ISSP-SA

Social and Relationship Capital

The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) describes this as "the institutions and relationships established within and between each community, group of stakeholders and other networks... to enhance individual and collective well-being".

International emissions trading

The Kyoto Protocol created this commodity market for greenhouse gases. It allows countries to monetize any excess capacity by selling their "assigned amount units" (AAUs) to countries that have exceeded their targets. In addition, Annex B countries may trade RMUs, EURs, and CERs on this market

Conference of the Parties (COPs)

The supreme decision-making body comprised of the parties that have ratified the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It has met on an annual basis since 1995, to evaluate progress on the project mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol. As of February 2003, it is comprised of 188 countries

Genetically modified Organism (GMO)

The term describes any organism (plant, animal, microorganism, etc.) with an altered genetic code. The genetic engineering process produces transgenic species with the combined traits of donor organisms

Livable wage

The term describes the compensation needed to provide for the most basic of human needs. It permits families to live locally, based on the local cost of living

Net-zero

This describes the practice of balancing production and consumption. Measured on an annual basis, buildings with an energy footprint described with this term use onsite renewable energy to generate all energy consumed. Those with this size carbon footprint product no carbon emissions

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

This document provides consumers with quantifiable LCA data on the environmental impact associated with a given product. Following the ISO 14025 product category rules (PCR), it is used to compare the relative impact of similar products

Low impact development (LID)

This refers to an urban planning approach to property development that ensures proper stormwater management. Practices include close to the source design strategies that mimic natural hydrology such as rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable paving

E-waste

This refers to discarded electronic devices - any device with a circuit board - that find their way into the landfill. The presence of both precious metals and hazardous materials makes recycling these devices at once lucrative and dangerous. Responsible recovery preserves resources while protecting human and ecosystem health

Renewable energy

This refers to energy production fueled by resources that nature can replenish at a rate equal to or greater than it is used. "Clean" energy further includes the ability of nature to absorb the emissions created during the life cycle of the fuel

Social justice

This refers to fairness and quality among all people in society and encompasses issues of human rights and the distribution of resources

Geothermal Energy

This type of energy comes from heat generated within the Earth's crust, where decaying radioactive material contains over 50,000 times more energy than world fossil fuel stores. Both deep well power plants and ground-source heat pumps harness this heat to generate electricity or create more efficient heating and cooling systems for buildings

Recycle

This waste reduction strategy is used to reduce the quantity and improve the quality of materials heading to landfills

Carbon sequestration

Through a process of photosynthesis, trees, grasses and other plants take up atmospheric carbon dioxide and store the carbon in their trunks, branches, foliage, roots, and soil. Over millennia, the biomass fossilizes and converts to coal and other fossil fuels

Social impact bond (SIB)

Through public-private-philanthropic partnerships, this debt instrument is used to finance social programs. With this development model, government entities initiate the projects, funding is provided by financial institutions in the private sector, and nonprofits administer the funds

Carbon footprint

Total GHG emissions from fossil fuel use

Heavy metals

Toxic metals, such as arsenic lead, and mercury have harmful effects on human health when found in large quantities

ISO 14000

A family of standards that provide guidance on developing environmental management systems (EMS) (ISO 14001, ISO 14004, ISO 14006) and greenhouse gas reporting (14064)

Hydropower

A form of renewable energy that harnesses the flow of water to generate electricity

Materiality

A fundamental principle of financial disclosure, this test (as defined by the US Supreme Court) determines whether there is "a substantial likelihood that the disclosure of the omitted fact would have been viewed by the reasonable investor as having significantly altered the 'total mix' of information made available"

Green power

A generic term for renewable energy along with specific clean energy technologies that emit fewer GHG emissions than other energy supplying the grid

Ceres Principles

A global coalition of investors and environmental and social advocacy groups supporting investment, policy, and business leadership in order to promote sustainability

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

A green building rating system developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC)

Transmaterialization

A term related to industrial ecology, this is the concept of offering a service that satisfies the needs provided otherwise by a product. PRoviding services instead of products makes it possible to maintain economic growth while reducing resource consumption

Inclusive business

A term that refers to sustainable business solutions that expand access to goods, services, and livelihood opportunities for low-income communities in commercially viable ways. Going beyond philanthropy, this type of business melds development and business goals to deliver higher socio-economic value to communities

Life cycle thinking

A term used by sustainability professionals to help managers understand that there is a complete spectrum of impact quantification, with LCA at one end and pure qualitative analysis at the other

Bottom of the Pyramid

A term used to describe four billion people who live in poverty and have been mostly un-served or underserved by the private sector. Contrary to conventional wisdom, these people are resilient entrepreneurs and value-conscious consumers who can partner with business to eradicate poverty

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

A tool to measure, assess and manage the performance of a product from raw materials through production, use, and end-of-life phases. The process entails compiling data on the inputs and outputs of a system, in order to evaluate the potential impacts that will result throughout its life cycle

Removal unit (RMU)

A tradeable commodity under the Kyoto Protocol, this instrument represents one metric ton of GHG reduction through land use, land-use change and forestry (LULCF) activities, like reforestation

Weak sustainability

A view of sustainable development that assumes natural capital and manufactured capital generate the same level of wellbeing to society. Proponents of this view believe that sustainability can be achieved for future generations by maintaining or increasing the aggregate value of all capital stocks

Strong Sustainability

A view of sustainable development that sees nature as having "critical" elements -- conceptualized as ecosystem services - that uniquely contribute to human wellbeing. As "critical natural capital," maintaining nature's ecological functioning is required if society will continue to provide for the needs of future generations

Lean manufacturing

A whole-system philosophy of production, developed by Toyota, that strives to eliminate all waste from the system. Key aspects of this philosophy include just-in-time inventory management and "jidoka" - the system safely stops when work completes or a problem arises. A related approach, Six Sigma developed by Motorola, includes elements of financial accountability

Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UNDHR)

Adopted in the wake of WWII (1948), this declaration, represented the first global expression of the belief that all people have certain inherent and fundamental rights that should be universally protected

Ecodesign Directive

this EU Directive provides rules for improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of energy-using products (EuP) and energy-related products (ErP)

Climate Neutral

Another term for net-zero

Stakeholder

Any group or individual with an interest in the decisions and activities of an organization. While traditional corporations have narrowly focused on those with a financial interest, considering the interests of this broader constituency is critical to long term success. Broadly speaking these constituents fall into five categories: Invest & risk assessors; Consumers and community; Business partners and competitors; Idea generators and opinion leaders; Rule makers and watchdogs

Ecosystem Services

Any positive benefit provided by an ecosystem. Four major categories of these were identified by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA): Provisioning (e.g. food, water); Regulating (e.g. pollination, carbon sequestration); Cultural (e.g. recreation, inspiration); Supporting (e.g. photosynthesis, carbon cycle)

Ecolabel

A "sign or logo that is intended to indicate an environmentally preferable product, service or company, based on defined standards or criteria". Depending on the certification standards, their reliability will vary

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

A 1994 trade agreement, between the US, Canada, and Mexico, which eliminated most tariffs on products traded between the parties. Twenty years later, the impact on jobs and wages remains a point of contentious debate in all three economies

Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)

A US-based product rating system for energy efficient information technology (IT) with environmental criteria addressing the full product life cycle - design, production, usage, and recycling. This rating is more rigorous than the Energy Star qualifying criteria

Future-Fit Business Benchmark

A business that meets this standard "is one that in no way undermines the possibility that humans and other life will flourish on Earth forever." To organize around this goal, such businesses focus on developing practices required for tomorrow rather than meeting short-term goals or emulating the current best practices of peers. This standard defines 21 future-fit goals that address social and environmental challenges while improving business performance

B Corp Certification

A certification scheme for a for-profit company whose mission aligns with creating a better society and has met the sustainability standards developed by B Lab. Their rigorous standards address social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Note that, some certified companies have legally organized themselves as "benefit corporations."

