Climate Change Basics
This gas is the most significant greenhouse gas produced by human activity.
What is carbon dioxide (CO₂)?
This renewable energy comes from the sun.
What is solar energy?
Refillable bottles, compostable bags, and reusable straws all help reduce this.
What is single-use plastic waste?
This major Arizona university is known for its strong commitment to sustainability and innovation.
What is Arizona State University (ASU)?
This term refers to making sure all people have access to the water they need.
What is water security?
When global average temperatures rise above pre-industrial levels, we call this phenomenon...
What is global warming?
Wind farms use this natural resource to generate electricity.
What is wind / wind power?
This practice involves turning food scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil.
What is composting?
ASU’s initiative to integrate sustainability across its campuses and curricula is known as this.
What is ASU’s Sustainability Practices (or Sustainability Plan)?
This phenomenon occurs when tree cover is removed faster than it can regrow.
What is deforestation?
This is the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place.
What is climate change?
This technology stores energy in chemical form, often in large batteries.
What is energy storage (or battery storage)?
This term describes buying fewer, more durable items or repairing instead of discarding.
What is “reduce and reuse” (or a circular mindset)?
This ASU school focuses on the built environment and sustainability in design, planning, and construction.
What is the School of Sustainability (or the Design School + School of Sustainability)?
These are species that are at risk of extinction and need conservation efforts to survive.
What are endangered species?
These are large, slow-moving sheets of ice found in polar and mountain regions, which are melting due to warming.
What are glaciers or ice sheets?
This type of power generates electricity by splitting atoms — but wastes are a big sustainability challenge.
What is nuclear energy?
This dietary choice (eating more of these) helps reduce the environmental impact of food.
What is plant-based eating / more vegetables?
ASU’s research institute that studies environmental solutions, climate change, and sustainable practices is called this.
What is the Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation?
This is the practice of growing food in a way that preserves soil health, water, and biodiversity.
What is sustainable agriculture?
This feedback loop involves melting permafrost releasing greenhouse gases, which in turn accelerates warming.
What is permafrost thaw feedback (or permafrost carbon feedback)?
This emerging “green” fuel is produced by converting atmospheric CO₂ into a usable form, using renewable energy.
What is synthetic fuel (or e-fuel)?
This measurement quantifies how much impact a person or organization has on the climate, based on greenhouse gas emissions.
What is a carbon footprint?
ASU has a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. By what year does ASU aim to reach carbon neutrality (or net zero emissions)?
What is 2035?
This United Nations agreement sets out goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030.
What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?