Active travel means making journeys in physically active ways - like walking, wheeling (using a wheelchair or mobility aid) cycling or scooting.

An action that helps us cope with the effects of climate change, such as flood defences to protect against increased flood risk.

The contamination of air with chemicals or particles that can harm the health of humans, animals and plants. The major threat to clean air in our district is posed by traffic emissions from petrol and diesel vehicles which emit a wide variety of pollutants, including carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter (PM10).

Biodiversity (short for biological diversity) is all the different kinds of life you’ll find in one area - the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world.

An approach to development that leaves biodiversity in a measurably better state than before the development started. Biodiversity Net Gain is measured using a metric that is published by the Government.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) involves the capture of CO2 emissions from industrial processes, such as steel and cement production, or from the burning of fossil fuels in power generation. This CO2 is then transported from where it was produced, via ship or in a pipeline, and stored deep underground in geological formations.

Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas. This means that it absorbs heat radiation from the sun, keeping the Earth warmer than it would otherwise be. For the past 100 or so years, carbon dioxide has been added to the atmosphere more quickly than it is removed, which has caused global warming.

A standard unit for measuring carbon footprints which consist of lots of different greenhouse gases. It expresses the impact of each greenhouse gas in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide which would result in the same amount of warming.

Carbon emissions are the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities.

This is a measurement of the greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere by a particular person, organization, product, or activity. A bigger carbon footprint means more emissions of carbon dioxide and methane, and therefore a bigger contribution to the climate crisis.

The implementation of initiatives within an organisation's supply chain to reduce carbon emissions.

Being carbon neutral is when the amount of CO2 removed (by cutting emissions and offsetting) is equal to the amount emitted by human activity.

Winchester City Council has set a target to be a carbon neutral organisation by 2024 and a carbon neutral district by 2030. The council's Carbon Neutrality Action Plan (CNAP) outlines the actions needed to achieve its carbon neutrality goals. You can see our CNAP here. 

A process that involves a reduction in, or removal of, carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere.

Carbon removal is the process of removing greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere, through natural solutions such as reforestation and soil management or technological solutions like direct air capture and enhanced mineralization.

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global climate change.

A natural or artificial process, activity or mechanism that absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases. Forests, oceans, and soils are the world’s largest natural carbon sinks.

A model of resource production and consumption in any economy that involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible.

The change in average weather conditions, such as temperature or rainfall, over a long period of time caused by the increase of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.

A situation in which immediate action is needed to reduce or stop climate change and prevent serious and permanent damage to the environment. Winchester City Council declared a climate emergency in June 2019.

Action taken to reduce climate change by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted and by increasing the amount of greenhouse gases absorbed from the atmosphere.

The reduction or elimination of carbon dioxide emissions.

Doughnut economics brings together insights from many economic perspectives to set out a vision of economies – local to global – that meet the needs of all people, whilst staying within the means of the living planet.

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in a particular area together with the complex relationship that exists between them and their environment.

A vehicle which runs on electricity rather than petrol or diesel. EVs contain batteries which are recharged with electricity and do not release any greenhouse gas emissions as they are driven.

Scope 1 emissions are greenhouse gas emissions from sources owned or directly controlled by an organisation.

Scope 2 emissions are greenhouse gas emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, heat, cooling or steam consumed by an organisation.

Scope 3 emissions are greenhouse gas emissions that are a consequence of an organisation's activities but arise from sources that are not owned or directly controlled by the organisation. This includes all indirect greenhouse gas emissions not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2.

Fossil fuels are materials formed naturally in the Earth's crust from the remains of dead plants and animals over millennia.They include coal, oil, and natural gas.

Global warming is an increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature that occurs when the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases. These gases absorb more solar radiation and trap more heat, thus causing the planet to get hotter. Burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests, and farming livestock are some human activities that release greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming.

An economy that improves human wellbeing and builds social equity while reducing environmental risks and scarcities.

Gases in the earth's atmosphere that trap heat. The main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases. Greenhouse gases act in a similar way to the glass in a greenhouse: they absorb the sun's heat that radiates from the Earth's surface, trap it in the atmosphere and prevent it from escaping into space. While many greenhouse gases are naturally occuring, it is the increased emissions from human activities that are causing global warming.

HVO stands for hydrotreated vegetable oil, sometimes known as renewable diesel. Part of the paraffinic family of fuels, it is a fossil-free alternative to mineral diesel, resulting in up to 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Hybrid electric vehicles are powered by an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors, which uses energy stored in batteries. A hybrid electric vehicle cannot be plugged in to charge the battery. Instead, the battery is charged through regenerative braking and by the internal combustion engine.

Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) is a comprehensive, ground-up approach that guides an area towards achieving net zero emissions. It encompasses a whole system approach meaning all parts of the system are mapped including energy supply and demand, transport, buildings, local industry and the environment. Local Area Energy Plans (LAEP) are recognised as the leading method for translating national Net Zero targets into local energy system action plans that are collaborative, data-driven and cost-effective.

Actions to protect, conserve, restore, and sustainably use and manage ecosystems to tackle climate change and preserve biodiversity.

Winchester City Council declared a nature emergency in September 2023. It recognises that nature is in long term decline and urgent action must be taken to reverse this.

Learn more here.

Actions we need to take to protect, sustainably manage, improve and restore the natural environment.

The balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere and the carbon removed from it. This balance will happen when the amount of carbon we add to the atmosphere is no more than the amount removed.

Particulates are microscopic particles of a substance, especially those that are produced when fuel is burned.

A photovoltaic (PV) cell is the technology tha converts sunlight directly into electricity in solar panels.

The process of converting waste materials into new materials.

Renewable energy is energy from natural sources that are constantly being replenished and therefore more sustainable than 'fossil fuels' such as coal, oil or gas. Renewable energy can come from sources such as wind, sunlight, the flow of moving water and geothermal heat.

Greenhouse gas emissions that remain after taking all possible actions to implement emissions reductions, given current resources and technology.

Making changes to existing buildings to reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions.

Also called a solar carport, a solar canopy is a structure that provides both shelter for cars and solar energy from photovoltaic cells on its roof. It can also incorporate electric vehicle charging points.

A solar panel is a device that uses photovoltaic (PV) cells to convert sunlight into electricity. 

Sustainability is the idea that humans must interact with the environment in a way that ensures there will be enough resources left for future generations. In business, sustainability refers to doing business without negatively impacting the environment, community, or society as a whole.