Welcome to our glossary -- our regularly updated dictionary and encyclopedia of various sustainability terms and definitions. If you submit a term for our glossary, we will typically review the submission and decide whether to publish it within five businesses. Thank you for your readership.
There are currently 10 sustainability terms in this directory beginning with the letter C.
Carbon Credits (aka Carbon Offsets)Carbon credits, also known as carbon offsets, are permits that allow the owner to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. One credit permits the emission of one ton of carbon dioxide or the equivalent in other greenhouse gases, Investopia reports. The carbon credit is half of a so-called cap-and-trade program. Companies that pollute are awarded credits that allow them to continue to pollute up to a certain limit, which is reduced periodically, the report said. Meanwhile, the company may sell any unneeded credits to another company that needs them, Investopia reports.
Carbon NeutralityCarbon neutrality is a state of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are fully reduced and offset. This typically means only CO2 is neutralized, not other greenhouse gases.
Carbon sinkCarbon sink is any system that absorbs more carbon than it emits. The main natural carbon sinks are soil, forests and oceans.
CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project)CDP is a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts. The world’s economy looks to CDP as the gold standard of environmental reporting with the richest and most comprehensive dataset on corporate and city action.
Chain of CustodyThe chain of custody is a process that tracks all steps in a supply chain for a product, including suppliers, transporters, exporters, processors, manufacturers, OEMs, and brands. Its goal is to improve the supply chain traceability of products, and to prove the claims and attributes of sustainable materials, according to
Circularise.
Circular EconomyA circular economy challenges us to rethink how we source, design, manufacture, transport, use, repair and recycle everything.
Climate Action 100+Climate Action 100+ is an investor-led initiative to ensure the world's largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take necessary action on climate change. The group told members in February 2024 that its approach
does not breach U.S. antitrust and securities law, Reuters reported. At the time, the group was seeking to shore up support days after
the shock exit of several large firms, Reuters noted.
CompostableCompostable refers to organic material that can be placed in compost for rapid breakdown. Some materials require hot composting to destroy harmful pathogens (usually animal products).Â
Source:
Natalie Lowe, CMM, CRL, a sustainable meeting professional with 30 years of experience.
COP (Conference of Parties)The Conference of Parties (COP) is the UNFCCC’s highest decision-making body. COP holds annual meetings in the context of climate change and proposes climate-related goals and solutions each year. UNFCCC is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)On 5Â January 2023, theÂ
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)EN••• entered into force. This new directive modernizes and strengthens the rules concerning the social and environmental information that companies have to report. A broader set of large companies, as well as listed SMEs, will now be required to report on sustainability – approximately 50,000 companies in total. EU law requires all large companies and all listed companies (except listed micro-enterprises) to disclose information on what they see as the risks and opportunities arising from social and environmental issues, and on the impact of their activities on people and the environment.
Source:
European Commission
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