EUROPA - Environment - Climate Change

Glossary of common terms and acronyms

Revised July 2001

(Glossary is also available in PDF format ~70K)

AA	Assigned Amount. The Kyoto Protocol’s term for the total tonnage of greenhouse gas, measured in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent, that each industrialised (Annex I) country can emit over a commitment period. Assigned amounts are calculated on the basis of the Quantified Emission Limitation and Reduction Commitments laid down in Annex B of the Protocol. See also PAA.
AIJ	Activities Implemented Jointly. A pilot scheme allowing Parties to invest in emission-reduction projects in other industrialised or developing countries. Effectively a ‘learning by doing’ phase of Joint Implementation and the Clean Development Mechanism, with the difference that it does not allow the investing country to receive credit for the emissions saved.
Annex I	List established under the UNFCCC of industrialised countries, including economies in transition, taking on specific emissions commitments
Annex II	List established under the UNFCCC of industrialised countries, excluding economies in transition, that are to provide new and additional resources to help developing countries meet existing commitments under the UNFCCC.
Annex A	List established under the Kyoto Protocol of the basket of six greenhouse gases that the Protocol covers and the sectors or source categories that emit them.
Annex B	List established under the Kyoto Protocol setting out each Party's emission limitation or reduction target, or QELRC, for the first Commitment Period, relative to the base year.
AOSIS	Alliance of Small Island States. Group of 42 countries which are among those most threatened by rising sea levels and other impacts of climate change.
BAPA	Buenos Aires Plan of Action. A work programme, agreed on at COP4 in Buenos Aires in November 1998, for completing the unfinished business of the Kyoto Protocol and addressing certain developing country issues under the UNFCCC. The plan runs until COP6.
Base year	1990 is the base year used in the UNFCCC and also for most QELRCs established under the Kyoto Protocol. However, EITs that chose a different base year under a decision taken at COP2 shall use that base year under the Protocol. Also, all Annex I Parties have the option of choosing 1995 as the base year for their emissions of the three industrial gases covered by the Protocol – hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride.
Berlin Mandate	An agreement reached at COP1 in Berlin, in March-April 1995, that led to the elaboration of the Kyoto Protocol. The mandate set the framework for negotiations on action to be taken after 2000, including strengthening the commitments of Annex I Parties.
Bubble	Term used to describe the arrangement, provided for in Article 4 of the Kyoto Protocol, whereby Annex I Parties can fulfil their emission targets jointly by pooling their individual emissions in a common 'bubble.' The EU has used this provision and, through a burden sharing agreement, sub-divided its target of -8% into differentiated targets for each Member State that take account of their different national circumstances.
Burden sharing	The sharing out of emissions allowances among the 15 Member States under the EU ‘bubble.’ An agreement on burden sharing was reached in June 1998 and will be made legally binding as part of the EU’s instrument of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.
CAP	Compliance Action Plan. One of the penalties that could be imposed on Annex I countries found to be in breach of their emission target under the Kyoto Protocol.
Cap, Concrete Ceiling	A limit on use of the Kyoto mechanisms. Such a limit is favoured by the EU and some other groups in order to promote domestic action to cut emissions.
CCPMs	Common and coordinated policies and measures. Policies and measures decided on or coordinated at international (eg EU) level with the primary or secondary goal of reducing GHG emissions. See also P&Ms.
CDM	Clean Development Mechanism. One of the three Kyoto mechanisms, the CDM aims to promote sustainable development in developing countries as well as to help Annex I Parties achieve compliance with their QELRCs. It allows Annex I countries to invest in emission-saving projects in developing countries and gain credit for the savings achieved through the generation of CERs that they can use to contribute to compliance with part of their QELRCs. The CERs will be added to Annex I Parties' assigned amounts.
CEECs	Central and eastern European countries. These countries are among those classified under the UNFCCC as Economies in Transition to a market economy. Ten of these countries are negotiating to join the EU: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
CER	Certified Emission Reduction. CDM projects will generate these, which Annex I countries can then add to their assigned amounts.
CG 11	Central Group 11. A recently formed negotiating group within the UNFCCC process comprising 11 CEECs that have emissions reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol and common views on certain issues. Members of the group are the 10 CEECs negotiating to join the EU - Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia - as well as Croatia. See also EIT.
CH₄	Methane. The second most common gas in the basket of six GHGs controlled by the Kyoto Protocol. Methane has a 100-year GWP of 21.
Commitment period	The period under the Kyoto Protocol during which Annex I Parties' GHG emissions, averaged over the period, must stay within their emission targets or QELRCs. The first commitment period covers 2008-2012. The Protocol stipulates that consideration of targets for the second commitment period should start by 2005.
CO₂	Carbon dioxide. The main GHG, accounting for some 81% of Annex I countries’ GHG emissions in 1990, and one of the six GHGs controlled by the Kyoto Protocol. Used as the gas of reference for calculating GWPs, and thus given a 100-year GWP of 1.
COP	Conference of the Parties. The supreme body of the UNFCCC, charged with the task of regularly reviewing implementation of the Convention and any related instruments, such as the Kyoto Protocol. The COP meets annually.