Permaculture

A combination word derived by combining "permanent" and "agriculture," this approach to farming uses a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature. Using a systems approach, these techniques were first developed in Australia by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren

Mindset

A deeply held belief. Evolving from a long-held belief structure to a new and unfamiliar paradigm is very difficult

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)

A family of chemicals that are nontoxic and nonflammable that are used by industry in such applications as aerosols, solvents, and refrigerants. One example, Freon (CHC-12) was used for decades in refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners. Because they react with the upper atmosphere, they have a high ozone depleting potential (ODP) and are therefore banned under the Montreal Protocol

Biodynamic agriculture

A holistic, ethical and ecological approach to farming that strives to regenerate the soil and ecosystem

Forest Principles

A key agreement arrived at by participants to the 1992 Earth Summit included these 15 non-legally binding principles

Benefit Corporation

A legal entity that may (or may not) be a Certified B Corporation. Directors of this corporate type are required by law to consider the impact of their actions on all stakeholders, rather than their stockholders alone. In most cases, they must publicly disclose their social and environmental performance, assessed against a 3rd party standard

Biofuel

A liquid fuel, derived from plant matter (biomass), which is used for transportation. There are three formulations. Ethanol is an alcohol, fermented from high carbohydrate biomass. Biodiesel is made from a mixture of alcohol and vegetable oil - sometimes recycled cooking oil. Biogas is a gaseous fuel, produced from either anaerobic digestion or gasification. Sources of biogas recovery include landfills, livestock operations, and waste treatment plants

Carbon offsets

A mechanism employed by businesses to meet their carbon reduction goals. Purchasing carbon credits equivalent to emissions generated by operations allows businesses to offset their impacts and meet their reduction goals

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

A mechanism established by the Kyoto Protocol designed to encourage project-based emission reduction activities in developing countries. Purchasing CERs produced by these projects allows Annex I countries to meet their reduction commitments

Frameworks

A mental model comprised of several interconnected core concepts that help us to understand a system. These concepts stand alone, while supporting each other, together forming a philosophical foundation for planning

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)

A mixture of chlorinated compounds, this man-made chemical is known to be carcinogenic and cause both neurobehavioral and immunological changes in children. These Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) have been banned or severely restricted across the world due to their negative impacts. Disposal of these chemicals requires special handling to ensure their toxic waste does not make it into the ecosystem

Agenda 21

A non-binding action plan for sustainable development adopted at the Earth Summit, it provided a wide-ranging blueprint to drive sustainable development around the world.

Lifestyles of health and sustainability (LOHAS)

A phenomenon found in developed nations throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. This term describes both a market sector and a consumer demographic. The marketplace of goods and services relate to all aspects of sustainable living - health, environmental responsibility, social justice, and personal development

Self-organization

A principle of most systems is that they have the ability to structure themselves, evolve into new structures, learn, diversify, and become increasingly complex. By loosening control, this phenomenon offers a valuable leverage point for change

Local Action for Sustainable Economic Renewal (LASER)

A process developed by Natural Capital Solutions and Global Community Initiatives for government sustainable economic development planning, using a framework for sustainability based on the development of ten forms of capital necessary for sustained prosperity

Cradle to Cradle Certified

A product certification that provides third-party assurance that a product has been designed and produced so its component parts may be used as inputs to new products

Factor 5

A revision of earlier estimates, this term states that society has the potential of improving resource efficiency by 80% - a five-fold productivity improvement using current methodologies

Nitrogen cycle

A series of processes move nitrogen and its compounds through the biosphere, interconverting the environment with all living organisms. While nitrogen makes up nearly 80% of the air we breathe and is a vital nutrient for plants, most organisms cannot use nitrogen in its pure form. Processes such as nitrogen fixation and decomposition that occur in the nitrogen cycle help make this resource usable to living things

Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS)

A set of technologies used to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it, long-term, deep underground. Designed to reduce the climate impact of gas and coal-fired power plants

Balanced Scorecard

A strategic framework used to align business practices with TBL goals, improve stakeholder communications, and monitor performance

Envision - Sustainable Infrastructure Standard

A sustainable infrastructure rating system comprised of 60 TBL criteria in five categories: Quality of Life, Leadership, Resource Allocation, Natural World, and Climate and Risk

Adaptive management or Adaptive Response Management (RAM)

A systematic process of continuous improvement where policies and practices are improved and adapted based on learning from previous outcomes

Green bonds

A tax-exempt debt instrument used by qualified organizations or municipalities to finance the development of brownfield sites. Often abandoned or underutilized, by definition these sites contain low levels of industrial pollution

Upcycle

A term associated with cradle-to-cradle thinking, this is the process of converting material into something of similar or greater value in its second life

Melbourne Principles for Sustainable Cities

These principles were developed in 2002 with the help of UNEP and ICLEI and offer sustainability planning guidance to urban areas

Food Security

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) "[this] exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient , safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life."

Metric tonnes

All GHG measurements is reported in this unit. It is approximately equal to 1.1 short tons or 2,205 pounds. This unit of measure is the most widely used unit of measure when reporting under the UNFCCC and is required when reporting under the GHG protocol

Community Capital

All the "natural, human, social, and built capital from which a community receives benefits and on which the community relies for continued existence."

Vampire energy

Also called "phantom energy," this term refers to the power drawn by AC/DC adapters and electronic devices when operating in standby mode

Carbon dioxide equivalent (CDR)

Also known as Carbon Engineering, this technology is used to counteract the greenhouse effect and ocean acidification by removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Multiple technologies have been proposed, such as afforestation, biochar, carbon capture and sequestration

Solar Radiation Management (SRM)

Also known as Solar Engineering, this technology is used to reflect the sun's energy back into space, thus offsetting temperature increases caused by the greenhouse effect. Technologies under consideration include albedo enhancement, space reflectors, and stratospheric aerosols

Cogeneration

Also known as combined heat and power (CHP), this is the process of capturing and using waste heat, a byproduct of burning fuel for electricity

Second Law of Thermodynamics

Also known as entropy, this scientific law states that energy disperses and spreads out if not prevented from doing so. As a result, anything emitted into the environment will disburse throughout nature

Deepwater Horizon

Also known as the Gulf Oil Spill, this 2010 disaster was the largest oil spill in history. This even effectively erased the efforts of BP (previously British Petroleum) to brand their company as an environmentally conscious company going "Beyond Petroleum"

UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)

Also known as the Rio Summit, this 1992 conference laid the foundation for all future efforts by the international community to ensure sustainable development. Rio's five main outcomes were: the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, the Statement of Land Resources and Deforestation, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity

Cradle to Grave

An LCA assessment of impacts from materials extraction through manufacture and usage, to landfill

Cradle to Gate

An LCA assessment of impacts from materials extraction to the factory door

Circular Economy

An approach to business and sustainable development that replaces our "take, make, waste" economy with one that continuously reuses outputs, adding only those inputs derived from exclusively renewable sources

