Glossary
Chapter 7
20-20-20 package
Agreement of all EU members about three targets, to be realised in 2020: to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20%, compared to 1990; to obtain at least 20% sustainable energy; and to increase energy efficiency with at least 20%
Chapter 3
Absolute poverty
State of a person who is unable to afford a minimum of basic human needs, including clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter
Chapter 8
Accountability
Obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities and to disclose the results in a transparent manner. Is often wrongly equated with responsibility (qv)
Chapter 4
Action without action
See: Wei wu wei
Chapter 1
Adaptation
Paradigm according to which an attempt is made to adapt to the forces of nature or of the human nature in order to co-exist in a harmonic way
Chapter 8
Aerosols
Suspension of fine solid particles (particulate matter, qv) or liquid droplets in a gas, e.f. in the atmosphere, e.g. clouds, and air pollution such as smog and smoke
Chapter 5
Ageing
See: Population ageing
Chapter 4
Agenda 21
International action programme on environment and sustainable development, agreed at the UNCED (1992): the "Agenda for the 21st century"
Chapter 5
Ahimsa
Religious and philosophical principle of nonviolence and respect for all life. See also: Gandhi
Chapter 7
Albedo
Reflectivity of a planet, expressed as the percentage of the sunlight that is directly reflected back into space
Chapter 3
Analytical approach
View in which aspects of a system are described or understood by studying its constituing elements. Opposite of a holistic approach
Chapter 7
Anthropogenic greenhouse effect
Greenhouse effect caused by humans, adding to the natural greenhouse effect
Chapter 6
Anticipate
Foresee or expect certain future developments and take appropriate advance action
Chapter 4
Aquaculture
Farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants
Chapter 2
Automation
Introduction of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services
Chapter 7
Backloading
Postponing the auctioning of emission allowances
Chapter 3
Basel Ban
International treaty designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries
Chapter 2
Biocapacitty
Carrying capacity of the ecosystems of the Earth or of a region, enabling a human population to produce resources and to mitigate waste, expressed in 'global hectares'. See also: ecological footprint
Chapter 1
Biodiversity
Totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a region
Chapter 7
Biofuels
Fuel produced from crops and other living organisms, such as linseed oil, wood chips or algae
Chapter 2
Bioindustry
Industrial type of livestock farming, with a high attention to efficiency and less to animal welfare and environmental care
Chapter 8
Biological Cycle
One of the two cycles of a circular economy. Also called 'technological cycle' or 'technology cycle'
Chapter 8
Biomimicry
Imitating biological principles and practice
Chapter 7
Biosphere
Layers of the earth, the coeans and the atmosphere in which life is impossible
Chapter 7
Bitumen
Sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. See: oil sand
Chapter 1
Bottom-up
Approach in which initiatives are taken by individuals or groups of individuals, in their own initiative. When many people participate, this can have huge effects. The opposite of top-down.
Chapter 1
Brundtland Commission
See: World Commission on Environment and Development
Chapter 8
C2C
See: Cradle to cradle (C2C)
Chapter 7
Cap-and-trade system
See: Emission Trading System (ETS)
Chapter 7
Carbon capture and storage (CCS)
Storing carbon dioxide underground
Chapter 7
Carbon footprint
Measure of the CO2 emissions resulting from the use of fossil fuels, or reducing CO2 uptake for example by deforestation, expressed as a component of the ecological footprint (qv)
Chapter 7
Carbon sink
Natural or artificial reservoir in which CO2 is absorbed and stored
Chapter 7
Causal relationship
See: Cause-effect relationship
Chapter 7
Cause-effect relationship
Relationship between events which occur consecutively in time, for which the earlier event is seen as the cause of the later, which is seen as the result of the earlier event
Chapter 8
Caux Round Table
International network of senior executives from major companies, who together reflect on societal guidelines for business. See also: kyosei; human dignity
Chapter 6
CFC's
See: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)
Chapter 8
Chain
Series of steps that make up the life cycle (qv) of a product, from extraction through the production and use to the waste phase, including - if any - the feedback into the chain through reuse or recycling. See also: integral chain management.
