Un-Jargoning Climate Science: A Friendly Guide to the Ideas, Terms, and Acronyms We Use Most

Climate science is full of big concepts, technical language, and acronyms that can feel like a foreign language. At Possible by Design, we strive for clarity — not confusion — when trying to understand the world we’re shaping together. So here’s a simple, human‑friendly guide to some of the terms you’ll see across our work and on our website.

These aren’t textbook definitions. They’re the “explain it to a friend over tea” versions — grounded in science, but written for real life.

This guide has three sections:

1. Core Ideas — the principles and intentions that guide how we approach climate action together.

2. Terms — the concepts that show up often in climate and sustainability conversations.

3. Acronyms — the alphabet soup, translated into human language.

CORE IDEAS

Affordability

What it means:   The real cost of climate solutions — and the fact that many are cheaper than people expect.

In plain language:   Living sustainably doesn’t mean living expensively. For many choices — especially around food and diet, which contribute almost one quarter of global emissions — it often means saving money. And for most products, it may mean paying only a small premium — often around 2% — to avoid leaving behind greenhouse gas emissions for future generations.

Why we use it:   Because people deserve to know that the future we’re building is not only feasible — it’s far more achievable than we might think.

Agency

What it means:   Your capacity — individually or collectively — to influence outcomes, make choices, and shape the future in meaningful ways. Agency is the opposite of resignation or powerlessness; it’s the belief and the ability to act and create change.

In plain language:   Knowing you’re not a bystander. It’s the felt sense that your choices, your voice, and your actions genuinely help shape what happens next.

Why we use it:   Because climate action depends on people recognizing their own power. Agency turns concern into momentum, and momentum into change. At Possible by Design, we use the term because we want people to feel equipped, not overwhelmed — to see that their choices, conversations, votes, habits, and collaborations genuinely help shape the world we’re building together.

Community

What it means:   The networks of people who care, collaborate, and support each other in taking action.

In plain language:   None of us can do everything, but all of us can do something — and together, it adds up.

Why we use it:   Because climate action is easier, more joyful, and more effective when we do it together.

Creative Collaborations

What it means:   Working with artists, educators, technologists, and creators to share sustainability ideas in new ways.

In plain language:   Climate action isn’t just science — it’s storytelling, art, culture, and imagination.

Why we use it:   Because creativity opens doors that data alone can’t. And because creativity, care, and sustainable action all flow from the same place: shared inspiration from this planet we all call home.

Hopeful Realism

What it means:   A mindset that acknowledges the seriousness of climate change and sustainability while staying grounded in the fact that solutions exist and are achievable.

In plain language:   It’s not “everything is fine,” and it’s not doom. It’s: “This is hard, but we can do it — and here’s how.”

Why we use it:   Because people need honesty and hope to stay engaged.

Stewardship

What it means:   Taking responsibility for caring for the planet and its resources.

In plain language:   Being a good guest in the home we all share.

Why we use it:   Because every action — from voting to composting to purchasing wisely — is part of how we care for future generations.

Sustainability

What it means:   Living in a way that meets today’s needs without harming future generations.

In plain language:   Using resources in a balanced way — where what we take, make, and waste stays in harmony with what the Earth can replenish, restore, and renew.

Why we use it:   Because sustainability isn’t about sacrifice — it’s about living well, wisely, and within our means as a planet.

TERMS

Abatement Curves

What it means:   "Marginal Cost of Carbon Abatement" or simply "abatement" curves are visual tools that show different ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, how much each option can cut, and how much it costs or saves. They’re usually displayed as a long bar chart, with each bar representing a specific climate solution — like heat pumps, renewable energy, or better building insulation — arranged from the cheapest to the most expensive.

In plain language:   A map of climate solutions that shows how much carbon each solution addresses and how much each one costs or saves.

