Definitions

It seems every day there is a new word that is added to the list of confusing terms filling the sustainability landscape. Below is a list of the top ten most commonly used words in sustainability and their definitions. 

1. Sustainability: Based on three pillars of the environment, society and the economy and refers to the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 
2. ESG:  Stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance which are the three key areas of responsibility that organisations must consider in order to operate in a sustainable and responsible manner. 
3. Climate change: A long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define the Earth’s local and global climates.
4. Renewable energy: Energy derived from natural resources that are replenished constantly, such as sunlight, wind, rain, and geothermal heat.
5. Carbon footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide.
6. Greenhouse gases: Gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.
7. Biodiversity: The variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat, a measure of the health of ecosystems.
8. Circular economy: An economic system aimed at minimising waste and making the most of resources, by designing waste out of the system and keeping products and materials in use.
9. Energy efficiency: The use of less energy to perform the same tasks, reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount of money spent on energy bills.
10. Sustainable development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.