Plain English Guide to Climate Action Terms

Climate change is one of the most important issues of our time, but the language used to talk about it can feel overwhelming. Terms like "carbon neutrality", "just transition" and "circular economy" appear everywhere - in news reports, government policy, planning documents and everyday conversation - yet many people struggle to understand what they actually mean.

The Climate Jargon Buster was created to change that. This website explains common climate action terms in plain, everyday English. Rather than strict scientific definitions, the explanations here are designed to describe ideas and concepts clearly so that everyone can take part in the conversation about climate change and Ireland's response to it.

Whether you are a student, a teacher, a community group member, a local councillor, a business owner or simply someone who wants to understand what is happening and why it matters, this resource is for you.

📋 The Climate Jargon Buster concept was originally developed by the Department of the Taoiseach with Comhairle na nÓg, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA). This site is an independent continuation of that idea and is not affiliated with any of them.

🏠 Home Energy, Bills, Grants and Electric Car Guides

Beyond the glossary, Climate Jargon Buster has more than 60 practical guides for Irish households - what the SEAI grants are worth, what a kilowatt-hour costs this year, what a heat pump or a fill of oil really costs, and free calculators to run your own numbers. Start here:
💶 Grants & Loans: SEAI Grants · Home Improvement Grants · Warmer Homes Scheme · Windows & Doors Grant · Vacant Property Grant · Boiler Replacement Grant · Electric Car Grant · Home Energy Upgrade Loan · Retrofitting
⚡ Bills & Electricity: Best Electricity Provider · Electricity Prices & Average Bill · Night Rate Electricity · Pay-As-You-Go Electricity · MPRN & GPRN Numbers · ESB Smart Meter Error · Appliance Running Costs · Hot Water Costs · Electric Heater Running Costs · Dehumidifiers
🔥 Heating: Heat Pumps · Air-to-Water Heat Pump Cost · Air-to-Air Heat Pumps · Heating Oil Prices · Heating Oil by County · HVO Fuel · Boiler Replacement Cost · Gas Boiler Service · Storage Heaters · Underfloor Heating
🏠 Insulation & BER: Attic Insulation · Wall Insulation · Home Ventilation · BER Rating · BER Cert Cost
☀️ Solar & Renewables: Solar Panels · Are Solar Panels Worth It? · Solar Cost Calculator · How Many Panels Do I Need? · Best Solar Installers · Home Battery Storage · Solar Water Heating · Wind Energy · Renewable Energy
🚗 Electric Cars: Electric Cars Guide · Electric Car Grant · Cheapest Electric Cars · Used Electric Cars · EV Home Charger · EV Charger Installation · Public EV Charging
🌍 Climate: Climate Change Ireland · Carbon Tax · Biodiversity · Extreme Weather & the Economy · Net Zero · Greenwashing · Scope 1, 2 & 3 Emissions · Circular Economy · Climate Glossary

👉 See all guides and calculators

📖 Explore the Full Glossary

Looking for a specific term? The Climate Terms A-Z Glossary contains 54 in-depth articles explaining every major climate, energy and building term used in Irish policy - from afforestation to U-values. Each article includes real Irish data, practical context and answers to common questions.

👉 Browse the full Climate Terms A-Z Glossary

💬 Why Plain Language Matters

Climate policy affects every part of daily life in Ireland, from the energy we use at home to the food we eat, how we travel, how our towns and cities are planned, and how our economy is changing. When the language around these issues is unclear or full of jargon, it creates real barriers.

🌿 People feel excluded from conversations that directly affect their lives, their communities and their livelihoods
🌿 Public consultations receive fewer responses because people do not feel confident enough to contribute
🌿 Misinformation fills the gap when official language is too technical for most people to follow
🌿 Young people who care deeply about climate issues struggle to engage with the policy side
🌿 Local councils, community groups and schools find it harder to communicate climate plans effectively
🌿 Business owners miss opportunities because they do not fully understand new environmental regulations

Research consistently shows that people are far more likely to engage with climate action when they understand what is being discussed and why it matters to them. Plain language is not about dumbing things down - it is about opening things up.