Biomimicry

An approach to product design and innovation that emulates nature's patterns and strategies to find sustainable solutions to human challenges

Steady-state economy

An economy where inflows and outflows, though in a constant state of fluctuation, remain in relative balance. Such an economy permits qualitative development without quantitative growth

Cap and trade system

An emissions trading scheme, whereby lower emitters sell permits to excessive emitters so they can stay within their regulatory emissions cap

International Organization for Standards (ISO)

An international NGO that works with hundreds of national bodies to develop specifications for products, services, and systems. They have developed more than 21,000 international standards, including several that related to sustainability: ISO 14000; ISO 19011; and ISO 26000

Kyoto Protocol / Kyoto Accord

An international agreement, linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which commits the parties to binding emissions reductions. It created 3 mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gases: International Emissions Trading; Clean Development Mechanism (CDM); and Joint Implementation (JI)

Greenhouse gas inventory

An organization's (or city's) accounting of the quantity of greenhouse gases emitted and removed from the atmosphere, including all sources and sinks for which they are responsible

Feedback Loops

As one part of a system changes, other parts of the system react and respond, regulating system behavior as a whole. This term is the mechanism by which the system regulates and manipulates this change. This closed chain of causal connections forms when changes in a stock affect the flows in and out of that stock. These exhibit two kinds of behavior : positive (reinforcement) and negative (balancing)

Communication on Progress (COP)

At a minimum, signatories to the UNGC must produce one of these each year. The document reinforces corporate commitment to the UNGC and describes the measurable results of actions taken over the prior year

Social Accountability 8000 (SA 8000)

Based on UNDHR, ILO, and international laws, this certification, developed by Social Accountability International (SAI), addresses workplace conditions across the industrial sector. The underlying standard applies a systems approach, setting forth structures and procedures that ensure continuous compliance

Earth Charter

Based on the existing conditions, this in an ethical framework that provides guidance for the transition to more sustainable living and development. The 16 guiding principles address four primary concepts: Respect and care for the community of life; Ecological integrity; Social and economic justice; Democracy, nonviolence, and peace

Hierarchy of needs

Because the Brundtland commission did not elaborate upon how society might meet their needs, many have used this theory of human motivation to understand this aspect of sustainability. According to this theory, the main categories of need, in order of importance, are: Physiological; Safety; Love and belonging; Esteem; and Self-actualization

Gross national happiness (GNH)

Bhutan uses this metric as an indicator of national prosperity. Its calculation involves an assessment of the people's "wellbeing in things like community, culture, governance, knowledge and wisdom, health, spirituality and psychological welfare, a balanced use of time, and harmony with the environment".

Carbon cycle

Carbon is the building block of life on Earth. When nature is in balance, carbon flows cyclically between each of the "spheres" - the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere

Endocrine disruptor

Certain chemical, such as lead and mercury, have been shown to have adverse effects on hormone production and function. Many of these are still found in prolific products such as cookware, plastic, containers, canned food, and others

Triple bottom line (TBL)

Coined by John Elkington of SustainAbility, in 1994-5, this term refers to the practice of focusing, and accounting for, sustainability impacts on environment, society and the economy. Sometimes is is described as "economic prosperity, environmental quality, and social equity," or as "people, planet, profit" (3Ps)

Stationary combustion

Combustion of fuels in equipment such as boilers, furnaces, burners, turbines, heaters, incinerators, engines, flares, etc

Mobile combustion

Combustion of fuels in transportation devices such as automobiles, trucks, buses, trains, airplanes, boats, ships, barges, vessels, etc

Ecosphere

Comprised of four major systems explored by environmental studies and Earth science. The Geosphere is Earth's core, mantle and crust. The Atmosphere is the air around the Earth, which includes the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and ionosphere. They Hydrosphere is all the water contained on Earth, whether in solid, liquid, or gaseous form (e.g. ice, oceans, clouds, etc.). The Biosphere is all life on Earth, including plants, animals, insect, etc

Habitat III

Convened in 2016, under the auspices of the UN, this was the third conference focusing on the consequences of rapid urbanization. The goal of these conferences is to promote a new model of urban development that can integrate all facets of sustainable development - promoting equity, welfare and shared prosperity

CAFE standards

Corporate Average Fuel Economy) Standards that set the average fuel economy for new vehicle that a manufacturer's fleet must achieve, originally established by the US Congress for cars and light trucks, in the 1970's, in response to the Arab oil embargo. In 2007 updated legislation raised the standards for cars, light trucks, and SUVs. Current standards must be met at maximum feasible levels through 2030

Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights to Work

Countries adopting this declaration are committed to providing workers freedom and association and the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of forced labor, the abolition of child labor, and the elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation

Gross national product (GNP)

Derived by tallying all the income generated by companies and individuals residing within a country's boundaries, this is an indicator used to assess the economic position of a given country. The calculations are net of foreign investment

The commons

Derived from a 19th century work describing land that is shared collectively by the community, this term now refers to any shared and unregulated resource

VISIS

Developed by Alan AtKisson, this methodology provides an iterative process of assessment, analysis, initiative development, and planning toward sustainable development. Planners progress through a series of steps - visioning, indicator development, systems mapping, innovation brainstorming, and strategy development

The Natural Step

Developed in the mid-1990s, this framework for planning in complex systems evolved from the research of Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert, a former pediatric oncologist in Sweden. Robert's hierarchical framework for strategic sustainable development (FSSD) consists of five levels: System; Success; Strategy; Action; Tools

Green Seal

Developed using the transparent science-based environmental protocols this ecolabel provides assurance that the rated product meets rigorous sustainability criteria. This certification has more than 55 standards across 12 product and service categories, such as: household products, construction materials & equipment, and paints & coatings

UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (Ruggie Framework)

Drafted under the direction of Harvard's John Ruggie, these principle standards for transnational corporations and other business enterprises. These principles provide guidance for practicing the three pillars of CSR: Protect, Respect, and Remedy

Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)

Drives the disclosure of measurement information to improve the way companies manage their environmental risk over the long-term. They work with nearly 1,000 institutional investors to report Climate, Water and Deforestation impacts, as well as, the performance of Supply Chains. In addition, their public sector program works with cities, states and regions to improve environmental performance

Brundtland Commission

Publishers of "Our Common Future" in 1987, the UN's World Commission on Environment and Development got its moniker from its chairwoman, Gro Harlem Brundtland, the ex-Prime Minister of Norway

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

Each greenhouse gas captures infrared radiation and reflects it back out into the atmosphere at a different rate, thus having a different potential to warm the Earth. This is the term normalizes this potential relative to carbon dioxide (CO2) - the least impactful of al GHGs. This makes it possible to compare their relative impacts of climate change

Direct emissions

Emissions derived from sources that are owner or controlled by a reporting entity. This may include emissions from onsite combustion in boilers, furnaces, vehicles, etc., as well as emissions from chemicals in process equipment (e.g. fire suppression or refrigeration equipment). Direct emissions are reported under either Scope 1 or Scope 3.

