Environment

Anthropocene (Antropoceno) This term was coined by Paul Crutzen and Eugene Stoermer in 2000 to refer to a new geological epoche to succeed or replace the Holocene. It comes from the greek anthropos, which means ‘human’, and cene which means ‘new or recent’. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), ‘the Anthropocene is a proposed new geological epoch resulting from significant

Anthropogenic (Antropogénico) Anthropogenic ‘effects, processes, objects, or materials are those that are derived from human activities, as opposed to those occurring in natural environments without human influences’ (AEMET and OECC, 2018). This is widely used to refer to things that originate from humans and have effects on nature. It is associated to phenomena resulting from human activities, especially industrial ones, including

Biodiversity (Biodiversidad) Biodiversity is understood as the variety of life forms across all levels of biological organization. That is, the number and relative abundance of species, genes, and ecosystems in a specific area. High levels of biodiversity ensure that ecosystems operate in a healthy way. Experts argue that, based on an anthropocentric vision, high levels of biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are key to

Biomimicry (Biomímesis) This is a discipline that studies nature as a source of inspiration. It implements the lessons learnt to create designs, technologies, and innovative processes while providing sustainable solutions to human problems. The goal of biomimicry is to learn from the organisms and their ecosystems to move towards a healthier life, to use more sustainable and regenerative technologies, and

Carbon footprint (Huella de carbono) “The carbon footprint is a measure of the exclusive total amount of carbon dioxide emissions that is directly and indirectly caused by an activity or is accumulated over the life stages of a product” (Wiedman and Minx, 2008) This term is commonly used in civil society organizations and in the press. It has also become

Carrying capacity (Capacidad de carga) Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals that a habitat can support based on its resources without having adverse effects on the population or the environment. Factors that determine the carrying capacity of a species include food, water, demographic aspects, climate, and shelter, among others. Carrying capacity is not fixed or static, instead, it

Circular economy (Economía circular) Circular economy is a new term. It has been used for some time in Spain and has recently become popular in Latin America as well. There are two complementary approaches regarding its meaning. On the one hand, the European Parliament defines circular economy as ‘an economy, where the value of products, materials and resources is maintained for

Climate change (Cambio climático) According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), ‘Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g., by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer’ (IPCC, 2018). For the IPCC,

Climate crisis (Crisis climática) The term climate crisis is commonly understood as an extreme situation of an imminent environmental and social catastrophe resulting from climate change with an anthropogenic origin. The term refers to a serious situation that is altering the earth’s natural balance and that risks life on Earth. The concept emphasizes the need to take urgent action to reduce or halt climate change and

Climate emergency (Emergencia climática) Various countries and locations have declared a climate emergency. However, the term is not clearly defined, nor is there a consensus regarding its definition. The expression refers to a regulatory instrument to declare a dangerous situation or climate disaster which requires immediate action and authorizing public authorities to make decisions and take the necessary measures to

Climate justice (Justicia climática) The concept refers to the social demands of the climate movement and the young environmentalist organizations to recognize that the climate crisis generates and accentuates inequalities between territories and people. It is considered a human and civil rights movement that places the most vulnerable people and communities at the centre of climate effects. From the perspective of climate justice, the

Common natural assets (Bienes naturales comunes) Common natural assets or natural resources are objects that are naturally existing on earth. They are valuable to manufacture products, meet needs, and provide ecosystem services. The international community—especially the Inter-American System for the protection of human rights—uses the expression natural resources considering the special relation that indigenous and tribal peoples have with their territory. However, the academic sector and civil

Consumerism (Consumismo) A social and economic behaviour related to acquiring and accumulating non-essential goods and services. It has serious environmental and social effects. This term is commonly used in civil society organizations and in the press. This trend is strengthened and fuelled by the current economic system that associates consumption with happiness, satisfaction, and social belonging. At the same time,

Degrowth (Decrecimiento ) This term generates extensive debate in academia and civil society. This theory questions the paradigm of economic growth from the quantitative and qualitative perspective; it aims to prioritize social and environmental values above economic accumulation. It is based on the belief that it is impossible to continue with the current rhythm of economic growth and indefinite material accumulation

Ecological deficit (Déficit ecológico) An ecological deficit occurs when a population’s ecological footprint surpasses the biocapacity of the place where they live. This refers to the imbalance created when the level of consumption of common natural assets and the level of waste and pollution generated by a community exceeds the natural sustainable production and its ability to absorb the waste. This indicator is related to the planetary boundaries and with

Ecological footprint (Huella ecológica) An ecological footprint is an indicator of the environmental impact that occurs when a certain population demands the common natural assets that it requires to produce what it consumes. This indicator measures the surface area that is necessary to produce these resources and absorb the impacts, the greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and the waste of said population. The

Ecological justice (Justicia ecológica) The concept refers to the social demands of the environmental movement and the environmentalist organizations to recognize the ecological crisis, for humans to assume their responsibility, and for decisions to be made urgently to address it. It proposes a change in the paradigm where human development respects the planet’s ecological demands and planetary boundaries. Ecological justice is not

Ecological transition (Transición ecológica) The word ecological transition refers to a process of ecological and social transformation that is necessary to address global change and the climate crisis. It entails a paradigm shift with significant transformations in the economic model, especially regarding the production and consumption systems, and in the use of fossil fuels. It also refers to changes in the social and political institutions,