Sustainability Terms That SMEs Need to Know

1. Climate Change: Climate change refers to long-term changes in Earth's climate caused by the release of greenhouse gases. It is having a range of impacts on the planet, including rising sea levels and changes in weather patterns.
2. Green House Gases (GHGs): Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, causing the planet to warm. They are released through natural processes and human activities. An excess of these gases can contribute to global warming and climate change.
3. Anthropogenic GHGs: Anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) are greenhouse gases produced by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. They contribute to global warming and climate change. Reducing emissions of these gases can help mitigate climate change.
4. Carbon footprint: A carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide, produced by an individual, organization, or event. It is used to assess the environmental impact of human activities and identify ways to reduce emissions. It is calculated by adding up emissions from all activities an individual or organization is responsible for.
5. Scope emissions: Scope emissions refer to greenhouse gases emitted by a company or organization that fall within the scope of their activities. These emissions are used to assess the entity's impact on the environment and determine measures to reduce or offset them.
6. Carbon offsetting: Carbon offsetting is the practice of mitigating carbon emissions by supporting projects that reduce or remove carbon from the atmosphere. This is done by investing in renewable energy or reforestation, for example. The goal is to balance out an individual's or organization's carbon footprint and combat climate change.
7. Carbon credit: A carbon credit is a tradable certificate or permit that represents the right to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide or an equivalent amount of a greenhouse gas. Carbon credits are a key instrument in the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. They are typically bought and sold by governments, businesses, and individuals as a way to offset their own emissions, or to invest in emission-reducing projects.
   
8. Net-zero emissions: Net-zero emissions means the amount of greenhouse gases released is equal to the amount removed, balancing out any emissions. This is important for fighting climate change and reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
9. Carbon Neutral: Carbon neutral means having a net zero carbon footprint by reducing emissions and offsetting any remaining emissions. This helps to reduce greenhouse gases and combat climate change.
10. Real zero: No carbon emissions are being produced from a product or a service, without the use of carbon offsetting e.g. zero-carbon electricity could be provided by a 100% renewable energy supplier.
11. Carbon Negative: Carbon negative refers to a state where the net amount of carbon dioxide emissions is less than zero. 
12. Circular Economy: A circular economy is a sustainable economic model that minimizes waste and maximizes resource efficiency by emphasizing the reuse, repair, and recycling of products and materials. This helps to conserve resources and protect the environment.
13. ESG: ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. It is a set of criteria used to evaluate the sustainability and societal impact of an investment. ESG is becoming increasingly important as more people look to align their investments with their personal values and support companies that are making a positive impact on society and the environment.
14. Sustainability: The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
15. Renewable energy: Energy that is generated from sources that are naturally replenished, such as wind, solar, and hydro power.
16. Environmental footprint: A measure of the impact of human activities on the environment, including the use of natural resources, land, and water.