Chapter 7
Chaotic behaviour
Behavior of a system (e.g. a gas, a crowd, the atmosphere, a computer, Internet) that is complex and disorderly to such a degree that it is completely unpredictable
Chapter 2
Child labour
Employment of children in economic or domestic work in a way that is harmful to the child, exceeding a minimum number of hours, depending on the age of a child and on the type of work (definition by UNICEF)
Chapter 3
Child soldier
Any person under 18 years of age who is part of any kind of regular or irregular armed force or armed group in any capacity, including but not limited to cooks, porters, messengers and anyone accompanying such groups, other than family members, including girls recruited for sexual purposes and for forced marriage. (Cape Town Principles, UNICEF 1997)
Chapter 6
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)
Certain chemical compounds that have a strong destructive effect on the ozone layer and contribute to global warming
Chapter 7
CHP
See: Cogeneration
Chapter 8
Circular economy
Regenerative system in which resource input and waste, emission, and energy leakage are minimised by slowing, closing, and narrowing material and energy loops
Chapter 4
CITES
See: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Chapter 4
Citizen
One of three main roles an individual can have within society: someone feeling a responsibility towards society, and acts accordingly. See also: Consumer, Professional
Chapter 4
Civil society
Complex system of empowered and active people and organizations in society, including NGOs, churches, schools and universities, continuing or one-time action groups and individual citizens
Chapter 7
Climate refugee
Someone who left the original home and residential area, fleeing from conditions caused by climate change such as drought or floods
Chapter 2
Closed cycle
Closed loop in which the resources used for the production of goods return to their origin, e.g. through recycling, decreasing the amount of resources that are lost. The opposite is one-way traffic
Chapter 6
Club of Rome
Scientific group, founded in 1968, that brought the issue of sustainable development to a strong attention by politicians and society
Chapter 7
CO2 equivalent
Unit for the radiative forcing (qv) of a greenhouse gas (qv), compared with that of CO2. The value for CO2 is 1 by definition
Chapter 7
Cogeneration
Utilizing the heat generated in electricity production, created in specially designed facilities. Also called: Combined heat and power (CHP)
Chapter 6
Collapse
Rapid reversal of trends in a system, such that previously orderly developments turn into chaotic processes with disastrous consequences
Chapter 7
Combined heat and power (CHP)
See: Cogeneration
Chapter 4
Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD)
Commission, established in 1992 following the UNCED, which is responsible for reviewing progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, as well as providing policy guidance to follow up the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) at the local, national, regional and international levels
Chapter 7
Complex system
System exhibiting some properties as a whole that can not be deduced from the properties of each component separately
Chapter 7
Concentrated solar power (CSP)
System generating solar power by using mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight, or solar thermal energy, onto a small area
Chapter 7
Conference of the Parties (COP)
Annual conference held in the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Chapter 4
Consensus
Result of a group decision making process that seeks the agreement of all participants
Chapter 5
Consequence period
The time it takes before all consequences of a decision have faded away
Chapter 5
Consequence scope
Overall volume of people, nature and the environment experiencing the consequences of a decision, a practice or a lifestyle
Chapter 4
Consumer
One of three main roles an individual can have within society: someone who purchases and uses products and services. See also: Citizen, Professional
Chapter 1
Control
Paradigm according to which an attempt is made to control the forces of nature or of the human nature with power and force
Chapter 4
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Multilateral treaty, aiming to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species in the wild, according varying degrees of protection to many species of animals and plants
Chapter 7
Copenhagen Accord
International agreement on climate change, concluded at a conference in Copenhagen in 2009 (COP15)
Chapter 8
Corporate governance
Good governance of a company, including integrity and transparency, proper supervision and accountability
Chapter 8
Corporate mission
See: Mission
Chapter 8
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Conscientiously embracing responsibility for the positive or negative social impacts of a company's activities
Chapter 7
Correlation
Coherence between two phenomena, such that both increase or decrease simultaneously, or (negative correlation) one increases while the other decreases
Chapter 8
Cradle to cradle (C2C)
Principle of a closed loop or life cycle (qv)
Chapter 2
Crash
Sudden dramatic decline of stock prices across a significant cross-section of a stock market, resulting in a significant loss of paper wealth
Chapter 4
CSD
See: Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD)
Chapter 8
CSR
See: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Chapter 2
Cycle
See: Life cycle; Closed cycle; Cradle to cradle
Chapter 5
Dalits
Self-designation for a group of people in India traditionally regarded as Untouchables. Also called Outcastes
Chapter 5
Debt slave
Someone who is not legally a slave, but lives like one, due a debt to a company he / she works for, that can never be repaid or only in many years
Chapter 3
Debt trap
Situation where a country, an organisation or an individual adds new debts in order to pay existing ones, through which the total amount of debts and of interests increases to levels where it becomes difficult or impossible to pay them off
Chapter 7
Decommissioning
Demolition phase of a nuclear power plant, including all the necessary organizational, legal and technical activities
Chapter 3
Dehumanisation
Process or state in which persons are considered as economic entities rather than as human beings, and where contacts between humans become less personal thanks to the replacement of humans by machines, cameras etc., leading to feelings of alienation and a loss of personal dignity and involvement in society
Chapter 3
Dematerialisation
Economic concept of reducing the quantity of materials required to serve economic functions (doing more with less)
Chapter 4
Depillarization
Process of weakening or vanishing societal segregation based on religious or ideological devides
Chapter 8
Design for disassembly (DFD)
Design of a product in a way that, at the end of the user phase, it can easily be disassembled into parts, resulting in a maximum of parts that can be reused
Chapter 8
DFD
See: Design for disassembly (DFD)
Chapter 4
Diversity
Variety, e.g. between people, cultures and species
Chapter 8
DJSI
See: Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI)
Chapter 6
Doubling time
Time a growth process needs to reach twice the original size. With exponential growth, the doubling time is constant
Chapter 8
Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI)
International stock market indicator for large companies, indicating the level of sustainable of businesses
Chapter 8
Downcycling
Recycling materials in a way where the original quality is reduced
Chapter 4
Earth Charter
International declaration of fundamental values and principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century
Chapter 3
Earth Summit
See: United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
Chapter 8
Eco points
See: Eco-indicator
Chapter 4
Eco-bridge
See: Wildlife crossing
Chapter 4
Ecoduct
See: Wildlife crossing
Chapter 8
Eco-indicator
Figure representing the total environmental impact of a particular product throughout its life cycle, expressed as (milli-) eco points. The number is established by combining the results of a life cycle assessment (qv), using weight factors to add them
Chapter 2
Ecological footprint
Measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems, expressing the natural capital that is used a human population to produce resources and to mitigate waste in 'global hectares' of biologically productive land and sea area. See also: biocapacity; carbon footprint
