Greenwashing describes the process of disseminating false or misleading information about how a company’s products are deemed environmentally sound. In the context of  investment and social investment, this particularly refers to un-substantiated claims about the sustainability characteristics of an investment product. 

This describes access to reliable and affordable sources of energy. For many social enterprises and charities, various global contexts have caused difficulties for energy supply, pushing up prices and making it difficult for organisations to continue to operate sustainably. In addition, many beneficiaries of social enterprises and charities are deemed to be in fuel poverty, meaning the demand for services is ever-increasing. 

This term recognises that although global warming is a crisis affecting us all, the effects are not felt evenly around the world, resulting in inequitable outcomes for some communities. The concept refers to this ethical challenge and how we can continue to protect the planet in a way that creates a fairer more just and equal world in the process. 

A Green Economy is an economic model. It’s usually described as low-carbon, resource-efficient and socially inclusive, whereby growth is determined by public and private investment into ‘green’ infrastructure, reducing our emissions and building our capacity to adapt to climate change.  

The term ‘Resilience’ refers to the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties. In the context of energy and social enterprises and charities, we refer to ‘Energy Resilience’ as having the knowledge, tools and assets required to be sustainable through the ongoing energy bills crisis. 

Being ‘Carbon Neutral’ means taking active steps to remove the same amount of CO2 to what’s emitted through trading activities and supply chains, by investing in measures that absorb CO2. These measures are often referred to as ‘Carbon Sinks’ and examples include forests and oceans.  

Net Zero refers to the state in which the amount of greenhouse gas that’s produced is balanced by the amount that’s removed from the atmosphere. It’s achieved through various reduction and removal efforts.