Fugitive emissions

Emissions releases, either intentional or unintentional, that result from leaks in equipment such as those coming from joints, seals, packing, gaskets, as well as emissions from coal piles, wastewater treatment, pits, cooling towers, gas processing facilities, etc

Process emissions

Emissions resulting from physical or chemical processes such as CO2 from catalytic cracking in petrochemical processing, PFC emissions from aluminium smelting, etc

Indirect emissions

Emissions that result from the activities of a reporting entity, but occur at sources owned or controlled by another entity. They are associated with the purchase of electricity

Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX Act)

Enacted in 2002 by the US Congress, this act is intended to protect investors from fraudulent accounting practices by public corporations. Initially viewed abroad as a barrier to trade, other countries have since enacted similar laws, such as the 8th Company Law Directive of the EU

Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive

Enacted in 2003, this EU directive is targeted at reducing electronic waste by promoting its recycling through take-back programs. Closely linked with the EU's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE), the law requires the replacement of heavy metals and certain flame retardants with safer alternatives. Since its passage other countries and jurisdictions have passed similar legislation

Certified Emission Reduction (CER) units

Qualified emissions reductions under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

Aarhus Convention

Entering into effect in 2001 among EU countries, and drafted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), this agreement guarantees the rights of individuals - independently and collectively - to live in "an environment adequate to his or her health and wellbeing." This includes the "rights of access to information, public participation in decision making, and access to justice in environmental matters."

Stockholm Convention on POPs

Entering into effect in 2004 upon ratification, this is a global treaty to protect human and environmental health from organic pollutants that bioaccumulate with potentially significant impacts. Initially covering 12 organic chemicals, the convention now governs nearly 30 pesticides, industrial chemicals, and unintentionally produced substances

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)

Enterprises pursuing sustainability are often described as pursuing improvements in these three key areas. Some SRI reporting frameworks, such as those set forth by PRI (an investor initiative in partnership with UNEP Finance Initiative and UN Global Compact), use this model

Environmental Justice

Environmental justice addresses the interaction between environmental quality and social justice. It is governed by the principle that everyone has the right to equal protection from damage, risk, and discrimination due to pollution

Dynamic Complexity

Equilibrium occurs when a system is in balance such that changes to that system are imperceptible. Static equilibrium describes a system that is unchanging and motionless, but this type of equilibrium exists in a state of change yet the opposing forces at work are equivalent

Joint implementation (JI)

Established by the Kyoto PRotocol, this mechanism encourages the implementation of collaborative climate change mitigation projects between two Annex 1 countries. It allows for the creation, acquisition and transfer of "emission reduction units" (ERUs)

International Labour Organization (ILO)

Established in 1919, this is the only tripatriate UN agency. It brings together governments, employers and workers representatives to set standards, develop policies, and build programs that support worker rights

ENERGY STAR

Established under the Clean Air Act in 1992, this program helps businesses and individuals become more energy efficient, protect the environment, and save money. The European version of this program is a related scheme that applies to office equipment

Chemicals of Concern

Everything containing matter is made up of chemicals - in liquid gas, or solid form; natural and manmade; pure or mixed. The majority of chemicals pose no risk to humans or the environment, but those that could potentially cause harm are considered hazardous. Depending on the harmful properties of these they are regulated in order to protect human environmental health.

Limits to Growth

Published by the Club of Rome in 1972, this was a controversial paper, authored by a team at MIT, working under Jay W. Forrester. Controversial at the time, the team used computer modeling to simulate the impact on the biosphere of continued economic and population growth. Their findings showed that the carrying capacity of the Earth could not withstand the then-current rates beyond 2100, without experiencing irreversible collapse

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Formed through cellular respiration, the decomposition of biomass, and combustion, excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect. This is one of the greenhouse gases that nations are required to track under the Kyoto Protocol. According to the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) it has a global warming potential of 1

Precautionary principle

This principle holds that where there is a potential threat of serious or irreversible damage, a lack of certainty should not be used to justify postponing cost-effective action

Millennium Development Goals (MDG)

In 2000, the UN began developing a concrete set of actions aimed at ending poverty, hunger, and disease around the world. Out of this process arose a set of eight goals to be achieved by 2015. In 2016, they were replaced with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Ozone depleting substance (ODS)

In addition to tracking GHGs, the IPCC Assessment Reports track anthropogenic gases that have the potential to deplete the earth's atmospheric ozone layer. Used widely in refrigeration and solvents, these gases are covered under the Montreal Protocol

Base year

In corporate GHG accounting, this is a specific year (or an average over multiple years) against which an organization's impacts are tracked over time.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

In its flexible form this substance is familiarly known as vinyl. In its rigid form it is used in construction for plumbing pipes. Upon combustion, it produces hydrogen chloride (HCL). Evidence suggests that, throughout its entire life cycle, this chemical is responsible for a greater share of the nation's annual dioxin burden than any other industrial product

Additionality

In the carbon offset market, this test answers the question: Are the GHG reductions a direct result of the project being sold? If, all else being equal, the project reduces GHG levels, then the project passes this test.

Human Rights

In their related declaration of 1948, the UN defined these as the rights of all members of the human family. They include the right to inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of freedom, justice and peace

Radical resource productivity

Increase productivity to slow resource depletion and pollution while creating jobs and lowering business costs

Carbon credits

Instruments used to trade carbon emissions among parties in either the voluntary or compliance markets

Conventions

International, multilateral, instruments, often with a narrower scope than a treaty, which establish general guidelines and principles for governance that may precede, or form the basis for, a formal treaty, a type of legally-binding international treaty

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Internationally recognized as the most comprehensive catalogue of taxonomic, conservation status, and distribution information on plants, fungi, and animals. Listings of "Critically Endangered," "Endangered," and "Vulnerable" indicate which species face a higher risk of global extinction

Bioremediation

Introducing microbes and other biological organisms to rehabilitate environmentally contaminated sites

Indicator

This provides data about a topic or situation, which strategists and managers use to understand the world, inform decisions, and plan for actions

UN Global Compact (UNGC)

Launched in 2000, this initiative helps businesses adopt practices and policies that align with its ten principles on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. This is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world; with over 12,000 organizations based in 145 countries are signatories

Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI)

Maintained in collaboration with RobecoSAM, this scorecard follows a "best-in-class" approach to corporate sustainability rating for investors. Their series of indices are based on a comprehensive assessment of long-term TBL criteria

Six Sigma

Manufacturers use this methodology to improve output quality by defining, measuring, analyzing, improving, and controlling production

Ambient Air Quality

Measured at ground level, away from direct sources of pollution, this refers to the level of pollution found in outdoor air. Poor air quality is associated with heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory diseases and stroke.