Chapter 1
Ecological network
Interconnected network of extant and yet to be created nature reserves in a country or region
Chapter 8
Ecological rucksack
Sum of all resources, processes and emissions that were needed to manufacture a particular product
Chapter 5
ECOMOG
See: ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG)
Chapter 5
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Group of 15 countries in West Africa south of the Sahara, which seek a union similar to the European Union
Chapter 7
Economic extractability
Situation where resources are not only technically recoverable, but in which extraction is also profitable
Chapter 3
Economic refugees
Refugees fleeing for economic reasons, i.e. the inability to provide an acceptable income
Chapter 2
Ecosystem
Biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving (abiotic), physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight
Chapter 5
ECOWAS
See: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Chapter 5
ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG)
Multilateral armed force established by the ECOWAS
Chapter 5
EEA
See: European Environment Agency (EEA)
Chapter 5
EIR
See: Environmental Impact Reporting (EIR)
Chapter 7
El Niño
Change in the weather patterns in large parts of the world, occurring once every three to seven years because of changes in the pattern of wind currents over the Pacific Ocean
Chapter 7
Electric cars
Automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors, using electrical energy stored in rechargeable batteries
Chapter 7
Emission allowances
Tradeable allowances for companies to emit greenhouse gases, based on the Emission Trading System (ETS)
Chapter 7
Emission Trading System (ETS)
Market-based approach used to control climate change by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of greenhouse gases. Also called: cap-and-trade system
Chapter 7
Emissions
Release of substances, e.g. into the atmosphere or into surface water
Chapter 4
Empowerment
Process or state in which an individual is able and authorized to think, behave, take action, and control work and decision making in autonomous ways, based on a feeling of self-awareness and control of one's own destiny
Chapter 5
End-of-pipe technology
Technology that does not prevent the causes of environmental damage but fights its effects during a production or application process, for example by placing filters on chimneys or charge pipes
Chapter 8
Energy recovery
Burning of waste, where the energy is regained
Chapter 7
Energy Roadmap 2050
EU agreement of 2011 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% in 2020, 40% in 2030, 60% in 2040, and 80% to 95% in 2050, compared to 1990 emissions
Chapter 3
Environmental accounting
Method of calculating financial results, such as the GNP, that include environmental damage and the depletion of stocks, resulting in a 'Green GNP'
Chapter 5
Environmental Impact Reporting (EIR)
Assessment of the potential environmental impacts resulting from the construction and operation of a proposed project
Chapter 8
Environmental, social and governance (ESG)
Three main aspects of sustainability and corporate social responsibility: environmental, social and governance
Chapter 5
Erosion
Process by which material is removed from a region of the Earth's surface, e.g. due to transport by wind or water
Chapter 8
ESG
See: Environmental, social and governance (ESG)
Chapter 7
ETS
See: Emission Trading System (ETS)
Chapter 5
EU
See: European Union (EU)
Chapter 7
EU-MENA
Europe, the Middle East and North Africa
Chapter 5
European Commission
Executive body of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions and general day-to-day running of the Union
Chapter 4
European Court of Human Rights
Supra-national court, established by the European Convention on Human Rights, acting when a member nation has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols, according to a citizen of that nation or to another nation
Chapter 5
European Environment Agency (EEA)
Agency of the European Union devoted to establishing a monitoring network for the monitoring of the European environment
Chapter 5
European Union
Economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe
Chapter 5
Eutrophication
Process by which a body of water acquires a high concentration of nutrients, typically leading to excessive growth of algae
Chapter 6
Exponential growth
Growth with a fixed rate per unit time, uninhibited growth. In this type of growth the doubling time is constant.
Chapter 7
Extensification
Reducing energy consumption by technical means due to improvement of the efficiency of the energy use
Chapter 2
Extinction
Total disappearance of a species due to the death of its last individual, either locally or globally
Chapter 2
Extinction peak
Period of mass extinction, in which animal and plant species become extinct at an unusually high rate in a relatively short period of time
Chapter 7
Extractability
See: Economic extractability
Chapter 2
Fair share
Size of an ecological footprint a person, company or country may used in such a way that the available biocapacity is shared fairly and not exceeded
Chapter 4
FAO
See: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Chapter 2
Feedback
Situation where effects of a process or development influence the same process or development
Chapter 2
Flaw in the fabric
Unsustainability problem that is inextricably linked in the fabric of the global human system
Chapter 4
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
specialised agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger
Chapter 4
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Independent, non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world's forests. Owner of the FSC certificate
Chapter 7
Fracking
Process in which liquid is injected at high pressure into subterranean rocks, crushing them and releasing natural gas
Chapter 4
FSC
See: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Chapter 4
FSC certification
Voluntary, market-based certificate for wood and other forest products, aiming at guaranteeing that the products are from responsibly managed forests
Chapter 6
Futurology
Science of investigating possible, probable, and preferable future developments
Chapter 3
G20
Intergovernmental forum of twenty leading economic powers: 19 countries and the EU, together comprising more than 85% of the global GNP. See also: G8
Chapter 3
G8
Intergovernmental forum of eight leading industrial nations. See also: G20
Chapter 5
Gandhi, Mohandas (‘Mahatma’)
Famous spiritual leader and politician (1869 - 1948) in India,considered as the Father of the Nation. His leadership, based on the principles of 'ahimsa' and 'satyagraha' (nonviolent resistance), lead to India's independence in 1947
Chapter 1
GE
See: Genetically modified (GM) organism (GMO)
Chapter 1
Genetically engineered (GE)
See: Genetically modified (GM) organism (GMO)
Chapter 1
Genetically modified (GM) organism (GMO)
Organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. Also called: Genetically Engineered (GE)
Chapter 3
Genocide
The intent and action to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, by killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction, imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group, or forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. (Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, 1948)
Chapter 2
Gha
See: Global hectare (Gha)
Chapter 4
Global civil society
Civil society that is organized cross-border, partly thanks to the internet, thus creating a counterbalance to the growing influence of countries, international organizations and multinational companies
Chapter 2
Global extinction
Extinction in the entire world, which can never be undone
Chapter 2
Global hectare (Gha)
Unit in which the ecological footprint and the biocapacity are expressed
Chapter 8
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
See: Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
Chapter 7
Global warming
See: Greenhouse effect
Chapter 1
GM
See: Genetically modified (GM) organism (GMO)
Chapter 1
GMO
See: Genetically modified (GM) organism (GMO)
Chapter 3
GNP per capita
GNP of a country divided by the number of people in that country. Considered as a measure for the (average) wealth of a nation.
