The Basics
The long-term rise in the Earth’s average temperature, often caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
What is climate change (or Global Warming)?
Breathing polluted air from nearby industrial sites can worsen this common respiratory disease that affects many children in underserved communities.
What is asthma?
Due to thermal expansion and melting ice, this body of water is rising at an accelerating rate.
What is the ocean?
This is now the cheapest form of electricity generation, utilizing photovoltaic panels.
What is solar power?
This day is celebrated every April 22nd to support environmental protection.
What is Earth Day?
This type of gas, such as carbon dioxide or methane, traps heat in the atmosphere.
What are greenhouse gasses?
Studies have shown this, rather than income, is the most significant predictor of hazardous waste facility locations.
What is Race?
Climate change makes these extreme weather events more frequent, causing power outages that disproportionately affect low-income homes.
What are hurricanes/storms?
Switching to these types of lightbulbs, which are more efficient than incandescent ones, helps reduce energy consumption.
What are LEDs?
These are the "3 R's" of environmentalism.
What are reduce, reuse, recycle?
This term describes the fair treatment of all people regarding environmental laws, regardless of race or income.
What is environmental justice?
This common contaminant, often found in the paint of older homes, poses severe risks to children in low-income housing.
What is lead?
This type of air pollution is a secondary pollutant that forms in the atmosphere rather than being directly emitted.
What is smog?
To reduce air pollution and emissions, citizens can use this instead of driving alone.
What is carpooling/public transportation?
This term defines a chemical with the potential of causing death or damage to humans, animals, plants, or protists.
What are toxic chemicals?
These two main human activities are the primary drivers of climate change.
What are burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
This Michigan city is a well-known example of environmental injustice regarding water contamination.
What is Flint?
The variety of plants and animals living in a particular habitat, now threatened by climate change.
What is biodiversity?
What are barriers surrounding land to prevent floods called?
What are sea walls?
A major impact on the marine environment, this process occurs when oceans warm, turning coral white and weak.
What is coral bleaching?
This is the name for communities that are disproportionately affected by pollution and climate change, often called "frontline" or this type of zone.
What are sacrifice zones?
Because of historic discriminatory housing policies, neighborhoods that were historically redlined often have less of this, leading to higher heat exposure today.
What is a tree canopy cover?
Scientists predict that by 2100, the sea level could rise by this much due to climate change.
What is 18-75 cm?
The "S" in SDG (a United Nations initiative) stands for this term that covers all climate solutions.
What is sustainability?
According to the EPA, this is the most impactful action you can take to reduce your personal carbon footprint.
What is flying less or using public transportation (reducing transportation emissions)?