| Term | Description |
| COP (Conference of the Parties) | · International climate meeting organized annually by the United Nations.
· Involves representatives from 198 countries that are parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). · Aims to address and coordinate global efforts to combat climate change. |
| Kyoto Protocol | · International treaty (1997-2020) that set obligations for industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
· Replaced by the Paris Agreement as the primary international treaty for climate action. |
| Paris Agreement | · Adopted in 2015 at COP21, legally binding 195 nations to combat climate change and limit global temperature rise.
· Aims to keep global temperature increase “well below” 2 degrees Celsius and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. |
| Glasgow Pact (COP26) | · Agreed at COP26 in Glasgow, calling for the phase-down of coal and the phase-out of fossil fuels.
· Resolved deadlock over carbon markets. |
| Carbon Markets | · Trading systems where carbon credits are bought and sold.
· Allow countries or industries to earn credits for exceeding emission reduction targets. · Credits can be traded and used to meet reduction targets. |
| Net Zero | · State where a country’s emissions entering the environment equal greenhouse gases being removed.
· Involves creating carbon sinks or using technologies for carbon dioxide removal. |
| Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) | Process of capturing and trapping carbon dioxide, often used at fossil fuel plants to prevent emissions. |
| Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) | Extends CCS by using captured carbon in the production of goods like fuels, plastics, or concrete. |
| Geo-engineering | · Deliberate large-scale interventions in Earth’s systems to address climate change.
· Includes techniques like carbon dioxide removal (CDR) with effectiveness and side effects under debate. |
| IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) | UN body assessing science related to climate change, providing reports on the state of knowledge. |
| Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) | Commitments by each country under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts. |
| National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) | Plans helping countries respond to present and future climate impacts, enhancing resilience. |
| Global Stocktake | Five-year review where countries assess progress in the fight against climate change. |
| Triple Renewable Energy | International Energy Agency’s (IEA) call to triple global renewable capacity by 2030 to achieve net-zero goals. |
| Just Transition | Shift to a low-carbon or net-zero economy without compromising worker rights and community needs. |
| Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) | International law principle recognizing different capabilities and responsibilities of countries to address environmental problems like climate change. |
| Loss and Damage | · Refers to unavoidable social and financial impacts caused by extreme weather events.
· COP27 established a fund to provide financial help to countries affected by climate disasters. |
A Glossary of Climate Terms
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