🏭 Emissions and Carbon

👣 Carbon Footprint

A measure of the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by a particular activity, product, event, organisation or person. It includes emissions from all stages - making, transporting, using and disposing of a product.

🌿 Your personal carbon footprint includes emissions from your home heating, transport, food and the things you buy
🌿 Ireland's average carbon footprint per person is among the highest in Europe
🌿 Businesses increasingly measure and report their carbon footprint as part of sustainability reporting

📖 Read the full guide to carbon footprint

⚖️ Net Zero

When the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere is balanced by the amount removed. This does not mean producing zero emissions - it means that any remaining emissions are offset by activities that absorb carbon, such as planting forests or using carbon capture technology.

🌿 Ireland has committed to reaching net zero emissions no later than 2050 under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act
🌿 The European Union as a whole has the same 2050 target under the European Green Deal
🌿 Many Irish businesses and institutions have set their own net zero targets ahead of the national deadline

📖 Read the full guide to net zero

🌡️ Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)

Gases in the atmosphere that trap heat from the sun and warm the Earth's surface. The main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Without any greenhouse gases, Earth would be too cold for life, but human activities have increased the concentration of these gases to dangerous levels.

🌿 Carbon dioxide comes mainly from burning fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal
🌿 Methane is produced by livestock, landfill sites and natural gas systems - it is particularly relevant in Ireland due to our large agricultural sector
🌿 Nitrous oxide comes from fertilisers used in farming and from certain industrial processes
🌿 Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions are heavily influenced by agriculture, which accounts for over a third of national emissions

📖 Read the full guide to greenhouse gases

📊 Carbon Budget

The total amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted over a set period of time while still meeting climate targets. Think of it like a spending budget - once you have used it up, you have exceeded your limit.

🌿 Ireland's carbon budgets are set by the Climate Change Advisory Council and approved by the Oireachtas
🌿 The first two carbon budget periods cover 2021-2025 and 2026-2030
🌿 Each sector of the economy - transport, agriculture, energy, buildings - receives its own share of the overall budget

📖 Read the full guide to carbon budgets

🏷️ Carbon Neutrality

Similar to net zero, carbon neutrality means that an organisation or activity has balanced its carbon dioxide emissions by funding an equivalent amount of carbon savings elsewhere. This is often achieved through carbon offsetting schemes.

🌿 Carbon neutrality typically refers specifically to CO₂, while net zero covers all greenhouse gases
🌿 Some critics argue that carbon neutrality through offsetting alone is not enough without genuine emissions reductions
🌿 A growing number of Irish companies claim carbon neutral status through a combination of reductions and offsets

📖 Read the full guide to carbon neutral

📉 Decarbonisation

The process of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases produced by a country, industry or activity. Decarbonisation is the practical work of moving away from fossil fuels toward cleaner alternatives.

🌿 Ireland's electricity system is being decarbonised through the expansion of wind and solar energy
🌿 Transport decarbonisation involves shifting to electric vehicles and improving public transport
🌿 Decarbonising home heating means moving from oil and gas boilers to heat pumps and better insulation

📖 Read the full guide to climate mitigation

🔬 MtCO₂eq (Megatonnes of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent)

A unit used to measure greenhouse gas emissions. Because different gases trap different amounts of heat, they are all converted to an equivalent amount of CO₂ so they can be compared and added together. One megatonne equals one million tonnes.

🌿 Ireland's total greenhouse gas emissions are approximately 60 MtCO₂eq per year
🌿 This measurement allows policymakers to compare emissions from different sources on a like-for-like basis

📖 Read the full guide to MtCO₂eq

⚡ Energy and Power

💨 Renewable Energy

Energy generated from sources that are naturally replenished and will not run out, such as wind, sunlight, water (hydro), biomass and geothermal heat. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy sources produce little or no greenhouse gas emissions during operation.

🌿 Ireland generates a significant and growing share of its electricity from onshore wind energy
🌿 Offshore wind is expected to become a major source of energy for Ireland in the coming decade
🌿 Solar panels are becoming increasingly common on homes, farms and commercial buildings across Ireland
🌿 The government target is for 80% of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030

📖 Read the full guide to renewable energy in Ireland

🔋 Fossil Fuels

Natural fuels formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and organisms. The three main fossil fuels are coal, oil and natural gas. Burning them releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, making them the primary driver of climate change.

