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Cairns Group A group of 19 agricultural exporting countries that work to liberalize international trade in agricultural commodities, especially through the World
Trade Organization.
Calories A unit of measure of energy content (normally for food) equivalent to the
energy required to raise the temperature of a gram of water by 1 °C. There can
be some confusion as, when capitalized; the unit Calories refers to the energy
required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by 1 °C, i.e., one
Calorie = one kilocalorie = 1000 calories.
Capacity The peak rate at which a system (e.g., a power plant) can operate.
Compare to Utilization.
Capital Cost The cost of building a system.
Capital Goods Goods that are used to produce other goods that are sold to consumers (see consumer goods).
Capitalist Economic System Assumes that government acts to benefit the interests
of one or more specific capitals (extractive, agricultural, industrial, commercial,
financial) and/or to benefit the long-term interests of capitalism as a mode of
social organization.
Carbon Capture and Storage/Sequestration (CCS) The capture of carbon, typically from the waste stream of a large point source of carbon dioxide (e.g.,
power plant), and its long-term storage to mitigate climate change and ocean
acidification.
Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) A molecule of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms that
is an important greenhouse gas generated when combusting hydrocarbon fuels,
such as coal.
Carrying Capacity The estimated maximum population of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely.
Cascading Failure A situation where a failure in one part of a system causes failures in other parts of the system. For example, a failure in “upstream” infrastructure leading to failures in the “downstream” infrastructure that is dependent on
the upstream component.
Catchment Basin (also Watershed or Drainage Basin) A geographical delineation characterized by the fact that all runoff within the basin will eventually drain
to a given water body. Catchment basins are nested. For example, the catchment
of a small tributary is within the catchment of a larger river, and both of those
are within the catchment basin of the lake or large river to which they drain. Also
called a watershed or drainage basin.
Celsius (C) A metric unit temperature scale defined by 0 °C as the freezing point
of water and 100 °C as the boiling point of water at sea level and standard temperature and pressure. It is commensurate with the Kelvin scale but shifted such
that 0 °C = 273.15 K.
Centralized FEW System A system in which food, energy, and water resources
are efficiently produced in a centralized or concentrated location or hub in high
volumes or quantities, and then transported to dispersed consumers. Examples
industrial agriculture and CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations),
electricity produced in a large power plant and then delivered to consumers
Glossary
Cairns Group A group of 19 agricultural exporting countries that work to liberalize international trade in agricultural commodities, especially through the World
Trade Organization.
Calories A unit of measure of energy content (normally for food) equivalent to the
energy required to raise the temperature of a gram of water by 1 °C. There can
be some confusion as, when capitalized; the unit Calories refers to the energy
required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by 1 °C, i.e., one
Calorie = one kilocalorie = 1000 calories.
Capacity The peak rate at which a system (e.g., a power plant) can operate.
Compare to Utilization.
Capital Cost The cost of building a system.
Capital Goods Goods that are used to produce other goods that are sold to consumers (see consumer goods).
Capitalist Economic System Assumes that government acts to benefit the interests
of one or more specific capitals (extractive, agricultural, industrial, commercial,
financial) and/or to benefit the long-term interests of capitalism as a mode of
social organization.
Carbon Capture and Storage/Sequestration (CCS) The capture of carbon, typically from the waste stream of a large point source of carbon dioxide (e.g.,
power plant), and its long-term storage to mitigate climate change and ocean
acidification.
Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) A molecule of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms that
is an important greenhouse gas generated when combusting hydrocarbon fuels,
such as coal.
Carrying Capacity The estimated maximum population of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely.
Cascading Failure A situation where a failure in one part of a system causes failures in other parts of the system. For example, a failure in “upstream” infrastructure leading to failures in the “downstream” infrastructure that is dependent on
the upstream component.
Catchment Basin (also Watershed or Drainage Basin) A geographical delineation characterized by the fact that all runoff within the basin will eventually drain
to a given water body. Catchment basins are nested. For example, the catchment
of a small tributary is within the catchment of a larger river, and both of those
are within the catchment basin of the lake or large river to which they drain. Also
called a watershed or drainage basin.
Celsius (C) A metric unit temperature scale defined by 0 °C as the freezing point
of water and 100 °C as the boiling point of water at sea level and standard temperature and pressure. It is commensurate with the Kelvin scale but shifted such
that 0 °C = 273.15 K.
Centralized FEW System A system in which food, energy, and water resources
are efficiently produced in a centralized or concentrated location or hub in high
volumes or quantities, and then transported to dispersed consumers. Examples
industrial agriculture and CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations),
electricity produced in a large power plant and then delivered to consumers
Glossary