Why we use it:   Abatement curves help us see the smartest and most cost‑effective ways to get to net‑zero and beyond. At Possible by Design, we use them to help clarify the “carbon math” behind everyday choices and to reveal the most pragmatic paths and policies to get to net zero.

Carbon Math

What it means:   The numbers behind how much carbon we emit, how much the planet can absorb, and how fast we need to reduce emissions.

In plain language:   It’s the household budget of climate action: what’s coming in, what’s going out, and what we need to cut to stay solvent.

Why we use it:   Because the math is clear — and once you see it, the path forward becomes surprisingly sensible and doable.

Carbon Footprint

What it means:   The total amount of carbon dioxide released across the full life cycle of a product, service, activity, or system.

In plain language:   The carbon impact of something, added up from start to finish. It's one slice of the full climate picture.

Why we use it:   Carbon footprint is the term most people recognize, and it's often used as a shorthand for climate impact. But carbon dioxide is only one of several greenhouse gases driving warming. We usually use climate footprint instead because it captures the full picture — including methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases — and helps people understand the true impact of their choices.

Climate Footprint

What it means: The total amount of greenhouse gases released across the full life cycle of a product, service, activity, or system — from raw materials and manufacturing to transport, use, and end‑of‑life. Climate footprints are expressed in CO₂e so different gases can be compared on a single scale.

In plain language: The climate impact of something, added up from start to finish. It’s the “nutrition label” for emissions — a simple number that shows how much warming a product or service causes.

Why we use it: Climate footprints make emissions visible right where decisions happen. When people and companies can see the climate impact of everyday choices, markets shift quickly: producers clean up supply chains, consumers choose lower‑impact options, and emissions fall across the most flexible parts of the global economy. This visibility is the foundation of climate footprint labels — a no‑cost, high‑impact policy that can reduce emissions at gigatonne scale by driving transparency, efficiency, and innovation across products, services, freight, materials, and waste .

Geological Net Zero

What it means: Geological Net Zero means reducing human‑caused greenhouse gas emissions to the point where any remaining emissions are balanced by permanent, geological‑scale storage — not temporary offsets, not tree‑planting alone, and not accounting tricks. It refers specifically to storing carbon for thousands of years, in rock formations or mineralized forms, so it is effectively removed from the atmosphere for the long term.

In plain language: Getting our emissions down and locking away the remainder — not floating around in the air, not absorbed temporarily by forests, but stored in rock where it can’t leak back out.

Why we use it: Because terms like “net zero” and “carbon neutral” are often used loosely, sometimes to describe actions that don’t actually remove carbon for the long term. Geological Net Zero sets a clear, science‑based standard: real reductions first, and only then balancing the last fraction with permanent storage. It helps cut through confusion and ensures we’re talking about genuine, durable climate progress — not short‑term fixes or creative accounting.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

What it means: A measure of how strongly a greenhouse gas traps heat compared to CO₂.

In plain language: A way to compare how powerful different gases are at warming the planet.

Why we use it: It helps translate different gases into CO₂e so we can understand their relative impact.

Methane, Nitrous Oxide, and Fluorinated Gases

What it means: Greenhouse gases other than CO₂ that trap heat far more powerfully, even in small amounts.

In plain language: Potent heat‑trapping gases that pack a bigger punch than CO₂.

Why we use it: Understanding these gases helps explain why CO₂e is used to compare their impacts on a single scale.

Permanent Carbon Removal

What it means: Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in ways that last for thousands of years — typically in rock formations or mineralized forms.

In plain language: Taking carbon out of the air and locking it away for the long term, not just temporarily.

Why we use it: The climate math says that we don't halt global warming with temporary removals, so it's important to distinguish durable, geological‑scale storage from short‑term offsets or accounting approaches. (Both are important and valuable, but only permanent removal abates fossil emissions.)

Planetary Boundaries

What it means:   A scientific framework that identifies the nine environmental limits that keep Earth stable and safe for human life.