Feed-in Tariff (FIT)

Modeled after Germany's approach to driving the deployment of renewable energy, this type of tariff drives investment away from nonrenewable fuels. It provides fixed income payments to renewable energy developers - individuals and businesses alike - for the energy they produce

Greenwashing

Modeled after the term "whitewashing," this term describes the marketing practice of making unsubstantiated sustainability claims

Pollution prevention (P2)

This refers to a set of practices designed to reduce pollution at its source, also known as "source reduction" techniques

System

More than the sum of its parts (elements, interconnections, and a function or purpose) this structure has a quality of "wholeness" and active mechanisms to maintain its integrity. While an important function of almost any such structure is self-perpetuation, understanding its behavior reveals a lot about its purpose. Changing any part of the structure changes it as a whole, although the most impactful change results from changing its function

Pareto Principle

Named after an early 20th century economist, this principle holds that 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. Used as a general rule of thumb, the so called "80/20 Rule" provides guidance on where to focus limited resources for maximum benefit

Bhopal chemical leak

Occurring in December of 1984, this disaster took place at the Union Carbide (now Dow Chemical) pesticide plant in central Asia. A half-million people were exposed to methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas

Intergenerational equity

One of the principles of environmental law. This concept describes the obligation of current generations to protect environmental health, diversity and productivity for the benefit of future generations

Design for the Environment (DfE)

Originally a program for the US EPA, this is an approach to creating more sustainable products and services that incorporates human health and environmental impact into design decisions

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

Passed by Congress in 1973, this act made the US one of the first countries to afford legal protections to a full range of living things, including birds, insects, fish, reptiles, mammals, crustaceans, flowers, grasses, and trees

Clean Air Act (CAA)

Passed in 1972, this act protects human and environmental health from the effects of air pollution. Over the years, it has been used to cut ozone, sulfur and nitrogen dioxide in order to address acid rain, and remove lead from gasoline. In 2007, the US Supreme Court upheld the EPA's ability to regulate GHG emissions under this legislation. This action made it possible for the US to drive clean energy efforts despite political opposition

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA)

Passed in the wake of the Three Mile Island nuclear accident, this act, provides a US Federal "Superfund" for hazardous waste cleanup. It also empowers the US EPA to seek out responsible parties and assure their cooperation in the cleanup

Leverage points

Places to intervene in a system to create change

ISO 19011

Provides guidance on internal and external auditing procedures for management systems

ISO 26000

Provides guidance on the social responsibility of businesses and other organizations

Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

Ratified in 1988, this framework convention, laid the groundwork for the Montreal Protocol. Its objective was to promote research, facilitate the exchange of information, and adopt measures that would mitigate activities that deplete the ozone layer

Cradle to Cradle

Refers to an assessment of impacts beginning with materials extraction through to the point where the materials become inputs for new products. This type of assessment is fundamental to a circular economy

Conflict minerals

Refers to the trade in non-military goods, the income from which is used to fund wars and helps to perpetuate human rights abuses. Used in the context of central Africa, tin, tungsten, and tantalum (the 3Ts) plus gold comprise these goods

Consumptive use

Refers to water that is removed from the environment through either evapotranspiration or consumption

Green Star (Australia)

Run by the Green Building Council Australia, this is a green building assessment and product certification program. PRojects can earn certification in any of four categories: Communities, Design & As Built, interiors, and Performance

Protocols

Separate, more detailed legal instruments than framework conventions, these documents provide a template for subsequent diplomatic transactions, serving as a draft that is subject to further refinement. To be legally binding, they must be signed and ratified by the parties of the convention

Downcycle

Since materials degrade when used (we know this from entropy, the 2nd law of thermodynamics), when recycled, they can only be used as inputs for lower quality products. This term describes this phenomenon.

Renewable energy certificate (REC)

Sold in the voluntary emissions trading markets, this type of offset represents an amount of CO2e emissions saved by using renewable energy to produce electricity. Rather than having a face value of one tonne of CO2e emissions, they can be purchased in varying denominations

Whistleblower

Someone who discloses information believed to be evidence of wrongdoing that threatens "public health and safety, financial integrity, human rights, the environment and the rule of law." Protections for these people are designed to shield them from retaliation and encourage reporting of misconduct of those in power

Ocean acidification (OA)

Sometimes called "the other carbon problem," this results when the pH balance of seawater drops as a result of becoming supersaturated with calcium carbonate. Balanced absorption of CO2 into seawater is important to the ocean's ecosystem, strengthening the skeletons and shells of marine organisms

Product stewardship

Sometimes used synonymously with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), this environmental management strategy assigns responsibility for minimizing the environmental impact of a product. Such responsibility may lie with the designer, producer, vendor, or user - whoever has the greatest ability to affect its impact throughout its life cycle. Most often responsibility lies with the producer

Arab Spring

Sparked by a Tunisian street vendor who set himself on fire in December of 2010, this refers to a period of uprising across the Arab world. Years of economic inequality, high unemployment, and political disenfranchisement came to a head when millions of Arab people protestested and rioted, demanding political, social and economic justice.

Intellectual capital

The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) describes this as "organizational, knowledge-based intangibles", which include intellectual property, systems and procedures, and brand reputation

Systems thinking

Taking a holistic approach to analyzing complexity. Rather than focusing on the details of isolated problems, way of thinking allows us to see the interconnections between constituent parts and the causes and effects of action

Manufactured Capital

The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) defines this a physical objects that are created by an organization and "are available to an organization for use in the production of goods or the provision of services, including: buildings, equipment, and infrastructure

Human Capital

The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) defines this as "people's competencies, capabilities and experience, and their motivations to innovate".

Financial Capital

The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) defines this as "the pool of funds that is available to an organization for use in the production of goods or the provision of services." It also includes such things as stocks, bonds, and currency

Natural Capital

The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) describes this as "all renewable and nonrenewable environmental stocks that provide goods and services that support the current and future prosperity of an organization"

ABCD Planning Method

The Natural Step (TNS) provides a strategic planning tool for sustainable development, based on the work of Karl-Henrik Robert. This tool developed to help plan in complex systems entails dfour steps: Awareness and visioning, Baseline mapping, Creating solutions, Decide on Priorities

BREEAM

The TBL procurement, design, construction and operation assessment that evaluates a building construction project against performance benchmarks. Assessments are performed by independent auditors

Talloires Principles

The Talloires Principles are a set of principles espoused by the presidents, rectors, and vice chancellors of universities from all regions of the world. They provide guidance to institutions of higher learning on building awareness and providing an educational setting that fosters progress toward sustainable development goals

Annex 1 Parties

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change defines these entities as industrialized nations (previously OECD members) and economies in transition (EIT) These countries are taking on emissions reduction obligations

Business Model

The business structure of an organization, its purpose and method of making money

Industrial ecology

The study of industry, viewed as an ecosystem, with the inflow and outflow of resources interconnected as in nature. This concept lies at the heart of circular economy and cradle-to-cradle thinking

Anthropogenic

The effect of human activity on climate change

Embodied or Embedded energy

The energy consumed throughout a product's life cycle - outside the usage phase - including materials extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and end-of-life management

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)

The global initiative, that focuses on "making nature's values visible," aims to bring ecosystem service and biodiversity issues into mainstream decision-making practices

Carrying capacity

The maximum population that can survive indefinitely on the available resources and services

Ecological Footprint

The measure of biologically productive land and water required to produce all the resources consumed and to absorb the waste generated. The carbon footprint is one part of this measurement

Sustainable development

The most widely accepted definition of this development approach comes from the 1987 Brundtland Commission report, which describes it as: "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

The parent treaty to the Kyoto Protocol, this framework convention was a major outcome of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio. With near universal membership (197 members) the goal of the convention is "to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system."

Verification

The process of obtaining an independent assessment as to the reliability of a GHG summary

Anthropocene

The proposed epoch in Earth's history that begins around the time of the Industrial Revolution when human activities began to have a significant impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems.

