Key terms & definitions

The movement of carbon between stores such as the atmosphere, living organisms, soil and dead organic material.

The movement of carbon between the atmosphere, living organisms and other stores, including its return to the air as carbon dioxide.

The movement and recycling of carbon between organisms and the environment.

A gas made of carbon and oxygen, with the formula $CO_2$. It was present in a large amount in the Earth's early atmosphere.

The gas produced by chemical raising agents; its bubbles help a mixture rise and create a light, airy texture.

A greenhouse gas released by burning fossil fuels and wood, and by industrial processes such as cement production. Plants remove it from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.

The quantity of carbon dioxide present in a given volume, often expressed as a concentration.

The amount of carbon dioxide in a given volume of air or solution.

A unit that expresses different greenhouse gases in terms of the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide with the same warming effect.

A transfer of carbon from one store to another through a process such as photosynthesis or combustion.

The total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a person, activity or product, including indirect emissions from producing goods and services, usually expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent.

The total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service or event.

The total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service or event.

The total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a person, activity or organisation.

The total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product, process or activity across its life cycle.

A measure of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a person, activity, organisation or product. A food's footprint includes more than its transport.

Treatment of wool with acid to destroy vegetable impurities such as leaves and twigs.

A poisonous gas in cigarette smoke that can pass through the placenta and reduce the oxygen available to the foetus.

A colourless, odourless and toxic gas that may be released when a carbon-containing fuel burns incompletely.

A poisonous gas that combines with haemoglobin in the blood, reducing its ability to carry oxygen. It is colourless and odourless.

A long, hollow, cylindrical fullerene made of bonded carbon atoms.

A cylindrical fullerene with a very high length-to-diameter ratio.

Having no net release of carbon dioxide because releases are balanced by carbon dioxide absorption.

Compensating for emissions by supporting activities intended to reduce emissions elsewhere or remove carbon dioxide, such as tree planting.

Compensating for emissions by supporting activities that remove or prevent greenhouse-gas emissions elsewhere, such as reforestation.

Compensating for emissions through activities intended to remove greenhouse gases or reduce emissions elsewhere, such as funding reforestation.

Funding projects intended to save or remove emissions elsewhere to compensate for emissions produced by an activity.

The extraction of a metal from its compound by heating it with carbon or using a carbon-derived reducing agent such as carbon monoxide.

The removal of oxygen from a metal oxide by reaction with carbon, producing the metal.

A closed loop of carbon atoms joined together by covalent bonds.