🌿 Ireland still relies on natural gas for a significant portion of its electricity, particularly when the wind is not blowing
🌿 Most homes in rural Ireland are heated by oil, while many urban homes use gas
🌿 Ireland banned new exploration for oil and gas in Irish waters in 2021

🏠 BER Rating (Building Energy Rating)

A rating that shows how energy efficient a building is, on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). Similar to the energy labels on household appliances, a BER certificate tells you how much energy a home uses and how much it costs to heat.

🌿 A BER certificate is required when selling or renting a property in Ireland
🌿 Government grants are available to improve your home's BER through insulation, heat pumps and other upgrades
🌿 The national retrofitting programme aims to upgrade 500,000 homes to a BER rating of B2 or better by 2030

📖 Read the full guide to BER ratings

♨️ Heat Pump

A device that heats your home by extracting warmth from the air, ground or water outside and transferring it indoors. Heat pumps run on electricity and are much more efficient than traditional oil or gas boilers because they move heat rather than generating it by burning fuel.

🌿 Air source heat pumps are the most common type installed in Irish homes
🌿 SEAI grants of up to €6,500 are available toward the cost of installing a heat pump
🌿 A heat pump works best in a well-insulated home, so insulation upgrades are often recommended alongside installation

📖 Read the full guide to heat pumps in Ireland

🔵 Hydrogen (Blue and Green)

Hydrogen can be used as a clean fuel, but how it is produced matters. Green hydrogen is made by splitting water using renewable electricity, producing zero emissions. Blue hydrogen is made from natural gas with carbon capture to reduce (but not eliminate) emissions.

🌿 Green hydrogen is considered the gold standard but is currently more expensive to produce
🌿 Ireland's abundant wind energy makes it well suited for green hydrogen production in the future
🌿 Hydrogen could play a role in decarbonising heavy industry and transport that cannot easily switch to batteries

📖 Read the full guide to green hydrogen

🔌 Retrofitting

Upgrading an existing building to make it more energy efficient. This typically involves adding insulation to walls, floors and attics, replacing old windows, installing a heat pump and improving ventilation. Retrofitting reduces energy use, lowers heating bills and cuts emissions.

🌿 Ireland's housing stock is among the least energy efficient in Europe, making retrofitting a national priority
🌿 Typical retrofit costs range from €15,000 to €75,000 depending on the depth of work
🌿 SEAI offers a range of grants to help homeowners with retrofitting costs
🌿 Community energy schemes allow groups of homes in an area to be retrofitted together at lower cost

📖 Read the full guide to retrofitting in Ireland

🌳 Nature, Land and Biodiversity

🌲 Afforestation

Planting new forests on land that has not been forested in recent times. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow, making afforestation an important tool for reducing overall emissions. Ireland has one of the lowest levels of forest cover in Europe at approximately 11%.

🌿 The government aims to increase Ireland's forest cover through new planting programmes
🌿 Native woodland planting is encouraged alongside commercial forestry for biodiversity benefits
🌿 Farmers can receive annual payments for planting and maintaining new forests on their land

📖 Read the full guide to afforestation

🦋 Biodiversity

The variety of all living things - plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms - and the ecosystems they form. Biodiversity is essential for healthy, functioning ecosystems that provide food, clean water, clean air and protection against flooding and disease.

🌿 Ireland has seen significant declines in biodiversity, including a 40% decline in farmland bird populations
🌿 Protecting and restoring biodiversity is closely linked to climate action because healthy ecosystems absorb carbon
🌿 The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan has encouraged thousands of communities, farms and businesses to take action for pollinators

🌾 Carbon Sink

Anything that absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases. Forests, oceans, peatlands and soils all act as carbon sinks. Protecting and restoring carbon sinks is a key part of climate strategy because they remove greenhouse gases that are already in the atmosphere.