System archetypes

The term refers to the various combinations of reinforcing and balancing feedback loops that commonly occur in systems. They include: Fixes that backfire or fail, Shifting the burden, Limits to growth or success, Tragedy of the commons, Accidental adversaries, Escalation, Drifting or eroding goals, Success to the successful, and Growth and underinvestment

Ecological Economics

The transdisciplinary field of ecology and economics that endeavors to understand how humans interact with the ecosystem around them. Informed by the past practitioners work to include the value of natural capital from ecosystem services to drive future decisions

Value Chain

The various value adding activities of an organizational network - from materials resourcing through waste management

Substitution

These practices involve the replacement of conventional materials with less impactful alternatives. Along with dematerialization, these approaches provide a key mechanism for driving sustainable development. Harnessing renewable energy in lieu of fossil fuels is an example of this practice

Hannover Principles

These principles underpin many green building standards. Developed by William McDonough in 1992, they governed his design of The World's Fair, EXPO 2000, held in Hannover, Germany

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

These 17 goals, which went into effect in 2016, build on the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They call on all nations to end poverty in all forms by promoting individual wellbeing while protecting the planet. Though not binding in law, countries must devise implementation frameworks and report on progress toward these goals

Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF)

These activities impact the biosphere's ability to absorb carbon (act as a "sink"). Furthermore, because forests sequester carbon, they can be a significant "source" of carbon emissions. Despite the relatively short-term nature of such activities, they play a significant role in climate change mitigation. As a result, both the Kyoto Protocol and UNFCCC address issues related to these activities

Balancing Loops

These are also known as negative feedback loops, and have a stabilizing effect, creating resistance, eventually limiting growth or collapse

Reinforcing loop

These are also known as positive feedback loops, and generate exponential growth or collapse at an increasing rate. This runaway behavior strengthens with each iteration

Caux Round Table (CRT) - Principles for Government

These are based on the idea that "the expectation that better government supporting the entrepreneurial endeavors of socially responsible businesses around the world will generate greater investment of private capital to create more wealth for poor people."

Verified Emissions Reduction (VER)

These are carbon credits available in the voluntary marketplace. Verifiable though numerous standards these credits are compatible with CDM and JI projects, although small project managers may elect not to register them due to the costs associated with compliance

Fossil fuel

These are formed through the process of anaerobic decomposition of buried plant matter, which gradually transforms into minerals - including petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Because they consist mainly of hydrogen and carbon, they are also referred to as hydrocarbons. When excavated and burned to produce energy, the sequestered carbon gets released back into the atmosphere. Because the production process takes millions of years, these fuels are considered to be nonrenewable

Metrics

These are quantitative data that allow us to quantify indicators so we can measure, compare, and track performance

Stocks

These are the elements of a system that you can see, feel, and count

Flows

These are the interconnections between elements of a system that change over time - the relationships that hold the system together

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

These chemical compounds are organic substances that evaporate easily, contributing to the formation of ozone and smog. They are linked to respiratory illnesses and memory impairment

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

These chemicals are resistant to environmental degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes. Over time, they persist, bioaccumulating with potentially significant impacts on human health and the environment

Nanomaterials

These contain nanoparticles - particles measuring less than 100 nanometers in at least one direction. (One nanometer = one billionth of a meter)

Extended Producer Responsibility

These directives place significant end-of-life responsibility on manufacturers, in managing the post-consumer treatment and disposal of their products. Requirements may be financial and/or physical in nature

Scope 3

These emissions are the result of activities that happen throughout the value chain, outside an entity's direct control. Examples include employee commuting, freight, and supplier impacts

Waste to energy

These landfill management practices involve the process of using discarded materials to generate heat and electricity, rather than allowing it to decay in the landfill. Sometimes referred to as "recovery" the process is sometimes included as the fourth "R" in waste recovery (reduce-reuse-recycle-recover)

Principles of Natural Systems

These principles, attributed to the Australian ecologist Charles Birch, hold that: nothing grows forever; continuation of life depends on the cycles of essential elements; the probability of extinction is greatest when population density is very high or very low; despite complexity, chances of survival and reproduction depend on only a few factors; our ability to change the Earth increases faster than our ability to foresee the consequences change; and living organisms are not a means but an ends - they have intrinsic value

Equator Principles (EPs)

These principles, created in 2003 by the IFC (World Bank), provide the financial services industry with a risk management framework for assessing and managing social and environmental risk

Wicked problems

These problems are difficult or impossible to solve. In part, solutions to these challenges elude policy makers and society because of their complexity or the lack of clear and complete information. Solving these social or cultural problems may be costly due to their systematic and the number of stakeholders involved

Caux Round Table (CRT) - Principles for Business

These provide "a worldwide vision for ethical and responsible corporate behavior and serve as a foundation for action for business leaders worldwide."

Sources and sinks

These system inputs and reservoirs are elements or entities that reside outside a system, but impact or influence it in some way. System inputs may also be reservoirs and vice versa

IPAT

This "equation" expresses a causal relationship between total population (P), affluence (A), technology (T), and environmental impact (I). While overly simplified the construct of a multiplicative relationship between these elements has led to a broader understanding of environmental challenges such as climate change

Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT 1992)

This Act of 1992, enacted but the US Congress, was aimed at reducing petroleum dependence and improving air quality. The legislation covers all aspects of energy supply and demand and boosted investment in alternative fuels vehicle technology, among other things

Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization & Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)

This EU regulation is designed to protect human and environmental health from chemical exposure. The legislation also contains provisions relating to the use of animals in research

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA)

This UN assessment was initiated in 2001 to develop a scientific basis for action to conserve ecosystem resources and implement sustainable use policies. Assessment of the consequences of ecosystem change on human wellbeing included an appraisal of ecosystem services and suggested options for restoring, conserving, or enhancing the sustainable use of ecosystems

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT)

This analysis involves a process of identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats faced by an organization

Zero waste

This approach to materials disposal goes beyond the practice of recycling, taking a whole-system approach to eliminating waste from human society

Logical framework approach (LFA), or logframe

This approach to project planning follows a hierarchical planning methodology that focuses on the achievement of one project purpose. Represented graphically, this approach uses a matrix that helps develop measurable indicators, means of verification, and key assumptions for each aspect of the project plan: Objectives & Goals; Project Purpose; Desired Results; Intervention Activities along with their costs and expected returns

Grameen bank (microcredit)

This bank project takes its name from the Bengali word for "Village bank". Created in Bangladesh in the mid-1970s, it marked the beginning of modern-day microfinancing. This type of microcredit lending funds for self-employment projects that generate enough income for the borrower to care for themselves and their families

Fair Trade Certification

This certification supports sustainable development among small producers and agricultural workers in the poorest countries. This type of mark, of Fairtrade International (FLO), is used throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Fair Trade USA is the equivalent mark used in North America

Ecosystem

This consists of the biological community along with the physical and chemical factors that make up its nonliving environment

UN Convention on Biological Diversity

This convention was an outcome of the 1992 WCED summit in Rio de Janeiro and entered into force in 1993. It has three key objectives - to conserve biological diversity, support the sustainable use of biological diversity's components, and promote the equitable sharing of benefits that arise from using genetic resources

Rio Declaration on the Environment and Development

This declaration defined a series of principles governing the rights of people to development, and their responsibilities od States to safeguard the common environment

Sustainable energy

This describes energy that is available to all people - both today and in the future. Having the capacity to provide this requires a strong infrastructure, deriving fuel from renewable sources, and practicing energy efficiency

Employee ownership

This describes the ownership of a company by a broad cross-section of employees - from rank-and-file to management - offered through a formal plan by the company

