terminology

1) Understanding Carbon & Emissions 

Emission Scopes (Scope 1, 2, 3)

The standard categories used to report greenhouse gas emissions:

• Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources an organisation owns or controls (e.g., boilers, vehicles).
• Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity or heat.
• Scope 3: All other indirect emissions across the value chain, including suppliers, food, waste, deliveries, business travel, and commuting.

Carbon Accounting

Measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 using recognised standards such as the GHG Protocol, to understand the organisation’s full carbon footprint.

Carbon Reduction & Measurement

Identifying where emissions come from and reducing them over time by tracking energy, travel, waste, food, water, and supply chain activities.

Carbon Offsetting

Supporting certified climate projects to balance emissions that cannot yet be avoided. Offsetting is used only after significant reduction efforts.

Carbon Literacy

Training that helps staff understand climate change, emissions, and how day-to-day decisions contribute to a lower-carbon organisation.

2) Strategic Climate Commitments

Carbon Neutral

Reducing an organisation’s carbon emissions as far as realistically possible and then balancing the remaining emissions by supporting verified offset projects. This commitment mainly focuses on CO₂ and uses a combination of reduction and offsetting to reach a net-zero balance for carbon emissions.

Net Zero

Reducing emissions across all three scopes (1, 2, and 3) in line with recognised climate standards and then using a very small amount of certified carbon removal for the small share of emissions that cannot be eliminated yet. Net Zero applies to all greenhouse gases and places strong emphasis on deep, long-term emission reduction before any removal is used.

Carbon Negative

Going beyond Net Zero by removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than the organisation emits. This creates a total carbon impact that falls below zero and requires both sustained reduction and high-quality carbon removal activities.

Net Positive

Creating more overall environmental and social benefit than impact. This means restoring natural systems, supporting communities, improving biodiversity, and giving back more resources and value than the organisation takes — going beyond carbon to deliver a wider positive contribution.

ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance)

A framework used across universities, public-sector organisations, and suppliers to assess how responsibly an organisation operates. ESG looks at three areas of performance:

• Environmental: carbon emissions, energy use, waste, water, and biodiversity
• Social: wellbeing, inclusion, accessibility, and community impact
• Governance: ethics, transparency, decision-making, and accountability

It helps organisations understand risks, set priorities, and demonstrate responsible and sustainable practice.

3) Resources & Materials

Circular Economy

Designing systems that keep materials in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, refill, redistribution, and responsible end-of-life processes, helping reduce waste and resource consumption.

Responsible Procurement

Choosing goods and services based on their environmental and social impact, prioritising ethical, low-carbon, local, and transparent suppliers to support sustainable operations.

4) Nature & Climate Adaptation

Biodiversity Net Gain

Enhancing the natural environment so that biodiversity is measurably better than before, through actions such as native planting, pollinator habitats, rain gardens, and green roofs.

Climate Resilience

Ensuring buildings, venues, and operations can withstand and adapt to extreme weather events — such as heatwaves, storms, or flooding — to maintain safety and continuity.

Zero-Carbon Energy Sources

Energy sources that produce no carbon emissions when used, including solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, hydrogen, and renewable-powered battery storage.