The ability for a species to change its own habits or physical abilities in order to successfully adjust to new life challenges. As human activity continues to alter the natural world, animals may need to adapt to a changing ecosystem that increasingly puts them into contact with humans, urban environments, and our waste. Failure to adapt to such changes could result in the massive dieoff of impacted species.

Particles suspended within a gas. In relation to environmental impact, these are often detrimental molecules that can be found in our atmosphere (the gas) such as chlorofluorocarbons (the suspended particles). In the 20th century an increase of mass produced commodities such as bug spray, cleaners, refrigeration units, hair spray, and automobiles emitted massive amounts of aerosols as a byproduct. Some of these chemical compounds had a profound impact on Earth’s atmosphere by contributing to global warming and ozone deterioration (“Chlorofluorocarbon,” 2021).

The practice of planting forests or stands of trees in areas previously lacking tree cover in an effort to offset environmental degradation, improve water and soil quality, and capture carbon from the atmosphere.

The ability for a surface to reflect radiation.  In relation to Earth, albedo refers to how much of the planet’s surface reflects or absorbs The Sun’s solar radiation back into space. Snow, glaciers, and sea ice all have a high albedo and reflect the majority of light that hits its surface. There is ongoing debate regarding the impact of a drastically reduced planetary albedo as climate change continues to decrease the area and seasons that harbor these icy surfaces. (Wayne, 2016).

Edible protein derived from sources other than traditional animal protein (meat), such as plants, insects, and clean meat. Many celebrate alt proteins as a food source independent of large scale livestock and fishing, thus minimizing ecological footprints tied to land and water use (Attenborough, 2020).

Sources of energy or electricity that do not deplete or denigrate the Earth’s environment and resources. Examples include solar energy captured through sunlight, wind energy by turning wind turbines, marine energy generated by tidal fluctuations, and geothermal energy produced by the planet’s own hot interior.

A geological age which marks human activity as a major influence upon Earth’s climate and environment. The exact start of the Anthropocene is still debated. Some suggest it coincides with increased pollution level from the industrial revolution, while others argue it started closer to the 1950s as an abundance of plastics and radioactive isotopes from nuclear weapons testing became more common (National Geographic, 2016).

The mindset that places people or humankind as the primary focus and benefactors of all existence. In other words, everything on Earth is here to serve human beings, as opposed to a more holistic approach that places Homo sapiens as one of the many species inhabiting the planet.

The practice of cultivating and harvesting fish, shellfish, plants, or algae in aquatic environments for human consumption. The intent is to create a more controlled habitat for producing such food sources while preserving the dwindling wild fish populations threatened by commercial fishing and environmental degradation.

The layers of gas/air surrounding a celestial body. On Earth, the atmosphere acts like a protective blanket which regulates the amount of solar energy retained by the planet. Earth’s atmosphere is composed of 5 layers and primarily consists of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) (Sharp, 2021).  There is real concern of how increasing amounts of other gasses and aerosols (such as carbon dioxide, methane and CFCs) released as a byproduct of human activity impacts the planet’s atmosphere, and consequently, climate.

The amount of time that particles such as greenhouse gases remain present in Earth’s atmosphere before being removed by natural processes. Some compounds, like methane, remain in the atmosphere for about 12 years (Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, n.d.).

The weather and climate process formed within the planet’s atmosphere as heat is transferred around the globe in relation to the properties of thermodynamics. On Earth, they are heavily studied and observed to forecast weather and climate trends (“Atmospheric Thermodynamics,” 2021).

The variety of life that inhibits a particular ecosystem (i.e. how many different species of plants and animals live in a certain area like a desert, sea, rainforest or even country or state).

Renewable energy derived from organic material such as wood and other crops such as corn, soy, and sugarcane. While bioenergy is celebrated as being renewable and a better alternative to fossil fuels, there is reasonable concern stemming from the amount of space large scale operations would require. Furthermore, monocrop plantations in general have a strong tendency to reduce soil fertility and require heavy amounts of watering (Attenborough, 2020).

A secondary or subsequent substance created intentionally or unintentionally while producing or manufacturing a separate material. For example, during the typical process of making cement, nearly a pound of carbon dioxide is created as a byproduct of the chemical reaction for making one pound of concrete (Gates, 2021).

A predetermined maximum amount of carbon dioxide emissions that a country agrees to not exceed in an effort to reduce greenhouse gasses and mitigate global warming.

The practice of removing carbon dioxide particles from the atmosphere and storing it within more permanent materials in an effort to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The culmination of the numerous slow and fast systems in which carbon is emitted, processed, and exchanged through Earth’s physical features and organisms. For example, when a volcano erupts, carbon is emitted directly into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide gas. Over time, some of that atmospheric carbon dioxide is absorbed by one of many carbon sinks, such as the ocean. Once carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it can be processed by aquatic plants or algae through photosynthesis, allowing carbon to enter that ecosystem’s food chain (and produce the oxygen we breathe as a byproduct). However, carbon dioxide in the ocean might also be converted into carbonate, which sea creatures like corals and shellfish turn into calcium carbonate to create shells or skeletons. If not consumed by other organisms, these shells and coral skeletons sink to the ocean floor to become sedimentary rock, like limestone. Limestone can therefore store massive amounts of carbon for millions of years until it might return to the Earth's interior via tectonic subduction, where it again, might be stored for millions of years before being released by new geological processes like future volcano eruptions.

