Carbonic acid: An acid that forms when carbon dioxide dissolves in water. As people add more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, the world’s oceans absorb some of the extra carbon dioxide and it turns into carbonic acid. Extra carbonic acid is making the oceans more acidic, which can make it harder for corals and shellfish to build their skeletons and shells.
Carbon dioxide equivalent
Carbon dioxide equivalent: A unit of measurement that can be used to compare the emissions of various greenhouse gases based on how long they stay in the atmosphere and how much heat they can trap. For example, over a period of 100 years, 1 pound of methane will trap as much heat as 21 pounds of carbon dioxide. Thus, 1 pound of methane is equal to 21 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents.
Carbon
Carbon: A chemical element that is essential to all living things. Carbon combines with other elements to form a variety of different compounds. Plants and animals are made up of carbon compounds, and so are certain minerals. Carbon combines with oxygen to make a gas called carbon dioxide.
Cycle
Cycle: an interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs.
Cradle-to-Grave
Cradle-to-Grave: A term used to describe material or products that is disposed (landfill, incineration, etc. ) of at the end of its intended life.
Cradle-to-Cradle
Cradle-to-Cradle: A term used for describing a product or material recycled into a similar or new product after the original items intended life.
Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan: composed of people from or at home in many parts of the world; especially not provincial in attitudes or interests, growing or occurring in many parts of the world.
Consumption
Consumption: To eat or take in (you consume food and water), or to use (people consumes energy when they watch television or drive a car).
Conservationist
Conservationist: someone who works to protect the environment from destruction or pollution.
Conservation
Conservation: an occurrence of improvement by virtue of preventing loss or injury or other change, the preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources.
Conservancy
Conservancy: a commission with jurisdiction over fisheries and navigation in a port or river, the official conservation of trees and soil and rivers etc.
Compost
Compost: A collection of biodegradable waste that is no longer used by people or which died on its own. Examples are banana peels, coffee grounds, or leaves & branches. When mixed together they form a substance rich in nutrients which many people use to fertilize their gardens.
Community
Community: A group living in a particular local area, a group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other.
Colonize
Colonize: Settle as a colony; of countries in the developing world, settle as colonists or establish a colony (in).
Closed-loop Recycling
Closed-loop Recycling: The process of recycling in such a way that the components of the original product are reclaimed or utilized into similar products without the process of downcycling.
Climax
Climax: The highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding.
Chlorofluorocarbon
Chlorofluorocarbon: A class of volatile, non-reactive, non-corrosive, non-flammable & easy liquefiable gases usually used in refrigeration & believed to be responsible for the deterioration of the ozone.
Chaparral
Chaparral: Dense vegetation consisting of stunted trees or bushes.
Certified Organic Cotton
Certified Organic Cotton: is derived from organic agriculture. The cotton is grown without artificial pesticides or fertilizers. Conventional cotton farming ranks about fourth in the use of pesticides in the US. Several of the top pesticides used in non-organic cotton farming are EPA recognized carcinogens. It takes 1/3 of a pound of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers to make one organic T-shirt disregarding the use of any toxic dyes. A typical organic tee shirt is also about the same weight but without these harmful chemicals. Organic cotton is produced using conservation minded or “sustainable” approaches to crop production. Such practices help to retain and promote soil fertility and the natural recycling of soil resources.
Carson, Rachel
Carson, Rachel: United States biologist remembered for her opposition to the use of pesticides that were hazardous to wildlife (1907-1964).