
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| Agrobiodiversity | The variety of animals and plants used for food and non-food (e.g. fuel, medicines, materials)… |
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| Air Conditioning (AC) | An electrical system used to cool air in a building or vehicle. As the climate warms, air… |
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| Anthropocene | The current period of time during which humans have a dominant force on planet Earth. |
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| Anthropocentrism | The belief that humans are the most important entity on the planet. |
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| Anthropogenic | Things that have been generated, caused, or influenced by humans and human activity, such as man… |
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| Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) | When disease-causing micro-organisms (including bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) no longer… |
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| Biocentrism | The belief that all living things on the planet are equally important and valuable. |
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| Biodiversity | Biodiversity is the variety of all living organisms, including variability within and between… |
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| Biogeochemical cycles | The movement of chemical elements or compounds between living organisms, the atmosphere, and the… |
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| Biological Control Agents (BCAs) | Living organisms used to control pests and invasive species. For example, bacteria to limit… |
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| Biomass | Organic material from living or recently living animals or plants. Biomass is a renewable energy… |
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| Biophilia | The innate tendency for humans to connect with nature and other living things. |
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| Biosphere | The part of Earth that supports life. |
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| Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) | The removal of carbon dioxide from industrial processes, or the atmosphere, which is transported… |
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| Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) | A metric used to standardise and allow the global warming potential (GWP) of different… |
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| Carbon footprint | The total amount of greenhouse gas emissions that an entity (e.g. an individual, product,… |
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| Carbon management | In business, carbon management typically means the measurement, reduction, and storage of carbon… |
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| Carbon Opportunity Cost (COC) | The difference in carbon storage when natural land is converted to agricultural or developed… |
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| Carbon sinks | Anything that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases. Natural examples include… |
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| Chrono-urbanism | Urban planning where cities are organised so that essential and daily needs are accessible… |
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| Circular economy | A sustainable system where waste is minimised through the reuse, recycling and repair of… |
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| Climate change | Long-term shifts in the climate (weather conditions, including temperatures). Historically… |
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| Climate finance | Financial support that addresses climate change and its impacts, supporting both mitigation and… |
The glossary is provisional until improved & approved by the planetary health community – you can support review or suggest a new term