Adaptation: Adjusting to climate change impacts, such as building flood defenses or growing drought-resistant crops 

Afforestation: Planting trees in areas where there were none before to absorb carbon dioxide 

Albedo: The measure of how much sunlight a surface reflects. Ice has high albedo, while water absorbs more heat. 

Anthropogenic: Caused by human activities, such as deforestation or industrial emissions 

Baseline Data: Initial data used as a reference point for studying changes in climate or ecosystems 

Biochar: A type of charcoal used in soil to improve fertility and capture carbon from the atmosphere 

Biodiversity: The variety of life in an area, which is often threatened by climate change 

Carbon Budget: A limit on carbon dioxide emissions to keep global warming below a specific temperature target 

Carbon Capture: The process of trapping carbon dioxide emissions and storing them to reduce atmospheric levels. The excess carbon may be used to create carbon-based materials. 

Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e): A unit to measure the impact of different greenhouse gasses as if they were carbon dioxide 

Carbon Intensity: The amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of energy produced, used to measure energy efficiency 

Carbon Neutral: Balancing emitted carbon dioxide with actions that remove or offset it, like planting trees 

Citizen Science: When non-scientists contribute to research, like monitoring local weather or wildlife changes 

Climate: The long-term average weather patterns of a region, observed over decades 

Climate Change: A long-term alteration in temperature and weather patterns, often caused by human activity 

Climate Modeling: Using computer to predict the future climate based on different scenarios 

Cryosphere: The frozen parts of Earth, like glaciers and ice caps, which are melting due to global warming 

Deforestation: The large-scale removal of trees, which reduces the planet's ability to absorb carbon dioxide 

Desertification: The process of fertile land turning into desert due to climate change and poor land management 

Ecosystem: A community of plants, animals, and their environment, all of which are affected by climate change 

Emission: The release of gasses, like carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere from activities such as burning fossil fuels 

Eutrophication: The excessive growth of algae in water bodies caused by nutrient runoff, worsened by warming temperatures 

Feedback Loop: A process where climate change accelerates itself, like melting ice causing faster warming 

Fossil Fuels: Natural energy sources like coal, oil, and gas that release carbon dioxide when burned 

Geoengineering: Large-scale interventions to counteract climate change, like reflecting sunlight or capturing CO2 

Global Warming: The increase in Earth's average temperature due to rising greenhouse gas levels 

Greenhouse Effect: The natural process of trapping heat in Earth's atmosphere, intensified by human activity 

Greenhouse Gasses (GHGs): Gasses like carbon dioxide and methane that trap heat and contribute to global warming 

Mitigation: Efforts to reduce the causes of climate change, such as using renewable energy 

Net Zero: Balancing the greenhouse gasses emitted and removed from the atmosphere to achieve no net emissions 

Ocean Acidification: The lowering of ocean pH levels caused by absorbing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere 

Paleoclimatology: The study of Earth's ancient climates using natural records like ice cores and tree rings 

Permafrost: Frozen soil that releases greenhouse gasses as it thaws due to warming 

Renewable Energy: Energy from sources like wind and solar that are naturally replenished and eco-friendly 

Resilience: The ability of ecosystems or communities to recover from climate-related shocks, like hurricanes or droughts 

Sea Level Rise: The increase in ocean levels caused by melting ice and thermal expansion of warming water 

Solar Radiation Management: A type of geoengineering focused on reflecting sunlight to cool the planet 

Sustainability: Practices that meet current needs without harming the environment for future generations 

Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Global goals set by the United Nations including actions to address climate change and promote sustainability 

Tipping Point: A critical threshold where small changes can lead to significant, irreversible climate impacts 

Urban Heat Island: When cities are warmer than surrounding rural areas due to buildings and pavement absorbing heat 

Weather: The day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere, like rain or sunshine, in a specific place 

Zero Emissions: A goal of producing no greenhouse gas emissions, often achieved through clean energy and efficiency 

• The Climate Dictionary: An Everyday Guide to Climate Change
• Ten Climate Terms You Need to Know
• Climate Change: Basic Information
• The Basics of Climate Change
• The Greenhouse Effect
• Climate Change Facts
• Carbon Capture