🌿 Ireland's peatlands are one of the most important carbon stores in the country, holding an estimated 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon
🌿 When peatlands are drained or harvested for fuel, they release stored carbon and become a source of emissions rather than a sink
🌿 Rewetting degraded bogs can restore their function as carbon sinks over time

📖 Read the full guide to carbon sinks

🫧 Biogenic Methane Emissions

Methane produced by natural biological processes, primarily from livestock digestion (enteric fermentation) and manure management. This is distinct from fossil methane released by oil, gas and coal extraction. Agriculture is the largest source of biogenic methane emissions in Ireland.

🌿 Ireland's large cattle herd means biogenic methane is a major component of our national emissions profile
🌿 Research is underway into feed additives and breeding programmes that could reduce methane emissions from livestock
🌿 Methane is a potent greenhouse gas but breaks down in the atmosphere faster than CO₂, which makes reducing it a high-impact short-term strategy

📖 Read the full guide to biogenic methane emissions

🏞️ Peatlands and Bogs

Wetland areas where plant material has accumulated over thousands of years to form peat. Ireland has some of the most significant peatlands in Europe. When intact and waterlogged, bogs store vast amounts of carbon. When drained or cut for fuel, they release that carbon into the atmosphere.

🌿 Bord na Mona has ended peat harvesting and is now focused on bog rehabilitation across its former production sites
🌿 The EU Nature Restoration Law includes targets for rewetting drained peatlands
🌿 Community-led bog restoration projects are growing across Ireland, supported by government and EU funding

📖 Read the full guide to peatland restoration

📜 Policy, Economy and Society

🤝 Just Transition

The principle that the shift to a low-carbon economy should be fair and inclusive, supporting workers and communities that depend on carbon-intensive industries. A just transition means nobody is left behind as the economy changes.

🌿 In Ireland, just transition has been particularly relevant for communities in the Midlands affected by the end of peat harvesting
🌿 A dedicated Just Transition Fund has provided support for retraining, community development and new enterprise in affected areas
🌿 The concept also applies to ensuring that the costs of climate action do not disproportionately fall on lower-income households

📖 Read the full guide to just transition

♻️ Circular Economy

An economic model that aims to eliminate waste by keeping products, materials and resources in use for as long as possible. Instead of the traditional "take, make, dispose" approach, a circular economy is built on reuse, repair, refurbishment and recycling.

🌿 Ireland passed the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act in 2022
🌿 Practical examples include deposit return schemes for bottles and cans, repair cafes, and clothing swap events
🌿 Businesses are increasingly designing products for durability and recyclability rather than single use

📖 Read the full guide to the circular economy

🛡️ Climate Adaptation

Adjusting to the effects of climate change that are already happening or are expected in the future. While mitigation focuses on reducing emissions, adaptation focuses on preparing for and managing the impacts that cannot be avoided.

🌿 Ireland is already experiencing increased flooding, coastal erosion and more frequent extreme weather events
🌿 Adaptation measures include building flood defences, updating drainage infrastructure and changing farming practices
🌿 Local authorities are required to prepare climate adaptation strategies for their areas
🌿 Coastal communities in particular are facing decisions about managed retreat and shore protection

📖 Read the full guide to climate adaptation

📉 Climate Mitigation

Actions taken to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases. This includes switching to renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, changing land use practices and developing new low-carbon technologies. Mitigation aims to limit the severity of future climate change.

🌿 Ireland's Climate Action Plan sets out detailed mitigation measures across every sector of the economy
🌿 Mitigation and adaptation work together - reducing emissions limits future damage, while adaptation manages current impacts

📖 Read the full guide to climate mitigation

💶 Carbon Tax

A tax on fossil fuels based on the amount of carbon dioxide they produce when burned. The idea is to make polluting more expensive, encouraging people and businesses to switch to cleaner alternatives. Revenue from carbon tax can be used to fund climate action and support those affected by rising energy costs.

🌿 Ireland's carbon tax is applied to fuels such as petrol, diesel, heating oil, natural gas and solid fuels
🌿 The rate has been increasing annually and is scheduled to reach €100 per tonne of CO₂ by 2030
🌿 A portion of the revenue is ring-fenced for fuel poverty measures, retrofitting and agricultural sustainability programmes

📖 Read the full guide to carbon tax in Ireland

🏷️ Greenwashing

When a company, organisation or government makes misleading or exaggerated claims about how environmentally friendly its products, services or practices are. Greenwashing creates a false impression of environmental responsibility without meaningful action.