Chapter 3
Green GNP
See: environmental accounting
Chapter 7
Green power
Electricity generated from renewable energy
Chapter 7
Greenhouse effect
Phenomenon in which the temperature on Earth increases, due to the presence of certain gases in the atmosphere that cause the Earth's heat to be less easily radiated to the cosmos, causing global warming
Chapter 7
Greenhouse gases
Main gases responsible for the greenhouse effect, e.g. carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), water vapor (H2O) and various fluoride compounds, including CFC's and HFC's. See also: radiative forcing: CO2 equivalent
Chapter 8
GRI
1. Globally recognized standard method for companies to report about the CSR aspects of their activities. 2. Organization that developed and manages this standard
Chapter 1
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Value of all the goods and services produced in an economy, plus the value of the goods and services imported, less the goods and services exported
Chapter 2
Growth resources
See: renewable resources
Chapter 7
Gulf Stream
The part of the thermohaline circulation (qv) in the Atlantic Ocean
Chapter 2
Habitat
Natural environment of an organism or ecological community
Chapter 2
Habitat loss
Diminishment, quality loss or disappearance of a habitat
Chapter 7
HFC's
See: Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC's)
Chapter 3
HFI
See: Human Freedom Index (HFI)
Chapter 8
Hippocratic Oath
Oath or pledge that medical students take upon graduation
Chapter 3
Holistic approach
View in which a system is considered as a whole, having characteristics that cannot be described or understood by just considering the constituing elements. Opposite of an analytic approach
Chapter 7
Hubbert peak
See: Peak oil
Chapter 8
Human dignity
Business principle: the sacredness or value of each person is an goal in itself, not simply as a means to the fulfilment of others' purposes or even of a majority. See also: Caux Round Table
Chapter 3
Human Freedom Index (HFI)
Number expressing the rate of freedom of individuals in a country, defined by UNDP, to be found in the Human Development Reports
Chapter 5
Human Rights Watch
International non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights
Chapter 7
Hybrid cars
Car withs two engines, a combustion engine and an electric motor, having a substantially lower fuel consumption
Chapter 7
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC's)
Certain chemical compounds related to chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s, qv) having comparable destructive effects
Chapter 7
Hydrogen economy
Economy and society in which, thanks to a transition process, hydrogen has become a primary fuel
Chapter 4
ICC
See: International UN Criminal Court (ICC)
Chapter 4
IGO
See: Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO)
Chapter 4
ILO
See: International Labour Organization (ILO)
Chapter 4
IMF
See: International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Chapter 8
Incomparable
Impossible to weigh against each other, in the case of a choice between alternatives whose significance is not comparable, "comparing apples to oranges"
Chapter 7
Indirect land use change (ILUC)
Unintentional effect of biofuel development, pushing deforestation into new areas
Chapter 2
Industrialisation
Process of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial one
Chapter 1
Infrastructure
Basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of a community or society, such as transportation and communications systems, water and power lines, and public institutions including schools and post offices
Chapter 6
Inhibited growth
Growth that, perhaps after a period of unrestrained growth, is limited by environmental factors and thus slows down until a stable level may be reached
Chapter 8
Integral chain management
Efforts of companies to manage the full life cycle of a product, in order to minimize the environmental impact
Chapter 8
Integral healthcare
Form of health care that aims to align all aspects of care, both medical and psychosocial
Chapter 4
Interdisciplinary
Cooperation within a team composed of experts from various disciplines, such that the combination of their skills renders more or different results than when each of them would work separately
Chapter 4
Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO)
Organization composed primarily of sovereign nations, or of other intergovernmental organizations
Chapter 7
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
See: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Chapter 4
International Criminal Court (ICC)
Permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression
Chapter 4
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour issues pertaining to international labour standards
Chapter 4
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Intergovernmental organization that oversees the global financial system by taking part in the macroeconomic policies of its established members, in particular those with an impact on exchange rate and the balance of payments
Chapter 2
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
International organization dedicated to the conservation of nature and the protection of natural habits. Maintains the Red List
Chapter 7
IPCC
Scientific intergovernmental body, established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), tasked with reviewing and assessing the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change
Chapter 2
IUCN
See: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Chapter 4
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)
UN section leading and supporting the response to HIV and AIDS, including preventing transmission of HIV, providing care and support to those already living with HIV, reducing the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV and alleviating the impact of the epidemic
Chapter 8
Just in time (JIT)
Production process where materials and components are made available at the moment they are needed, thus reducing storage costs
Chapter 8
Kyosei
Business principle: living and working together for the common good enabling cooperation and mutual prosperity to coexist with healthy and fair competition. See also: Caux Round Table
Chapter 4
Kyoto Protocol
Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), aimed at fighting global warming
Chapter 6
Lag
See: System lag
Chapter 8
LCA
See: Life cycle assessment (LCA)
Chapter 8
LCCA
See: Life-Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA)
Chapter 5
Lewisian turning-point
Moment at which a shortage of labour forces leads to a sharp increase of salaries
