Glossary
The English version of our glossary is currently under construction and will be regularly updated.
Industrial Revolution
A period of rapid industrial growth, with far-reaching social and economic consequences, that began roughly in the year 1750.
A period of rapid industrial growth, with far-reaching social and economic consequences, that began in the second half of the 18th century in Great Britain and subsequently spread to other countries, e.g. the USA. The invention of the steam engine was an important catalyst for this development. The Industrial Revolution marked the beginning of a massive rise in the consumption of fossil fuels and in emissions, particularly of fossil carbon dioxide. For the IPCC, the terms preindustrial and industrial refer – somewhat arbitrarily – to the time before and after 1750, respectively.