In plain language:   Think of Earth as a house with load‑bearing walls. As long as we stay within those walls, the house stands strong. Push too far, and things start to crack — often affecting other parts of the house too.

Why we use it:   Because solving for climate change and sustainability isn’t just about carbon — it’s about water, biodiversity, land use, pollution, and more. The boundaries help us see the whole system.

Systems Thinking

What it means:   Understanding how different parts of a system (energy, food, transportation, policy, culture) interact and influence each other.

In plain language:   Everything is connected. Pull one thread, and three others move.

Why we use it:   Because climate solutions fail when we treat problems in isolation. Systems thinking shows us how things interact and where small nudges can create big positive changes.

ACRONYMS

Below is a list of the most common climate‑related acronyms you’ll encounter in our work — explained in warm, plain language.

Planet & Climate Science

GHG — Greenhouse Gas

Gases like carbon dioxide and methane that trap heat in the atmosphere. In plain language: The “blanket” around Earth that’s getting too thick.

CO₂ — Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is the most important long‑lived greenhouse gas driving climate change. It’s released mainly by burning fossil fuels, and it stays in the atmosphere for centuries — which is why it has such a powerful, lasting effect on global warming. In plain language: The main gas heating up the planet — the long‑lasting exhaust from our energy system.

CO₂e — Carbon Dioxide Equivalent

A way to translate all greenhouse gases into one comparable number. In plain language: Putting all climate‑warming gases into the same unit so we can count them clearly.

IPCC — Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The UN body that reviews climate science. In plain language: The world’s climate fact‑checking team.

UNFCCC — United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The global agreement guiding climate negotiations. In plain language: The world’s meeting room for climate decisions.

COP — Conference of the Parties

The annual global climate summit (e.g., COP28). In plain language: The big yearly climate check‑in where countries negotiate progress.

Emissions & Targets

NDC — Nationally Determined Contribution

A country’s climate action plan under the Paris Agreement. In plain language: Each country’s homework assignment for reducing emissions.

Net‑Zero

Balancing the emissions we produce with the emissions we permanently remove. In plain language: Adding no new heat‑trapping gases to the atmosphere overall.

Mitigation

Actions that reduce emissions. In plain language: Turning down the tap.

Adaptation

Actions that help us live with the impacts already here or coming soon. In plain language: Putting on a raincoat when the storm arrives.

Sustainability & Systems

LCA — Life Cycle Assessment

A method for measuring the environmental impact of a product from creation to disposal. In plain language: Making sure the footprint includes all emissions from beginning to end.

SDGs — Sustainable Development Goals

The UN’s 17 global goals for a fair, healthy, sustainable world. In plain language: A shared to‑do list for humanity.

Circular Economy

Designing systems where materials are reused, not wasted. In plain language: Keeping things in the loop instead of throwing them out.

Energy & Technology

EV — Electric Vehicle

A car powered by electricity instead of gasoline. In plain language: A car that runs on electrons and doesn’t produce exhaust.

PV — Photovoltaic (Solar Panels)

Technology that converts sunlight into electricity. In plain language: Panels that turn sunshine into power.

kWh — Kilowatt‑Hour

A unit of energy used to measure electricity. In plain language: The amount of electricity it takes to run a 1,000‑watt appliance for one hour.

Policy & Reporting

TCFD — Task Force on Climate‑Related Financial Disclosures

Guidelines for understanding and reporting climate risks. In plain language: Helping companies be transparent about how climate affects their business.

GHG Protocol

The global standard for measuring and reporting emissions. In plain language: The rulebook for counting carbon.

Why Un‑Jargoning Matters

Climate action shouldn’t require a PhD or hours of research. You’re busy. You care. And you deserve clarity.

When we remove jargon, we remove barriers.

When we remove barriers, we unlock agency.

And when we unlock agency, we shape the future — together.

If there are other terms or acronyms you’d like us to unpack, please send them our way; we’re here to help!