Chapter 8
Life cycle
Complete history of a product - from raw materials extraction, through production, shipping, sales and use by consumers, to the waste phase, including recycling, reuse and dumping. See also: Chain
Chapter 8
Life cycle assessment (LCA)
Method to determine the total environmental impact of a particular product, paying attention to the full lifecycle. The result is a series of numbers representing the different types of environmental damage and depletion of scarce resources. See also: Eco-indicator; Life-Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA)
Chapter 8
Life-Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA)
Method to determine the total financial impact of a particular product, paying attention to its full life cycle. Equivalent of a Life Cycle Assessment (qv), but paying attention to financial costs instead of environmental ones
Chapter 8
Lifelong learning
Voluntary participation in formal or informal learning for personal or professional development during a considerable part of one's life
Chapter 6
Limits to growth
Title of a book by Meadows et al (1972), addressed to the Club of Rome. The book, which received a lot of attention, was based on the 'World3' simulation model, developed by the authors , with which scenarios can be studied for possible future development of the global ecosystem and society
Chapter 7
Linear processes
Processes in which the effects are directly proportional to their causes. See also: non-linear processes
Chapter 4
Local Agenda 21
Action plans for local areas, such as (parts of) municipalities, based on Agenda 21
Chapter 2
Local extinction
Extinction in a certain region or habitat. May later be undone when specimens from elsewhere inhabit the region
Chapter 6
Logistic growth
Inhibited growth, following a certain mathematical model
Chapter 6
MA
See: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA)
Chapter 6
Malthus, Thomas
In 1798, Malthus wrote about the danger of an exponential population growth, for with the growth of food production would have to stay behind sooner or later
Chapter 7
Market Stability Reserve (MSR)
System in which emission allowances can be added to, or taken from the auctioning market, in order to create stable prices
Chapter 8
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Theory in psychology about needs and motivations of humans, designed by Abraham Maslow, often portrayed in the shape of a pyramid, with the largest and most fundamental levels of needs at the bottom, and the need for self-actualization at the top
Chapter 4
MDG's
See: Millennium Development Goals (MDG's)
Chapter 2
Mechanisation
Development where processes performed or powered by humans or animals are replaced with processes performed or powered by mechanical devices
Chapter 4
Microcredit
Small loans designed to spur entrepreneurship for individuals who lack collateral, steady employment and a verifiable credit history, and therefore cannot meet even the most minimal qualifications to gain access to traditional credit
Chapter 7
Migration
Displacement of people, animals or plants into new areas
Chapter 4
Millennium Development Goals (MDG's)
Set of eight international development goals that all UN member states and several international organizations agreed to achieve between 2000 and 2015
Chapter 6
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA)
Large-scale investigation into all aspects of sustainable development, conducted by over 1300 scientists from various disciplines.
Chapter 8
Mission
Essence of an organization, the reason why it exists. Often defined in a 'mission statement'
Chapter 6
Model
Simplified representation of reality or a part thereof
Chapter 4
Montreal Protocol
Protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer: an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances responsible for depletion of the ozone layer
Chapter 1
Multifunctional use of space
Combination of different socio-economic functions in the same area, aiming at dealing with land scarcity
Chapter 6
Nanotechnology
Technology that seeks to develop devices with a size near one nanometer (one millionth of a millimeter), such as engines, computers, robots, energy generators
Chapter 4
National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD)
Concrete implementation of Agenda 21 by an individual country
Chapter 4
Natura 2000
Ecological network of protected areas in the territory of the European Union, connected through wildlife crossings
Chapter 2
Natural equilibrium
Stable situation in an ecosystem
Chapter 7
Natural greenhouse effect
Greenhouse effect due to natural causes, not by human activities, already existing for hundreds of millions of years
Chapter 4
Network
Group of organizations and individuals in mutual interaction, relationships and communication
Chapter 7
New Entrants Reserve (NER)
Reserve, made by the EU, aiming at funding the deployment of innovative renewable energy technologies and carbon capture and storage
Chapter 4
NGO
See: Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)
Chapter 4
Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)
Legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government
Chapter 7
Non-linear processes
Processes in which the size the effects is not directly proportional to their causes, e.g. increasing or decreasing faster or slower as the causes vary, which may have unexpected implications. See also: linear processes
Chapter 3
Normative integration
Process or condition of acceptance of generally accepted values and norms in a given society, especially by foreigners
Chapter 4
Novel protein food
Food with a high protein content, produced with modern techniques from plants, yeast or fungi, that is suitable as a meat substitute
Chapter 4
NSSD
See: National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD)
Chapter 7
Nuclear fission
Physical process in which heavy atomic nuclei such as uranium, plutonium or thorium are split in order to generate energy
Chapter 7
Nuclear fusion
Physical process by which atomic nuclei of hydrogen are combined in order to to generate energy
Chapter 7
Oil sand
Sand or partially consolidated sandstone, saturated with bitumen. Also known as tar sand or bituminous sand
Chapter 5
One-child policy
Strict family planning policy according to which every family is allowed only one child, aiming at reducing population growth
Chapter 2
One-way traffic
Process that is not closed, in which the resources used for the production of goods don't return to their origin, this creating a shortage in one place and a surplus in another. The opposite is a cycle.
