The majority of Brits admit they are baffled by environmental terminology, according to new research.
Despite four in ten Brits (42%) feeling passionate about climate change, we remain completely in the dark about the meaning of words such as ‘net zero’, ‘carbon offsetting’ and ‘green washing’, according to a new poll.
A staggering nine in ten (89%) say they find environmental jargon mind boggling, admitting they have no idea what many terms actually mean.
In fact, 19% wrongly guessed that ‘net zero’ (no longer adding to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere) meant stopping the use of fossil fuels completely, while almost one in 20 thought it was a fishing term!
One in three (33%) had no idea of the meaning of ‘tipping point’ (the point of no return after which changes caused by climate change become irreversible) – with 7% guessing it referred to the ITV game show, which has the same name.
Other environmental terms that leave Brits in the dark include Kyoto Protocol (62% have no idea what this means), cradle to cradle (56%), e-waste (37%) and greenwashing (34%).
Over half (52%) had never heard of the term ‘black carbon’, while a further 52% didn’t fully understand the word ‘ecocide’.
Afforestation (44%), CFCs (39%), and desertification (39%) also stump Brits, while carcinogen (38%) and ecological footprint (37%) are other terms which leave Brits scratching their heads.
So, it is no surprise that two thirds (65%) of us regularly search the internet to find out what environmental jargon means, according to the survey of 2000 Brits by Hello Hydrogen.
Overall, 59% admit they have very little idea how to reduce their impact on the environment, with six in ten (60%) struggling to understand how they can make their home more sustainable.
Four in ten (40%) went a step further, saying there is a lot of conflicting advice around about how to reduce your impact on the environment.
Angela Needle from Hello Hydrogen, who commissioned the study, said: ‘We all know we need to do more to stop climate change, but what this research tells us is that people are overwhelmed and confused.
‘One thing we know for sure is that we will need to make some changes, which is why Hello Hydrogen is working to create a simple, straightforward solution to help us all be greener – a great choice, without the jargon.’
Some 87% say they switch off when they hear or read terms that they don’t understand, with a third (33%) admitting they get frustrated when the government uses confusing environmental terms instead of explaining what they mean.
Despite this, one in five (22%) say they constantly worry about their impact on the environment with over half (56%) more worried than they were five years ago.
Gen Z and millennials worry the most (31%) compared to over 60s (14%).
Overall, 77% of Brits are actively trying to reduce their environmental footprint.
Thanks to Hello Hydrogen, some confusing environmental terms decoded…
Circular economy: products and materials being reused leaving no waste.
Kyoto Protocol: first international agreement to set legally binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Cradle to cradle: a sustainable manufacturing model that designs products so that all of their components can be recycled or repurposed.
Agroecology: uses ecological principles to create sustainable food systems.
Blue Carbon: carbon dioxide that is absorbed from the atmosphere and stored in the ocean and coastal ecosystems.
Aquaponics: waste produced by farmed fish supplies the nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn purify the water.
Black Carbon: a fine particulate air pollution that is created when fossil fuels, wood and other fuels are incompletely combusted.
Ecocide: destruction of the natural environment by deliberate or negligent human action.
Net zero: no longer adding to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Afforestation: planting of a forest, or stand of trees, in an area where there was no recent tree cover.
Tipping point: the point of no return after which changes caused by climate change become irreversible.
CFCs: Chlorofluorocarbons are non toxic, non flammable chemicals containing atoms of carbon, chlorine and fluorine used in the manufacture of aerosol sprays, foams, packing materials, solvents, and as refrigerants.
Desertification: gradual process of land degradation that turns fertile land into arid desert.
Clean beauty: cosmetics and skincare products that are free from harmful chemicals.
Plasticulture: the use of plastic in agricultural activities.
Carcinogen: a carcinogen is a substance, organism, or agent that can cause cancer.
Ocean dead zones: an area of the ocean where low oxygen levels make it impossible for aquatic life to survive.
Ecological footprint: a measure that indicates how much resources from the environment are required to support a specific way of life or business.
E-waste: any discarded electrical or electronic equipment that has reached the end of its useful life.
Geothermal energy: heat within the earth.
Greenwashing: when an organisation makes misleading or false claims about their environmental impact, products, or operations.
Biomass: renewable organic material that comes from plants and animals.
Carbon capture: a process that involves capturing carbon dioxide and storing it in a safe location.
Thermal pollution: when human activities causes a sudden and unnatural change in the temperature of a body of water, which can harm the environment.
Ecotourism: tourism that aims to protect natural landscapes, promote environmental sustainability and support local communities.
Decarbonisation: removal or reduction of carbon dioxide output into the atmosphere.
Carbon offsetting: reducing or removing greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere to compensate for emissions made elsewhere.
Rewilding: restoring natural processes and ecosystems in landscapes that have been degraded or managed by humans.
Fracking: a well stimulation technique that involves drilling into shale rock formations and injecting a pressurised fluid to extract natural gas and oil.
Selective breeding: choosing organisms with desired characteristics to breed together to improve crop yield and quality.
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