ClimateAugust 16, 2026
decoupled
dee-KUP-uld
Definition
The state of separating two things that were previously linked, specifically referring here to the disconnect between economic growth and carbon emissions.
Etymology
Derived from the prefix 'de-', meaning to reverse or undo, and 'couple', which traces back to the Latin 'copula' meaning a bond or tie. It entered English in the 19th century to describe the disconnection of two things previously joined.
In the news
The article uses the term to highlight that Australia has successfully reduced its total carbon emissions while simultaneously growing its economy, proving that environmental progress does not require economic decline.
Antarctic grass an ominous sign of how the world is warming
Read the full article ↗The Age