Chapter 4
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
International economic organisation stimulating economic progress and world trade: a forum of countries committed to democracy and the market economy, providing a platform to compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, identify good practices, and co-ordinate domestic and international policies of its members
Chapter 5
Outcastes
See: Dalits
Chapter 5
Outsourcing
Contracting out of a business function - commonly one previously performed in-house - to an external provider, in many cases in another country
Chapter 2
Overexploitation
Harvesting a renewable resource to the point of diminishing returns, possibly leading to the destruction of the resource
Chapter 6
Ozone layer
Upper layer of the stratosphere, at an altitude of about 50 km, whit a relatively high ozone (O3) concentration
Chapter 1
Paradigm
Term representing an entire way of thinking in one word
Chapter 1
Paradigm shift
Development during which certain paradigms, previously determining the dominantr world view, disappear or change drastically, to be replaced with entirely new paradigms
Chapter 7
Paris Agreement
International agreement on climate change, concluded at a conference in Paris in 2015 (COP21)
Chapter 4
Participation
Taking part or sharing in activities, processes, groups or society in general, as an accepted, valued and self-aware member
Chapter 4
Participatory democracy
Societal system in which many people and civilian organizations are actively engaged in opinion-and decision-making, not only through a parliament and voting, but also through various forms of participation
Chapter 8
Particulate matter
Tiny parts of solid matter suspended in a gas or liquid. See also: Aerosols
Chapter 7
Peak oil
Moment when the total economically extractable world oil supply has reached its maximum, after which it declines
Chapter 1
People
One of the three main aspects of sustainability, cencerning topics like culture, human rights, participation, education, health, empowerment. See also: planet, profit, Triple P
Chapter 3
Per capita
"per head", i.e. per person
Chapter 7
Phytoplankton
Photosynthesizing organisms in plankton, mainly unicellular algae and cyanobacteria
Chapter 1
Planet
One of the three main aspects of sustainability, cencerning topics like biodiversity, environment, nature. See also: people, profit, Triple P
Chapter 3
Political refugees
Refugees fleeing for political reasons, i.e. for e fear of being persecuted for reasons of a political nature
Chapter 5
Population ageing
Increase in the number and proportion of older people in society, mainly due to longer life expectancy and decreased birth rate
Chapter 5
Population explosion
Rapid increase in the size of a population in a relatively short period of time
Chapter 3
Poverty
State of a person who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money. See: relative poverty; absolute poverty.
Chapter 3
Poverty trap
A state in which self-reinforcing mechanisms (positive feedback) cause poverty to persist or even to worsen
Chapter 3
PPP
See: (1) Triple P; (2) Purchasing Power Parity; (3) Public-Private Partnership
Chapter 3
PPP dollars
Unity in which purchasing power parity is expressed
Chapter 7
Precautionary principle
Principle that policy decisions are based on the prevention of certain undesired effects, even if the occurrence of these effects in the absemce of such decisions is not sure
Chapter 5
Prisoner’s Dilemma
Aspect of game theory that shows why two individuals, organizations or countries might not agree, even if appears that it is best to do so
Chapter 4
Professional
One of three main roles an individual can have within society: someone who contributes to society by particpating in the delivery of products or services. See also: Citizen, Consumer
Chapter 1
Profit
One of the three main aspects of sustainability, cencerning topics like investments, profitability, economic stability, GNP. See also: people, planet, Triple P and prosperity
Chapter 1
Prosperity
Term proposed as a replacement of 'profit' in the Triple P, enlarging the concept to incomes and welfare of individuals, families, local communities
Chapter 4
Public-private partnership (PPP)
Partnership in which public organizations (governments and NGOs) cooperate with private companies, to the benefit of both
Chapter 3
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)
Method of recalculating incomes, correcting for local price level, thus expressing the real purchasing power of people. The recalculated income is expressed in PPP 'dollars'
Chapter 7
Radiative forcing
Degree to which a particular substance influences the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing thermal radiation, thus 'pushing up' the Earth's temperature. See also: greenhouse gases; CO2 equivalent
Chapter 7
Radioactive waste
Materials containing or contaminated with radioactive isotopes, at concentrations higher than the minimum measurable concentration, for which no practical applications are known
Chapter 3
Real GNP
Version of the GNP that has been adjusted for the effects of inflation
Chapter 1
Rebound effect
Effect occurring when the success of certain actions has side-effects that diminish or even cancel the positive results, or perhaps even cause the opposite
Chapter 1
Recycling
Processing used materials (waste) into new products
Chapter 2
Red list of threatened species
Inventory, maintained by the IUCN, of the global conservation status of biological species, e.g. describing species that are conservation dependent, threatened or extinct
Chapter 8
Redefining the corporate mission
Abandoning existing ideas about the mission of a company and determining from scratch why the company exists
Chapter 3
Refugee
Person who has been pushed away from his or her home and seeks refuge elsewhere, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, or fleeing from war or other violence
Chapter 3
Relative poverty
Lack of wealth and income of a person relative to other people or groups in the same environment or country, making it impossible to live according to accepted habits, values and standards in that environment or that country
Chapter 2
Renewable resources
Resources that are replaced or replenished by natural processes. Also called growth resources
Chapter 8
RESFIA+D
Schedule of six general professional competences for sustainable development, each with three sub-competences, plus disciplinary competencies that are specific to each course or profession
Chapter 2
Resource
Something, such as a forest, a mineral deposit, or fresh water, that is found in nature and is necessary or useful to humans
Chapter 5
Responsibility
Task or duty to care for something or someone. Is often wrongly equated with accountability (qv)
Chapter 1
Reuse
Processing components of used products into new products
Chapter 4
