Ever wonder what the hell those eco-geeks are talking about? Here are a few simple climate change terms to help you impress the hippie chicks and make small talk at your next organic vegan potluck.
Global Warming: Refers to the increase in the earth’s surface, atmosphere and ocean temperatures.
Climate Change: This term is used to refer to weather patterns changes over a period of time. Climate change is used interchangeably to describe both human-created and natural changes in weather patterns.
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs): Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are often referred to as GHGs. Some of these gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases.
Carbon Dioxide: Considered to be the most important contributor to climate change, carbon dioxide accounts for an estimated 60% of the greenhouse effect. Non-natural sourced carbon dioxide is created from burning fossil fuels and vegetable matter. Animals, humans and plants naturally create carbon dioxide during respiration.
Methane: A greenhouse gas believed to be 20 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Methane is created by a number of natural and non-natural processes. Fossil fuel production and livestock are considered to be two of the main culprits of non-natural methane production.
Nitrous Oxide: Considered to be the third most common greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide and methane, nitrous oxide is primarily produced by humans through agriculture. The use of nitrogen fertilizers and animal waste all contribute to the production of nitrous oxide.
Fluorinated Gases: Also known as F gases, these gases are identified as serious contributors to greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol. F gases are primarily used in air conditioning and refrigeration units.
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