Phrases like natural carbon fluxes and geologic storage are central to carbon removal science. And to many people, these two phrases bring up different priorities, ideas and risks. When terms are used inconsistently, or without sufficient context, they can create space for weakened standards, uneven expectations, and inequitable outcomes. Shared understanding of commonly used ideas is critical to continue scaling carbon removal responsibly. The CORE glossary addresses this need by providing common language for industry-specific terminology and general vocabulary alike. It functions in three ways:
- Provides clear meaning for potentially confusing and technical terms to clarify fieldwide intentions;
- Offers a common reference source and shared understanding needed to build a platform for communities, policymakers and implementers to stand on common ground; and
- Grounds definitions in measurable and equitable commitments to guide and enable fieldwide alignment for responsible carbon removal
For all audiences, the glossary is not meant to function as an afterthought, rather it is an essential complimentary document for exploring meaning and impact for the entire field.
Establishing a shared language ecosystem through our CORE wheel, resource hub, and glossary
In addition to building a common understanding, the shared language ecosystem addresses content access concerns by providing multiple ways for engagement. Each component plays a distinct and complementary role. The wheel organizes these ideas into an interactive graphic that helps connect how different principles and practices relate to one another. The resource hub then provides case studies, guidance for implementation, and more thorough materials. The glossary provides definitions for key terms that show up in the wheel and resource hub. These tools can, and should, be used together.
For example, if you encounter an unfamiliar phrase in the wheel, you can flip to the glossary for a clear definition and then move to the resource hub to explore how that concept is applied in real world contexts. On the other hand, you might look up a word in the glossary, use the wheel to better understand how it connects to other principles and practices, and then use the resource hub to identify examples and ways others have operationalized it. This approach helps make potentially abstract concepts understandable and tangible. These tools, used in tandem, can support people across the carbon removal field to move from definition, to alignment, to confident implementation.
Language shapes what gets prioritized… and what (and who) gets left out
Communities who are directly impacted by carbon removal interventions may use language relevant to their context to describe risks and benefits. This language could look different than how policymakers or implementers might describe those realities. CORE’s language ecosystem is community-informed and open-access, ensuring that it meets the need for clearer communication and surfaces lived experiences of carbon removal. This is a major step forward in the evolution of fieldwide perspectives and community expertise. For the CORE framework to support fieldwide alignment, addressing these communication gaps is essential. As standards continue to evolve, so too will the words we rely on to actualize them. Ensuring that these perspectives are reflected in shared terminology makes the word choice in the CORE framework precise and relevant for equitable and just implementation.
The CORE framework for responsible carbon removal is a living project
Establishing a shared language is critical to scaling carbon removal responsibly. By investing in tools like CORE and its embedded language ecosystem, the field has an opportunity to align on what carbon removal is and how it should be done.
If you find yourself looking through our online glossary, you’ll quickly discover more than 25 full pages worth of material. We’ve combed through the text and chosen language we think needed more clarity based on sourced feedback. But the world is always changing. Here’s where you come in. If you see a word or phrase that needs further explanation, click here to leave feedback, and we will make sure the framework is updated. Maintaining a shared language is an ongoing practice as the field continues to grow and mature. Your input plays a critical role in strengthening this collective resource. We’re eager to hear from you.