Rio
See: United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
Chapter 4
Rio Declaration
Full name: Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. A document produced at the UNCED (1992), consisting of 27 principles intended to guide future sustainable development around the world
Chapter 7
Rising sea levels
Increase in sea level, either because the water level in the oceans is rising ('absolute sea level rise'), or because the land falls ('relative sea level rise')
Chapter 6
Robust trend
Trend that can be expected to persist, even when strong changes in related areas occur
Chapter 1
Room for the river
Dutch program aiming at lowering the risks of flooding by river water by giving more space to the rivers and restoring their original natural state
Chapter 8
Rucksack model
See: Ecological rucksack
Chapter 2
Salinisation
Accumulation of salts in the soil
Chapter 6
Scenario
A scenario of a play or movie is a description of the scenes of which the story consists. A future scenario is a description of the events that might take place in a possible future
Chapter 5
Schengen Agreement
Treaty between most members of the European Union, creating a borderless zone across large parts of Europe
Chapter 7
Second generation biofuels
Biofuels from waste from forestry and agriculture, such as wood chips and straw from corn and grain
Chapter 3
Second generation immigrants
First-generation descendants of immigrants to a certain nation, themselves being born in this nations
Chapter 3
SEEA
See: System of integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting (SEEA)
Chapter 3
Segregation
Creation or escalation of separate groups within a society, in such a way that it is detrimental to the social cohesion
Chapter 8
Shareholder value
Value of a company for its shareholders (stockholders). See also: Stakeholder value
Chapter 6
Simulation
Imitation of reality in the form of a model, usually constructed as a computer program
Chapter 7
Slash and burn
Land use by farmers, where they repeatedly clear new land by burning off the forest after their own lands were exhausted through intensive cultivation
Chapter 4
Small or medium sized enterprise (SME)
The EU defines businesses with fewer than 50 employees as small, and less than 250 employees as medium sized entreprises
Chapter 4
SME
See: Small or medium sized enterprise (SME)
Chapter 3
Social exclusion
Situation in which individuals or communities are systematically blocked from rights, opportunities and resources that are normally available to members of society and which are key to social integration
Chapter 5
Soil erosion
See: Erosion
Chapter 4
Source of vigour
Strength within a society, a person or an ecosystem providing opportunities for sustainable development
Chapter 1
Space
One of the two dimensions of sustainable development: also described as 'here and there'. Focuses on the fair distribution of prosperity and well-being across the world. See: Time
Chapter 3
SSA
See: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Chapter 4
Stakeholder
Person or group having some interest in a particular process, conversation, event, development etc.
Chapter 5
Stakeholder analysis
Research into who has interests in a specific project, process or business, either positive or negative ones
Chapter 8
Stakeholder value
Value of a company for all of those who hqave ab interest in it, either positive or negative. See also: Shareholder value
Chapter 6
Standard scenario
Development of a society according to a certain, more or less fixed pattern, which has occurred in reality in several cultures and historic episodes
Chapter 7
Stewardship cessation
Termination of supervision, in particular of radioactive waste that is stored in such a way that it is supposed to be safe forever
Chapter 3
Stigmatisation
Attribution of negative characteristics to people based on expectations about the group the person belongs to
Chapter 7
Stratosphere
Layer of the atmosphere between about 15 and 50 km altitude
Chapter 3
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara
Chapter 4, 8
Substitution
Replacement of single-use or scarce resources by less scarce resources such as renewable materials or energy
Chapter 1
Sustainable development
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Chapter 4
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's)
Set of seventeen international development goals that all UN member states and several international organizations agreed to achieve between 2015 and 2030
Chapter 7
Sustainable energy
Form of energy generation that (by human standards) can be continued indefinitely, and causing a minimum of damage to people, cultures, nature and environment
Chapter 8
Sustainable product development
Design of a product in a manner that takes into account the interests of sustainable development
Chapter 1
Sustainable society
Imaginary society that has realised sustainable development completely. In reality, such a society will probebnly never be realised, as solutions to present problems will always create new ones. Nevertheless, if sustainable development is successful, a sustainable society will be approached more and more
Chapter 4
Sustainable tourism
Form of tourism that attempts to minimize damage to nature and environment and to local cultures, while contributing to the awareness of tour operators and tourists
Chapter 7
System boundary
State in which a system is on the border between a stable and an unstable situation, where a trend break may immediately lead to a different, often unpredictable situation
Chapter 6
System lag
Slowness with which a system responds to changes or external influences, e.g. due to physical factors ro to slow human decision processes
Chapter 3
System of integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting (SEEA)
Well-known method for environmental accounting
Chapter 7
Tar
Viscous liquid of hydrocarbons and free carbon. See: oil sand
Chapter 8
Technical Cycle
One of the two cycles of a circular economy. Also called 'technological cycle' or 'technology cycle'
Chapter 7
Thermohaline circulation
Extensive flow of seawater through the oceans, flowing on the surface of the Pacific and Indian Ocean to the North Atlantic, and conversely on the ocean floor. See also: Gulf Stream
Chapter 4
Three capitals
Three forms of wealth and resilience a society possesses: people, nature and environment, economy
Chapter 1
Time
One of the two dimensions of sustainable development: also described as 'now and later'. Focuses on the ability of future generations to maintain an acceptable level of prosperity and well-being. See: Space
Chapter 1
Top-down
Approach in which initiatives are taken and decisions are made at a high level, e.g. governments, international organizations, boards of companies, usually with consequences for many people. The opposite of bottom-up.
