Glossary

Greenhouse effect
The phenomenon whereby the Earth's atmosphere traps solar radiation, caused by the presence in the atmosphere of gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapour, and methane that allow incoming sunlight to pass through but absorb heat radiated back from the Earth's surface. (The free dictionary)

Climate change
Climate change describes any change in the Earth's climate. However, it is usually used to describe changes that have occurred over the last 200 years and are the result of human activities. (The free dictionary)

Global warming
An increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere (especially a sustained increase that causes climatic changes) (The free dictionary)

IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Set up by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in 1988. The role of the IPCC is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.

Weather
The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place, with respect to variables such as temperature, moisture and wind velocity (The free dictionary)

Climate
Prevailing weather conditions that characterise a particular region.

Greenhouse gas
A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation (the free dictionary)

Thermal expansion
The phenomenon whereby water expands when it warms. This results in sea-level rise from increases global temperatures.

SMEs - Small and medium sized enterprises
These are defined as organisations with less than 250 employees in total.