Nuclear power

This energy is generated through fission - a process that uses neutrons to break apart an atom's nucleus. Upon breakup, these neutrons collide with other atoms, causing a chain reaction. Large, heavy, relatively weak, and unstable, uranium is an ideal element to fuel this process. Its instability makes uranium highly radioactive, with a half-life of 4.5 billion years. One pound of uranium can produce as much power as 3 million pounds of coal

UN Guiding Principles Framework (UNGPs)

This framework provides companies with principles to comprehensively report on humans rights issues that align with their responsibility as defined by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

Ozone (O3)

This gas, composed of three atoms of oxygen, occurs both at ground level and in the upper atmosphere, it protects the Earth's surface from harmful UV rays. When found at lower levels, it is a volatile organic compound (VOC), created through chemical processes, which can be harmful to human health. The Montreal Protocol agreement set regulations to curb the use of compounds that produce this gas

Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) credit

This global standard is used to develop credible voluntary carbon unit (VCU) credits

Scope 1

This group of emissions encompasses direct emissions from sources within the reporting entity's organizational boundaries. It includes such emissions as derived from burning natural gas onsite, refrigerant leakage, and company owned vehicle emissions

Indigenous people

This group of individuals is defined as having a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory - culturally and historically distinct from the majority populations with political dominance

Genuine progress indicator (GPI)

This indicator measures the economic welfare generated by economic activity by including the depreciation of community capital as an economic cost. Going beyond consumption (represented by GDP), this indicator accounts for income distribution, environmental costs, crime, pollution, volunteering, household work, among other activities

Rainforest Alliance Certified

This international NGO focuses its work on biodiversity and the livelihoods of those who depend on it. They also certify products and services that are derived from sustainable farms and forests. The organization is a leader in helping to address the climate change issues associated with deforestation

Socially responsible investing (SRI)

This investment approach considers sustainability criteria when evaluating investment opportunities

Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE)

This is a Japanese rating system for evaluating the environmental performance of the built environment. The program provides tools for assessing the environmental of housing, commercial buildings, neighborhood, and cities

Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE)

This is a building standard developed by the World ?Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC). using the accompanying free software, developers in emerging markets can determine the most cost-effective options for building resource-efficient structures. Those buildings that demonstrate 20% efficiency improvements can become certified

Product environmental footprint (PEF)

This is a kind of life cycle assessment that focuses primarily on environmental impacts. Used more commonly than LCA in Europe, the EU is seeking to standardize this assessment approach in the same way they have done for hazardous materials with REACH

Negawatt

This is a saved unit of electricity

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

This is a standards body that puts forth criteria for sustainability reporting, in partnership with global organizations focused on quality, environment, and economics. Their sustainability reporting framework is used by a majority of the world's largest corporations

Multi-stakeholder engagement

This is a structured process, used to ensure that a range of perspectives are included in decision-making

Externalities

This is a term Economists use to refer to the large indirect costs that affect people but are not captured in prices. Without capturing these costs in market prices, people cannot make informed decisions. Carbon emissions provide an excellent example of how this negatively impacts society

Mitigation

This is a tool for addressing the root cause of negative social or environmental impacts, thereby diminishing the potential for damage before it occurs

Adaptation

This is a tool used to address negative social or environmental impacts, by developing new, more effective ways of functioning after change has occurred.

Emissions factor

This is a value that helps to quantify the amount of a pollutant released into the atmosphere as a result of a given activity

Systems mapping

This is a visual representation of a system that provides a way to better understanding how it functions in order to affect change

First Law of Thermodynamics

This is also known as the Law of Conservation of Energy, and states that all energy and mass in a system is conserved in some way - that the essence of a thing may change but nothing is either created or destroyed

Mental models

This is an abstract representation of a system - of something in the real world that we want to better understand - constructed in our imaginations. Cultivating the ability to think about the underlying structure and function of a system, through the use of these, is critical to successful sustainable development

Feebate

This is an approach to taxation whereby those practicing undesirable behavior are levied a fee, which gets rebated to those practicing the desirable behavior. This approach is thought to be an effective way of spurring innovation

Environmental Management System (EMS)

This provides a framework for reaching sustainability goals through consistent control of operations, which includes a process for continuous improvement. In addition to offering certification under ISO 14001, ISO 14004 provides guidance for creating this. Many types of these follow the Plan > Do > check > Act (PDCA) framework

Natural capitalism

This is an economic model that highlights the critical relationship between society and the ecosystem expressed in economic terms. It allows decision-makers to consider Earth's carrying capacity and the risks associated with the limits of growth. Four central strategies of this concept can help countries, companies, and communities to thrive: Radical resource productivity; Biomimicry; Service and flow economy; Invest in natural capital

Gross domestic product (GDP)

This is an index of a country's economic output - the economic value of all goods and services, derived by tallying either all income received or all money spent. It is used to determine a nation's level of prosperity. Calculated by summing recorded market transactions, many consider it an inaccurate indicator of progress because in ignores social costs, environmental impacts and income inequality

Habitat

This is defined as the environment where an organism or group of organisms, including flora and fauna, normally live. That environment includes both living and nonliving things

Eutrophication

This is defined as the presence of excessive nutrients in bodies of water and the effect over enrichment has on aquatic life. This phenomenon causes depleted oxygen (hypoxia) and algal blooms

Methane (CH4)

This is one of the greenhouse gases that nations are required to track under the Kyoto Protocol. According to the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR%) it has a global warming potential that ranges from 28 over a 100 year time horizon

Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)

This is one of the greenhouse gases that nations are required to track under the Kyoto Protocol. According to the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR%) it has a global warming potential that ranges from 4 to 12,400 over a 100 year time horizon

Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6)

This is one of the greenhouse gases that nations are required to track under the Kyoto Protocol. According to the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) if has a global warming potential of 23,500 over a 100 year time horizon

Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF3)

This is one of the greenhouse gases that nations are required to track under the Kyoto Protocol. According to the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) it has a global warming potential of 16,100 over a 100 year time horizon

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

This is one of the greenhouse gases that nations are required to track under the Kyoto Protocol. According to the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) it has a global warming potential of 265 over a 100 year time horizon

Perfluorocarbon (PFC)

This is one of the greenhouse gases that nations are required to track under the Kyoto Protocol. According to the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) it has a global warming potential that ranges from 6,630 to 17,400 over a 100 year time horizon

Rio Earth Summit

This is the common name for a conference that was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. During its convening of 172 governments, parties sought to rethink economic development. The conference resulted in 5 pivotal outcomes: Rio Declaration on Environment and Development; Agenda 21; Statement on Land Resources: Deforestation; UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; UN Convention on Biological Diversity

Living Building Challenge

This is the most rigorous performance standard for the built environment. It calls for building projects that operate as cleanly, beautifully, and efficiently as nature does. Rather than meeting standards at a single point in time, projects must demonstrate performance of a period of at least 12 months of occupancy

Social responsibility

This is the practice of incorporating social and environmental considerations into the decision-making process and being accountable for the impact of those decisions. Under ISO 26000 guidance, recognizing the stakeholder interests and incorporating those interests are a key element of its practice

Photosynthesis

This is the process by which plant cells capture energy from the sunlight and convert it to energy. It is the only aspect of Earth that is an open system, gaining energy from the sun. According to The Natural Step, this process "pays the bills," creating structure and order

Energy-use product (EuP)

This legislation sets energy efficiency thresholds for products that use energy (e.g. televisions, lighting, computers, etc.)