🌿 Common examples include vague claims like "eco-friendly" or "natural" without evidence
🌿 EU regulations are being strengthened to crack down on greenwashing in advertising and product labelling
🌿 Consumers can look for verified certifications and third-party audits rather than relying on marketing claims alone

📖 Read the full guide to greenwashing

🌍 Paris Agreement

An international treaty adopted in 2015 by 196 countries, committing them to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. Each country sets its own targets and reports on progress.

🌿 Ireland is a signatory and has committed to ambitious emissions reductions as part of the EU's overall contribution
🌿 The 1.5°C target is considered critical for avoiding the worst impacts of climate change
🌿 Countries update their commitments every five years through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

📖 Read the full guide to COP climate conferences

🚗 Transport and Travel

🚙 EV (Electric Vehicle)

A vehicle powered entirely or partly by electricity rather than petrol or diesel. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) run solely on electricity, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have both an electric motor and a conventional engine.

🌿 Ireland aims to have 945,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030
🌿 Grants and reduced motor tax rates are available to encourage EV adoption
🌿 The charging network across Ireland is being expanded, though coverage in rural areas remains a challenge

🚶 Active Travel

Getting around by walking, cycling or other human-powered means. Active travel reduces transport emissions, improves public health and makes streets safer and more pleasant for everyone.

🌿 The government has committed 20% of the total transport budget to cycling and walking infrastructure
🌿 Many Irish towns and cities are developing greenways, protected cycle lanes and pedestrianised areas
🌿 Active travel is particularly effective for short journeys, which make up a large proportion of all trips in Ireland

🚆 Modal Shift

Moving from one type of transport to another, typically from private cars to public transport, cycling or walking. Modal shift reduces emissions because buses, trains and bicycles produce far fewer emissions per person per journey than individual cars.

🌿 Improvements to bus, rail and light rail services are central to Ireland's transport decarbonisation plans
🌿 The BusConnects programme is redesigning bus networks in Dublin, Cork and other cities
🌿 New DART and commuter rail services aim to make public transport a more attractive alternative to driving

🌾 Food and Agriculture

🐄 Enteric Fermentation

The digestive process in cattle, sheep and other ruminant animals that produces methane as a byproduct. When these animals break down food in their stomachs, they release methane through belching. This is the single largest source of agricultural emissions in Ireland.

🌿 Ireland's national herd of approximately 7 million cattle makes enteric fermentation a significant contributor to overall emissions
🌿 Feed additives that reduce methane production are being researched and trialled
🌿 Selective breeding for more efficient animals is another approach being explored

📖 Read the full guide to biogenic methane emissions

🌱 Organic Farming

A method of farming that avoids synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and genetically modified organisms. Organic farming aims to work with natural systems rather than against them, promoting soil health, biodiversity and animal welfare.

🌿 Ireland has set a target to increase the share of agricultural land under organic farming to 7.5% by 2030
🌿 Organic farming typically produces lower emissions per hectare but can produce lower yields
🌿 Support payments are available for farmers converting to organic production

🧪 Sustainable Intensification

Producing more food from the same amount of land while reducing environmental impacts. This approach aims to increase the efficiency of farming rather than simply expanding the area under production.

🌿 Precision agriculture technologies help farmers apply fertilisers and water more efficiently
🌿 Improved grassland management can increase productivity while reducing emissions per unit of output
🌿 Critics argue that intensification alone cannot address the scale of emissions reductions needed from agriculture

🇮🇪 Ireland's Climate Action Framework

Ireland's response to climate change is guided by several key pieces of legislation and policy:

🌿 Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 - sets Ireland's legally binding target of net zero emissions by 2050 and a 51% reduction by 2030
🌿 Climate Action Plan - updated annually, this plan sets out detailed actions across every sector including energy, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use
🌿 National Adaptation Framework - guides how Ireland prepares for and responds to the impacts of climate change already being felt
🌿 Carbon Budgets - set by the Climate Change Advisory Council, these limit the total emissions allowed in five-year periods
🌿 Sectoral Emissions Ceilings - each sector of the economy has its own emissions limit within the overall carbon budget
🌿 EU Green Deal and Fit for 55 - Ireland's targets sit within the broader European framework for climate action

📚 More Key Terms

🌊 Climate Resilience

The ability of a community, system or ecosystem to anticipate, prepare for, respond to and recover from the impacts of climate change. Building resilience is about making sure that when extreme weather or gradual changes occur, the damage is minimised and recovery is faster.

