Adaptation: Actions and strategies taken to adjust and cope with the impacts of climate change. In Mauritius, adaptation measures might include infrastructure improvements to withstand cyclones or water management strategies.
Anthropogenic: Originating from human activities. Anthropogenic climate change refers to changes in the climate caused by human actions, primarily through the release of greenhouse gases.
Biodiversity: The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat. Climate change can affect biodiversity in Mauritius, especially in ecosystems like coral reefs and rainforests.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2): A greenhouse gas produced by the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and various other human activities. It is a major contributor to global warming.
Climate: Climate refers to the long-term average of weather patterns in a particular region over an extended period, typically 30 years or more. It represents the average weather conditions, including temperature and precipitation, for a specific area. Climate gives a broader picture of the typical atmospheric conditions in a particular region over an extended period.
Climate change: Climate change, as per the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, (UNFCCC), refers to a change in the state of climate that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and that is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. These changes may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle, or caused by human activities, particularly through the emission of greenhouse gases.
Cyclone: A large-scale weather system characterized by low-pressure centers and high winds. Mauritius is susceptible to tropical cyclones, especially during the cyclone season (November to April).
Deforestation: The process of clearing forests or woodlands, primarily for agriculture, urban development, or industrial purposes, which contributes to increased CO2 levels and climate change.
El Niño and La Niña: Climate phenomena associated with the periodic warming (El Niño) or cooling (La Niña) of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, which can affect weather patterns globally.
Emissions: The release of substances (usually gases) into the atmosphere from various sources such as industries, agriculture, or vehicles, which can contribute to climate change and air pollution.
Emissions trading: A market-based approach to controlling pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants.
Energy conservation/energy production: Efforts made to reduce the consumption of energy through using less of an energy service. Energy production refers to the processes of generating energy from sources like fossil fuels, nuclear, or renewable resources.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): A process that ensures that the environmental implications of decisions are considered before being made. This includes assessing the potential impact of new projects on the climate.
Fossil Fuels: Non-renewable energy sources, including coal, oil, and natural gas, that release carbon dioxide when burned and are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Global Warming: The long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily from human activities.
Green economy: An economy that aims at reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities, and that aims for sustainable development without degrading the environment.
Greenhouse Effect: The natural process by which certain gases (e.g., CO2, methane) in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space and thereby warming the planet.
Greenhouse Gases: Gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect. Common greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).
Monsoon: Seasonal wind patterns that bring heavy rainfall. In Mauritius, the southwest monsoon (November to April) typically brings rain, while the southeast trade winds (May to October) are drier.
Mitigation: Actions and strategies to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases to lessen the impact of climate change.
Paris Agreement: An international treaty adopted in 2015, which aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to keep it below 1.5 degrees Celsius, through emissions reductions and climate adaptation efforts.
Rainfall Variability: The amount of precipitation can vary across different regions and seasons in Mauritius, influencing agricultural practices and water availability.
Rising Sea Levels: The gradual increase in the average level of the ocean's surface, which can have significant impacts on low-lying coastal areas like those in Mauritius.
Renewable energy: Energy from sources that are naturally replenishing but flow-limited. Renewable resources are virtually inexhaustible in duration but limited in the amount of energy that is available per unit of time.
Risk assessment/management: The identification, evaluation, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events in the context of environmental and climate risks.
Sea Level Rise: The gradual increase in the average global sea level due to the thermal expansion of seawater and the melting of polar ice caps, driven by global warming.
Sea Surface Temperature (SST): The temperature of the ocean's surface. Changes in SST can impact weather patterns and influence the intensity of tropical cyclones.
Sustainability: Practices that seek to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, especially in the context of climate change.
Sustainable development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, particularly with regard to using natural resources and managing wastes.
Temperature Anomaly: The deviation from the long-term average temperature for a specific location and period. Positive anomalies indicate higher temperatures, while negative anomalies indicate lower temperatures.
Tropical Climate: Mauritius has a tropical climate, characterized by high temperatures throughout the year and distinct wet and dry seasons.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): An international treaty established in 1992 to address climate change and its impacts. It serves as the framework for subsequent agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
Vulnerability: The degree to which a system or community is susceptible to harm from climate change, taking into account its exposure and capacity to adapt.
Weather: Refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific location, including elements such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure.
Weather Extremes: Unusual, severe, or rare weather events, such as hurricanes, droughts, and heatwaves, which can be exacerbated by climate change.
Zero Emissions: The state in which an entity or system releases no net greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, achieved through emissions reductions and carbon removal efforts.