Energy-related product (ErP)

This legislation sets performance standards for those products that have an indirect impact on energy consumption (e.g. windows and faucets)

Sustainability Compass

This metaphorical tool helps planners navigate the journey toward sustainability. Used for indicator development, it offers four broad categories for assessment: N=Nature; E=Economy; S=Society; W=Wellbeing

Statement of Land Resources

This non-legally-binding statement of principles emerged from the Rio Earth Summit, calling for a global consensus for action to protect the world's forests from exploitation, fire, acid rain and alternative land use practices. The five program areas include: multiple use of forests and forest lands, promoting afforestation and reforestation, efficient use of forests and their trees, monitoring forest-related activities, and promoting cooperation

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

This organization promotes environmentally sound, socially beneficial, and economically prosperous management of the world's forests. Third-party verifiers assess forest management practices and chain of custody operations, tracing wood products through the supply chain from the live tree to end-use. This eco-label can be found on furniture, lumber and building products, pulp and paper products, along with non-wood products derived from forests, such as cork and bamboo

Greenhouse effect

This phenomenon results when heat becomes trapped in the Earth's lower atmosphere and is prevented from escaping into space

Coral Bleaching

This phenomenon results when resident algae die, due to changes in environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, light, nutrients), causing them to be expelled from their hosts

Polluter pays principle

This principle holds that the cost of migrating negative impacts should be borne by the entity responsible for their emission

Thermohaline circulation

This refers to the deep ocean currents that are driven by differences in water density, which is controlled by temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline). As glacier ice forms, the salt precipitates out into the surrounding seawater making it saltier and denser, causing it to sink. As this saltier water sinks, the fresh surface water drawn in to replace it also becomes salty - eventually sinking as well. The resulting deep ocean currents circle the globe in a kind of conveyor belt

Scope 2

This refers to the indirect emissions that result from the use of grid-supplied electricity

Life cycle costing (LCC)

This refers to the practice of looking at the relative benefits and drawbacks of a given financial decision based on a full range of related expenditures over the long-term. Capital outlays, operating expenses, and disposal fees are all included in such an analysis

Supply Chain

This refers to three functions occurring in the life cycle of a product: materials supply, manufacture, and distribution through to the final customer

Traceability

This supply chain transparency concept that relates particularly to commodities were a buyer is unlikely to know the origins, of social and environmental impacts of the component or ingredient

Sustainability Management System

This systematic approach to sustainability strategy implementation, which often follows the iterative Plan > Do > Check > Act (PDCA) framework, provides for continuous improvement in day-to-day operations

Pigouvian Tax

This tax is levied on companies that pollute or incur excessive social costs throughout their business practices

Photovoltaic

This technology is used to convert light directly into electricity and the atomic level. When photons of light hit certain types of material, the photoelectric effect causes them to release electrons, resulting in an electric current

Desalination

This technology uses a process called reverse osmosis (RO) to remove salt and other inorganic impurities from seawater, producing potable water for human consumption and crop irrigation

Smart growth

This term describes a set of strategies designed to create urban environments that conserve natural capital, protect human health, and make communities more livable

Resiliency

This term describes the ability of a system to bounce back - to survive, adapt, and thrive in the face of change. It is a critical element of those complex systems that persevere over time

Sustainable consumption and production

This term describes the life cycle use of products and services in a way that provides for basic needs, improves quality of life, protects human and environmental health, minimizes the use of natural resources, and avoids waste

Dematerialization

This term describes the practice of reducing material flows - using less of the same substances to produce and equivalent product. Alon with substitution, this practice provides a key mechanism for driving sustainable development

Energy Efficiency

This term is defined as getting more output for the energy expended. It can be calculated as the ratio of useful "energy" (the capacity to do work) to total energy expended while performing "work" (defined as the transfer of energy).

Geoengineering

This term is defined by Oxford University Geoengineering Programme as "the deliberate large-scale intervention in the Earth's natural systems to counteract climate change." Approaches used include Solar Radiation Management (SRM) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)

Green building

This term refers to a movement to create healthier indoor environments in structures built with environmental health in mind. Worldwide, over 100 councils working to drive progress toward a net-zero built environment

Ecological Integrity

This term refers to an ecosystem when all the native components - the abiotic elements, biodiversity and ecosystem processes - are intact

Baseline

This term refers to emissions levels represented by the status-quo-ante in GHG Project Accounting. To evaluate project additionality (including GHG emissions reductions, removals, or storage), a project accountant develops various scenarios against this point in time

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

This term refers to the business practice of focusing on activities affecting the triple bottom line interests of all stakeholders

Indoor air quality (IAQ)

This term refers to the environmental condition of spaces in and around buildings particularly as it relates to human health. Most countries regulate allowable levels of six criteria pollutants that may contaminate these spaces: Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Photochemical oxidants (as ozone), Sulfur dioxide, Lead, and Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10)

Biodiversity

This term refers to the full range of life forms on Earth - their species, genetic, and ecological diversity

Stakeholder engagement

This term refers to the practice of engaging key stakeholders in dialogue to understand their vital interests - is essential to fostering sustainable business practices

Stranded assets

This term refers to those assets recorded as losses on a company's balance sheet, because they have become non performing ahead of their useful life. Notably, in 2014, ExxonMobil began issuing a "Carbon Asset Risk" assessment that led to recording a potion of their oil reserves that way

Factor 10

This term states that within one generation, a 10-fold decrease in resource consumption, coupled with a 10-fold increase in efficiency would be required to achieve dematerialization

Factor 4

This term states that, using existing methodologies, society can enjoy life twice as much on half the resources - effectively quadrupling resource efficiency

Emission Reduction Unit (ERU)

Under the Joint Implementation (JI) mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, these carbon credits may be transferred from the account of the host country (the place where the emissions reduction project is located) to that of the investor country. These compliance credits help Annex 1 countries meet their emissions reduction targets

Backcasting

Unlike forecasting based on data about what has already happened, this planning approach begins with the end in mind. Central to The Natural Step framework, planners first envision the desired future state, and then build a strategy that will lead to the desired outcome.

Organizational boundary

When developing a GHG inventory, an organization performs an assessment of this to determine the method by which they will consolidate their emissions inventory - using either an equity or control approach

Operational boundary

When developing a GHG inventory, an organization performs an assessment of this to determine which direct and indirect emissions are a consequence to operations and therefore must be reported upon

Greenhouse gas (GHG)

When present in the atmosphere, these gases absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range, contributing to the greenhouse effect. Certain of these, reported under the Kyoto Protocol, that result from human activities include: CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, SF6, NF3, PFCs, and HFCs. The IPCC Assessment Reports periodically update the gases that parties to the Kyoto Protocol must report upon

Climate Change

While weather refers to atmospheric conditions over short periods of time, climate is the long-term behavior of the atmosphere - an accumulation of weather over time. Although daily weather may appear relatively constant, incontrovertible scientific data shows that Earth's climate is changing. The result is an increase in severe weather events, drought, changes in ocean chemistry, and rising tides

Montreal Protocol

Widely considered one of the most effective environmental agreements, this protocol set forth a timetable for the mandatory phase-out of all ozone depleting substances. Included among these substances are CFCs, halons and HCFCs, chemicals with high global warming potential

Entropy

the scientific law - the second law of thermodynamics - states that energy disperses and spreads out if not prevented from doing so. As a result anything emitted into the environment will disburse throughout nature