🌿 Flood-resilient building design, sustainable drainage systems and coastal protection are all examples of resilience measures
🌿 Community resilience includes local emergency planning, social networks and access to resources during extreme events

📖 Read the full guide to climate resilience

⛏️ Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Technology that captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes or power generation before they enter the atmosphere, then transports and stores them permanently underground. CCS is seen as a way to reduce emissions from sectors that are difficult to decarbonise.

🌿 CCS technology exists but is not yet widely deployed at scale
🌿 Questions remain about cost, long-term storage safety and whether it delays the transition away from fossil fuels

📖 Read the full guide to carbon capture

🏘️ Energy Poverty (Fuel Poverty)

When a household cannot afford to heat their home to an adequate level. Energy poverty is affected by income levels, energy prices and the energy efficiency of the home. Climate action policies need to ensure that rising energy costs do not push more people into fuel poverty.

🌿 An estimated 29% of Irish households experience some level of energy poverty
🌿 The Warmer Homes Scheme provides free energy efficiency upgrades to eligible households
🌿 Carbon tax revenue is partly directed toward supporting fuel-poor households

📖 Read the full guide to energy poverty

☀️ Microgeneration

Small-scale generation of electricity by individuals or small businesses, typically through rooftop solar panels. Microgeneration allows people to produce their own clean energy and, in some cases, sell surplus electricity back to the grid.

🌿 Ireland introduced a microgeneration support scheme allowing households to be paid for excess electricity exported to the grid
🌿 SEAI grants are available to help with the cost of installing solar panels
🌿 A typical home solar panel system can provide around 40% of a household's annual electricity needs

📖 Read the full guide to microgeneration

🌐 Scope 1, 2 and 3 Emissions

A way of categorising greenhouse gas emissions used mainly by businesses and organisations. Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned sources. Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from purchased electricity. Scope 3 covers all other indirect emissions across the entire value chain, including suppliers and customers.

🌿 Scope 3 emissions are typically the largest category and the hardest to measure and reduce
🌿 Increasing numbers of Irish companies are being required to report on all three scopes as part of EU sustainability reporting rules

📖 Read the full guide to Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions

🏗️ Embodied Carbon

The total greenhouse gas emissions produced during the manufacture, transport and construction of building materials and products. Even a very energy-efficient building has a carbon footprint from the materials used to build it.

🌿 Concrete and steel are among the most carbon-intensive building materials
🌿 Timber construction and recycled materials can significantly reduce embodied carbon
🌿 As buildings become more energy efficient in operation, embodied carbon becomes a proportionally larger share of their total carbon footprint

📖 Read the full guide to embodied carbon

🌡️ Climate Tipping Points

Critical thresholds in the climate system where a small additional change can trigger a large, often irreversible shift. Once a tipping point is passed, the system may not return to its previous state even if the initial cause is removed.

🌿 Examples include the collapse of major ice sheets, dieback of the Amazon rainforest and disruption of ocean circulation patterns
🌿 Scientists warn that several tipping points could be crossed if global warming exceeds 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels
🌿 Cascading tipping points, where one triggers another, are a major concern in climate science
🌿 Some scientists compare it to a game of crash - the risk keeps climbing, and by the time you see the drop coming it is already too late to cash out

📖 Read the full guide to climate tipping points

📖 Ready to Go Deeper?

The definitions on this page are starting points. For real numbers, Irish context and answers to the questions people actually ask, explore the full glossary.

👉 Browse all 54 climate terms in the A-Z Glossary

🌍 Climate Jargon Buster - an independent plain-English guide to climate and energy in Ireland, continuing a concept originally developed by the Department of the Taoiseach with Comhairle na nÓg, the EPA and NALA. Not affiliated with any government body.