Sustainability
Acid deposition (Acid rain) = The fallout of sulphur and nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere with combustion gases as sulphuric and nitric acid.
Acidification = The change in the pH of soil and water caused by acid deposition.
Biodiversity = The existence of a wide variety of plant and animal species in their natural environment (diversity in habitats and species and genetic diversity within species).
Carbon dioxide, CO2 = A gas generated when fossil fuels are burned, see greenhouse gas.
Certification = Verification of compliance with an environmental, safety or quality management system standard (e.g. ISO 14001). Verification is made by an accredited organisation.
Combustion gas emissions = Gaseous by-products, such as CO2, SO2 and NO2, generated in the combustion of fuels.
Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes = The Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes track the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide based on specific criteria.
Eco-labelled energy = Electricity produced in accordance with certain criteria in an environmentally benign manner and with renewable sources of energy. For instance, ”Norppa” electricity in Finland and ”Bra miljöval” in Sweden.
Environmental permit = A licence defining maximum environmental values, granted by authorities.
Fossil fuel = Fuel derived from fossilised organic matter found in the earth’s crust. Such fuels include coal, oil and natural gas. Fossil fuels are non-renewable.
Greenhouse gas = A gas that absorbs heat radiation and traps it in the atmosphere, thus strengthening the greenhouse effect. The main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide and methane.
ISO, International Organization for Standardization = An international standard-setting body whose quality, environmental and safety management standards (ISO 9000/14000/18000 series) have achieved an established position in industry.
Lost workday injury frequency, LWIF = The number of injuries resulting in an absence of more than one day per million working hours.
Low-NOx burner = A burner type generating lower amounts of nitrogen oxides.
Methane, CH4 = A hydrocarbon compound. Natural gas consists of more than 99 per cent methane.
Nitrogen oxides = NO and NO2 are produced during the combustion of fuel at power plants.
Nuclear waste = The waste containing radioactive matter created at nuclear plants.
Radioactivity = The emission of particle or electromagnetic radiation from atomic nuclei and the decay into nuclei with less energy.
Renewable energy = Renewable energy sources include wood and biomass, as well as solar, wind and tidal energy, and hydroelectric power. Renewable energy sources do not cause greenhouse gas emissions.
Small particles = Small particles of less than 0.01 millimetre in diameter naturally present in the atmosphere and created during combustion.
Sulphur dioxide, SO2 = Generated in the combustion of fuels containing sulphur.
Sustainable development = Development that fulfils the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to fulfil their own needs. Sustainable development is considered to encompass three dimensions: environmental, social and economic.