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GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

A measure of economic production (and often standard of living) of a country. GDP calculates a nations total economic output of products and services. The GDP is problematic as a sustainability indicator because it considers the amount of money spent...
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GNP (Gross National Product)

The total value of newly produced products and services produced in a year by a country's companies (including profits from capital held abroad). Transactions in existing goods, such as second-hand cars, are not included, as these do not involve the...
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GPI (Genuine Progress Indicator)

A recent (1990s) indicator developed to correct acknowledged deficiencies in the GDP that don’t account for all costs or benefits of human activities. It is an attempt to provide a more accurate (quality of life) indicator for people than the...
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GRI (Global Reporting Initiative)

A multi-stakeholder process and independent institution whose mission is to develop and disseminate globally applicable Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. The guidelines were developed so that companies, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations can report on the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of...
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Garbage

Anything that costs less to dispose of than it’s worth commercially. In many cases, these materials are the same being handled by manufacturers in the production of goods but because of supply chains, technology, and often subsidized capture and transportation...
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Global Warming

A term for the gradual, average increase of temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans. Local temperatures around the world, however, may increase or decrease in varying amounts. Global warming is accelerated by the greenhouse gases expelled into the atmosphere...
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Global Weirding

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Globalization

The worldwide integration of products, services, employment, people, cultures, markets, and economies and the compression of both time and distance that often accompanies it. Globalization often refers specifically to the growing economic interdependence of countries worldwide through increasing cross-border transactions...
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Governance

The systems and processes of management that govern an organization’s behavior and conduct. Governance covers accountability, auditing, transparency (openness), reporting and disclosure, responsibilities and representation of various stakeholders (including shareholders, board of directors, advisory boards, employees, etc.) as well as...
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Grassroots

A metaphor to describe a movement or change that begins among people with shared interests that they can define and act upon collectively. As a noun it refers to ordinary people in a community or organization. As an adjective it...
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Green

A common metaphor referring to environmental association based on the shared secondary color of many plants. It is often used to associate products, organizations, political parties, or policies with environmentally sensitivity....
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Green Building

A comprehensive process of design and construction that employs techniques to minimize adverse environmental impacts and reduce the energy consumption of a building, while contributing to the health and productivity of its occupants. A common metric for green buildings is...
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Green Design

The design of products, services, buildings, or experiences that are sensitive to environmental issues and achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in terms of energy and materials....
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Green Marketing

Green-washing
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Green Tech

(Green Technology) A term referring to a collection of new technologies and approaches that maximize human, environmental, and economic benefits....
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Green-collar Jobs

Jobs created by investments and sustainable practices. Many skilled and unskilled jobs traditionally referred to as "blue-collar" jobs may be created and supported through the expansion of incentives and demand for sustainable building and installation of sustainable systems (such as...
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Greenback Greens

A sector of the market defined by the Roper ASW Green Gauge Report as interested in "green" or environmental issues but not always willing to spend extra to support their ideals. In 2007, these customers represent only 10% of the...
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Greenhouse Gas

Gases produced from human activities that trap solar radiation and thus contribute to climate change and the destruction of the ozone layer. These include: CO2 Carbon Dioxide CH4 Methane HFCs Hydrofluorocarbons (a class of several gasses) N2O Dinitrogen Oxide PFCs...
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Greenwashing

A term merging the concepts of “green” (environmentally sound) and “whitewashing” (to conceal or gloss over wrongdoing). Greenwashing is any form of marketing or public relations that links a corporate, political, religious or nonprofit organization to a positive association with...
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Gross National Happiness (GNH)

Coined by Bhutan's King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Gross National Happiness (GNH) measures actual well-being of a country's citizens rather than consumption, accounting more fully for social, human and environmental realities. Its premise is that basic happiness can be measured since...
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Grousers

A selection of consumers defined by the Roper ASW Green Gauge Report as disinterested in "green" or environmental issues. In 2007, these customers represent 19% of the total American consumer population. They tend to view environmental issues as too big...
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