Chapter 6
Trade-off
Situation where an increase in output of specific ecosystem services (notably food) leads to degradation of other services. Exchange often takes place in conjunction with transfer (qv), where the increase in services to benefit certain groups and the decline of other services has implications for other groups
Chapter 5
Tragedy of the Commons
Dilemma arising from the situation in which multiple individuals, acting independently and rationally consulting their own self-interest, will ultimately deplete a shared limited resource, even when it is clear that it is not in anyone's long-term interest for this to happen
Chapter 4
Transdisciplinary
Cooperation in an interdisciplinary team, which also includes people who do not participate because of a particular discipline, but because of their practical experience, personal stake or any other form of involvement.
Chapter 3
Transfer
Shifting the negative effects of a lifestyle to others, such as environmental damage or depletion of resources. This may involve transferring problems toward people in other countries, people in future generations, or people in the own environment in a different social group. See also: trade-off
Chapter 1
Transition
Fundamental change to a system, based on a paradigm shift
Chapter 4
Transition management
Guidance to transitions, not by controlling the transition process from a central management but going through an adaptation process guided by a cooperation network
Chapter 8
Transparency
Open display and accountability of companies for what they do, through the disclosure of internal data towards employees, governments, NGOs, the press, in short, to society, e.g. in the form of social reports and websites
Chapter 6
Trend break
Sudden sharp change in what until recently was a trend
Chapter 6
Trend extrapolation
The extension of a trend into the future, assuming that the trend will continue for some time
Chapter 6
Trend shift
Gradual change of a trend
Chapter 1
Triple bottom line
Triple P, expressed as a term commonly used by companies to describe an aspect of the company mission
Chapter 1
Triple P
The three main aspects of sustainable development: people, planet. profit. See also: prosperity, triple bottom line
Chapter 7
Troposphere
Lowest layer of the atmosphere, to about 10 to 15 km altitude
Chapter 5
Tsunami
Massive water wave caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water following an earthquake under the sea floor
Chapter 4
UNAIDS
See: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)
Chapter 4
UNCED
See: United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
Chapter 4
UNDESD
See: United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD)
Chapter 3
UNDP
See: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Chapter 4
UNEP
See: United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)
Chapter 4
UNESCO
See: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Chapter 7
UNFCC
See: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Chapter 4
UNICEF
See: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Chapter 6
Uninhibited growth
See: Exponential growth
Chapter 4
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
UN section working for children's rights, their survival, development and protection, guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child. (The abbreviation stands for 'United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund', a name that was replaced with the current, shorter name.)
Chapter 4
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
Major UN Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, where Agenda 21 was agreed. Also known as "Rio" and as the Earth Summit.
Chapter 4
United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD)
Decade (2005 - 2015) for which the UN called for special attention to education for sustainable development
Chapter 3
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Section of the United Nations aiming at improving the conditions of underdeveloped people
Chapter 4
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
UN section encouraging international peace and universal respect by promoting collaboration among nations
Chapter 4
United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)
UN section coordinating environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices
Chapter 7
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
International environmental treaty with the goal of achieving the "stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. See also: Kyoto Protocol
Chapter 1
Unsustainability
Instable situation, in which causes exist that are not sustainable to such a level that the situation cannot stay the same indefinitely
Chapter 1
Waste disposal fee
Money that consumers pay when buying electronic or meachnical devices, which is used for waste treatment
Chapter 8
Waste hierarchy
Hierarchy of preferences within the technical cycle of a circular economy: maintenance and repairs; component reuse; recycling; energy recovery; landfill or emissions
Chapter 8
WBCSD
See: World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Chapter 1
WCED
See: World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED)
Chapter 6
Weakly inhibited growth
Inhibited growth, for which the strength of the limiting factors is not strong, due to with the growth slows down only slightly. This may allow a growth overshoot beyond a situation where equilibrium is possible
Chapter 4
Wei wu wei
Action without action': effective action, truly achieving something by the right kind of action on the right moment, without acting up, forcing, pushing through
Chapter 6
What-if question
Thinking exercise in which assumptions are made for a possible scenario - e.g. on the nature of the applied model, of the initial conditions, or of external influences - after which the likely consequences are examined
Chapter 8
Whistleblower
Person who informs the public or the authorities about alleged dishonest or illegal activities occurring in an organization, e.g. a government department or a company
Chapter 4
WHO
See: World Health Organization (WHO)
Chapter 8
Whole-Life Cost
Total cost of a product during its entire lifecycle, including environmetal costs
Chapter 4
Wildlife crossing
Structures that allows animals to cross human-made barriers safely, such as underpass tunnels, viaducts (also called: ecoduct, eco-bridge), fish ladders
Chapter 8
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
International association of some 200 multinational companies that collectively focus on sustainability
Chapter 1
World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED)
Commission created by the United Nations to address growing concerns "about the accelerating deterioration of the human environment and natural resources and the consequences of that deterioration for economic and social development." Also called the Brundtland Commission.
Chapter 4
World Health Organization (WHO)
Specialised agency of the UN acting as a coordinating authority on international public health
Chapter 7
Zero-energy building
Building where, on average over the year, no energy from elsewhere is needed, because at least as much internally generated energy is supplied to the external grid as is taken from that grid