This is merely an example of a few of the processes within the carbon cycle. Many more exist and also provide their own invaluable functions that regulate conditions for life on Earth. However, these systems do have maximum capacities and can only process so much carbon at any given time. As humans produce more carbon dioxide as a byproduct of industrial practices such as burning fossil fuels or creating cement from limestone, carbon sinks cannot keep up with the demand, especially as we destroy existing sinks such as forests. The ocean still absorbs a lot of carbon dioxide, but is becoming increasingly acidic in trying to keep up with demand. The higher acidity makes conditions harder for oceanic life including corals and shellfish. With little time for these species to adapt, massive die offs can occur. This not only jeopardizes entire oceanic food webs, but also decelerates the facet of the carbon cycle which removes carbon dioxide from the air and stores it long term within limestone. Dwindling carbon sinks also means carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for a longer period of time in growing concentrations, contributing to more extreme consequences of climate change (Riebeek, 2011). The importance of Earth’s carbon cycle cannot be emphasised enough, as it directly influences multiple planetary boundaries. Humans must therefore work urgently to correct these indispensable systems, or the consequences could be total.

A greenhouse gas molecule composed of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. On Earth, carbon dioxide is increasingly produced as a byproduct of human activities such as burning fossil fuels and is a chief component of human induced climate change. It has an atmospheric lifetime that can vary between a couple of years to millennia. This variance depends on the ability for carbon dioxide to be exchanged through processes within Earth's carbon cycle. There is growing alarm concerning the impact that the buildup of carbon dioxide will have for life on Earth over the next century (“Carbon Dioxide,” 2021).

A measurement of carbon dioxide emitted as a byproduct of the actions of an individual, organization, or action.

Actions made with the intent to neutralize the carbon footprint, or emission, made as a byproduct of another action.

Natural and synthetic processes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by moving it into solid and liquid bodies such as plants, lakes, oceans and other materials.

Environments noted for effectively removing and storing carbon compounds such as CO2 from the atmosphere. For example, as carbon sinks, forests absorb and store carbon dioxide within their vegetation; a true testament to the dangers of deforestation.

A proposed tax on carbon emissions in an effort to reduce the activities and commodities which produce greenhouse gasses as a byproduct.

The maximum population of a specific species that can be sustained by the available resources within a single environment.

Gaseous carbon compounds consisting of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. They are often the byproduct of refrigeration and aerosols. The dangers of CFCs in the atmosphere are two-fold. As a greenhouse gas over 10,000 times more effective at trapping solar radiation than CO2, CFCs also have a long atmospheric lifetime of about 55-140 years. In addition, they destroy Earth’s protective ozone layer which shields us (and other lifeforms) from harmful ultraviolet light (UV rays). In 1987, a handful of nations recognized the threats of CFCs and signed into treaty the Montreal Protocol which pledged phasing out the production of substances responsible for depleting the ozone. As a result, the infamous “ozone hole” over Antarctica has begun to recover and the agreement has been touted as one of the best examples of international cooperation (“Chlorofluorocarbon,” 2021).

An economic structure which eliminates waste by continually recycling the used and available resources. This essentially produces a closed-loop system, independent of the constant need to import, use, and discard more materials (Attenborough, 2020).

The implementation of new technology and practices to reduce or offset the emissions and environmental impacts burning coal for energy. While this is a step in the right direction, clean coal technology is extremely expensive and continues to produce considerable environmental concerns. For starters, it perpetuates the need for mining coal, a process notorious for polluting waterways. In many cases, harmful emissions including carbon dioxide are still emitted. Intentionally vague definitions/guidelines for what is considered “clean coal'' mean that even a minor 5% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions meets the criteria for being considered “clean coal.” Furthermore, carbon captured and sequestered during the clean coal process is often injected into the ground where it can potentially escape or pollute groundwater (McDonald, 2018).

Meat that has been produced through the culture of animal cells rather than the butchering of animals.  It requires significantly less water, land, and energy than traditional forms of meat production (Attenborough, 2020).

Weather trends, such as temperature and precipitation, that prevail in an area over an extended period of time. Relative climate stability allows species and entire ecosystems to adapt to dependable patterns of seasonal weather. Quickly altering such dependability therefore creates stress on the lives of many organisms.

A term used to describe altered, new, or unpredictable weather patterns. Although climate change can gradually occur naturally, current changes to Earth’s climate are linked to human activity such as environmental loss/degradation and increased emissions and pollutants.

An organization which aims to preserve animal and plant species, environments, and/or natural resources.

A designation which reflects the population health of a specific species of plant, animal, or fungus or habitat by considering criteria such as population size, rates of population increase/decrease, the reduction of geographic range, the fragmentation of population distribution, and probabilities of extinction. Governments or intergovernmental organizations can then implement this data when considering conservation programs, practices, and policies. Examples include the IUCN Red List, and “threatened” or “endangered” designations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (“Conservation Status,” 2021).

The result of coral polyps losing their colorful algae due to warmer and more acidic ocean levels, leaving behind white, or “bleached,” coral skeletons.  Climate change is the leading cause of coral bleaching and studies show that between 2014 and 2017, 75% of all coral reefs endured temperature swings strong enough to prompt bleaching. If the temperature shift is extreme or prolonged, the coral will not regain its algae and will die. Coral reefs support some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth and are critical habitats for vast amounts of wildlife and humans alike. Losing them would wreak havoc on many ocean food chains and could trigger a tipping point (Hancock, n.d.).

In relation to biogeography, the ability for a species to adapt to practically any environment.  As natural environments continue to die off and disappear, this concept is becoming more commonly associated with a wild plant or animal's ability to thrive in human-dominated urban and city environments.

A natural area consisting of physical features or organisms essential to the conservation and survival of a threatened or endangered species by providing it with food, water, shelter, and opportunities for finding mates or raising offspring.