Climate change glossary

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Understanding climate change language

We want to make it easy for everyone to understand the principles and measurements around climate change and Hemp Carbon Credits. We’ll continue adding to this resource. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, please get in touch and we’ll help you.

Adaptation
Adaptation refers to the adjustments made to social, economic, and natural systems to reduce the vulnerability of communities and ecosystems to the impacts of climate change. It involves preparing for and responding to changes in climate conditions.

Bio-based Materials
Bio-based materials are products made from renewable resources, such as plants or biomass. Hemp fibres and derivatives can be used to create bio-based materials, which have a lower carbon footprint compared to materials derived from fossil fuels, contributing to sustainable development.

Carbon Credits
Carbon credits are tradable certificates representing the reduction or removal of one metric ton of carbon dioxide (or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases) from the atmosphere. They are used to incentivize and finance emission reduction projects.

Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint measures the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product. It quantifies the impact on climate change and is often measured in CO2 equivalents. Hemp products and practices can help reduce carbon footprints.

Carbon Neutrality
Carbon neutrality refers to achieving a state where the net release of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere is offset by the removal or reduction of an equivalent amount of CO2. It involves balancing emissions with carbon removal or offsetting activities.

Carbon Offset
The meaning of a carbon offset is a unit of measurement, usually in kgs or tons, that represents the reduction, avoidance, or removal of greenhouse gas emissions from one source to compensate for emissions produced elsewhere. Hemp Carbon Credits can be used as carbon offsets, helping to balance emissions in a sustainable manner. You can calculate your carbon footprint here, then buy our Hemp Carbon Credits here to offset your carbon footprint.

Carbon Sequestration
Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) to prevent it from entering the atmosphere. In the context of hemp, it refers to the plant’s ability to absorb CO2 during photosynthesis and store it in its biomass and in the soil, helping to mitigate climate change.

Circular Economy
The circular economy is an economic model that aims to minimize waste and maximise resource efficiency. It involves keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible through recycling, reusing, and repurposing. Hemp-based products can support the transition to a circular economy.

Climate Change
Climate change refers to long-term alterations in Earth’s climate patterns, including temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and more. It is primarily caused by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.

Co-benefits 
Benefits additional to carbon removal. For example, using industrial hemp to sequester CO2 also delivers job creation, soil improvement, and reduced water consumption. Ideally, co-benefits should align with UN SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals.

CORSIA 
Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, which was set up by the aviation sector to offset its greenhouse gas emissions. International airline operators taking part in CORSIA have pledged to offset all the CO2 emissions they produce above a baseline 2019 level.

CO2
CO2 is the chemical name for carbon dioxide. It is a molecule consisting of one carbon atom combined with two oxygen atoms. CO2 is a byproduct of burning fossil fuels.

Fossil fuels
Fossil fuels are made from the compression of Earth’s past life forms over millions of years. When you burn petrol in your car’s engine, you are literally burning the remains of dinosaurs. Fossil fuels are also known as hydrocarbons, rich in hydrogen (an explosive gas) and carbon (the root of all life on Earth). When hydrocarbons burn, they join with oxygen to release energy from the hydrogen. The carbon then links up with the oxygen to form CO2 as a waste gas that can literally heat up a planet.

Global Warming
Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It is a consequence of human-induced climate change.

Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is a natural process by which certain gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapour, trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. It helps regulate the planet’s temperature, but human activities have intensified this effect, leading to global warming.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
Greenhouse gases are gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect, trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. They include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases.

Hemp
Hemp is a versatile plant belonging to the Cannabis sativa species. It is known for its various uses, including fibre for textiles, building materials, biofuels, food products, and more. Hemp is considered a sustainable crop due to its low environmental impact and potential for carbon sequestration.

Hemp Carbon Credits
Hemp carbon credits refer to carbon offsets generated through the cultivation and utilization of hemp. Hemp has a high carbon sequestration capacity, making it an effective tool for offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. Hemp carbon credits incentivise sustainable practices and support the growth of the hemp industry. You can buy our Hemp Carbon Credits here.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
The IPCC is a scientific body established by the United Nations (UN) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). It provides comprehensive assessments of climate change science, impacts, and potential mitigation strategies.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Life cycle assessment is a method used to assess the environmental impact of a product, process, or service throughout its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal. LCA can provide insights into the environmental benefits of hemp-based products compared to alternatives.

Mitigation
Mitigation refers to actions taken to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions and limit the extent of climate change. This includes transitioning to renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and adopting sustainable practices.

NbS 
Nature-based Solutions to climate change, such as growing hemp or forests. Forestry carbon offsets are generally discredited, as most trees are lost before they show a net carbon benefit. Preservation of existing rainforests is another example of NbS.

Net Zero
Net zero refers to achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gases emitted and the amount removed from the atmosphere. It involves reducing emissions and offsetting the remaining emissions through activities like carbon sequestration. Hemp and hemp carbon credits can contribute to achieving net-zero.

Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty adopted in 2015 by nearly every country to combat climate change. It aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Regenerative Farming
Regenerative farming is an approach that aims to restore and enhance the health of agricultural ecosystems. It focuses on building soil health, increasing biodiversity, and reducing chemical inputs. Hemp can be integrated into regenerative farming systems, offering environmental benefits.

Renewable Energy
Renewable energy refers to energy sources that are naturally replenished, such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass. Utilizing renewable energy helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable agriculture refers to farming practices that focus on preserving the environment, promoting biodiversity, and using resources efficiently. Hemp cultivation can contribute to sustainable agriculture as it requires fewer pesticides, herbicides, and water compared to other crops.

Sustainable Development
Sustainable development refers to a mode of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It aims to balance economic growth, environmental protection, and social well-being.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 global goals established by the United Nations to address social, economic, and environmental challenges. Hemp cultivation and utilization align with several SDGs, including climate action, responsible consumption and production, and sustainable cities and communities.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
The UNFCCC is an international environmental treaty aimed at preventing dangerous human interference with the climate system. It provides the framework for international cooperation on climate change, including the negotiation of agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

United Nations (UN)
The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization composed of 193 member states. It plays a crucial role in addressing global issues, including climate change, through coordination, cooperation, and the promotion of sustainable development.

VCM 
Voluntary Carbon Market. Voluntary carbon markets allow carbon emitters to offset their unavoidable emissions by purchasing carbon credits emitted by projects targeted at removing or reducing GHG from the atmosphere. Each credit – which corresponds to one metric tonne of reduced, avoided, or removed CO2 or equivalent GHG – can be used by a company or an individual to compensate for the emission of one tonne of CO2 or equivalent gases. When a credit is used for this purpose, it becomes an offset. It is moved to a register for retired credits, and it is no longer tradable. Companies can participate in the voluntary carbon market either individually or as part of an industry-wide scheme, such as the CORSIA aviation scheme, and the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) which is mandatory for big emissions creators.

Got a word or principle you’d like us to explain here? Get in touch!

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