COP/MOP	Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. To avoid duplication, the COP will serve as the MOP. The first session of the COP/MOP will take place once the Protocol has entered into force. Parties to the UNFCCC that are not Parties to the Protocol will be able to participate in the COP/MOP as observers.
ECCP	European Climate Change Programme. Multi-stakeholder programme set up by the European Commission in June 2000 with the goal of identifying additional, cost-effective P&Ms to ensure that the EU meets its emission target under the Kyoto Protocol.
EIG	Environmental Integrity Group. A recently formed negotiating group within the UNFCCC process, comprising Switzerland, Mexico and South Korea.
EIT	Economies in Transition. Term used to describe countries of the former Soviet bloc - the Soviet Union itself and the formerly communist states of central and eastern Europe - that are now in transition to a market economy. These countries are expected to be the location of choice for many JI projects under the Kyoto Protocol on cost grounds. See also CEECs and CG 11.
Emissions Trading	The Kyoto Protocol allows Parties listed in Annex B to participate in trading of their assigned amounts for the purposes of fulfilling their emissions commitments. Parties buying parts of assigned amounts can add these to their assigned amounts under the Protocol, while Parties selling must deduct them. Such trading must be supplemental to domestic actions. The COP is to define the rules and modalities for trading.
ERT	Expert Review Team. Team of experts that will conduct technical assessments of Annex I Parties’ implementation of their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol on the basis of information that the Parties will provide on their emissions and sinks.
ERU	Emission Reduction Unit. JI projects will generate ERUs for Annex I investor countries in proportion to the amount of GHG emissions each project saves. The investor country can then add the ERUs to its assigned amount under the Kyoto Protocol, while the host country must deduct them from its own emissions allocation.
GEF	Global Environment Facility. Intergovernmental fund for environmental projects to which the operation of the Convention’s financial mechanism has been entrusted. The GEF is managed jointly by the World Bank, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN Development Programme (UNDP).
G77 (and China)	Group of 77 (and China). Main negotiating group of developing countries within the UN system. Despite its name, it represents more than 130 countries.
GHG	Greenhouse gas. A gas that contributes to the natural ‘greenhouse effect.’ The Kyoto Protocol covers a basket of six GHGs produced by human activities: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride. Annex I Parties’ emissions of these gases taken together are to be measured in terms of carbon dioxide equivalents on the basis of the gases’ GWPs. An important natural GHG that is not covered by the Protocol is water vapour.
GWP	Global warming potential. Term used to describe the relative potency, molecule for molecule, of a GHG, taking account of how long it remains active in the atmosphere. The GWPs currently used are those calculated over 100 years. Carbon dioxide is taken as the gas of reference, with a 100-year GWP of 1.
Hot air	Term commonly given to the part of an Annex I Party's Assigned Amount of emissions that is most likely to be surplus to its needs even without that Party making additional efforts, beyond existing policies in 1990, to reduce its emissions. This surplus is likely to be made available to other Annex I countries through Emissions Trading or JI. Russia and Ukraine are widely seen as having the most 'hot air' to sell.
HFCs	Hydrofluorocarbons. Family of industrial gases included in the basket of six GHGs controlled by the Kyoto Protocol. HFCs have replaced ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in many applications but are powerful GHGs, with 100-year GWPs of between 140 and 11,700.
ICAO	International Civil Aviation Organisation. Article 2.2 of the Kyoto Protocol requires industrialised countries to pursue the limitation or reduction of GHG emissions from international civil aviation through ICAO.
IMO	International Maritime Organisation. Article 2.2 of the Kyoto Protocol also requires industrialised countries to pursue the limitation or reduction of GHG emissions from international shipping through IMO.
IPCC	Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Widely regarded as the most authoritative international voice on the science and impacts of climate change. Established by governments under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1988, the IPCC produces five-yearly reports assessing the state of scientific knowledge on climate change which represent the international consensus among the hundreds of experts involved. Its Third Assessment Report was finalised this year. The IPCC has also published special reports on individual issues, such as sinks.
JI	Joint Implementation. One of the three Kyoto mechanisms and a successor to AIJ. JI allows Annex I Parties to invest in emission-saving projects in other Annex I countries and receive credit, in the form of ERUs, for the emissions saved. The host country must deduct the ERUs from its own assigned amount of emissions. Like Emissions Trading, JI must be supplemental to domestic actions.
Kyoto mechanisms	Also known as flexible mechanisms (or ‘flex-mex’) because they give Annex I countries flexibility in how they meet their emission targets, the three Kyoto mechanisms are Emissions Trading, JI and the CDM.
LULUCF	Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry. A range of activities which can act either as carbon sinks or as emission sources. This area remains subject to considerable scientific and other uncertainties and risks.
N₂O	Nitrous oxide. One of the six GHGs controlled by the Kyoto Protocol. Has a 100-year GWP of 310.
PAA	Part of Assigned Amount. Transactions under the Emissions Trading scheme will be for parts of Annex I countries’ assigned amounts.
PFCs	Perfluorocarbons. Family of industrial gases included in the basket of six GHGs covered by the Kyoto Protocol. Although total emissions are relatively small, PFCs are extremely potent GHGs, with 100-year GWPs of between 6,500 and 9,200.
P&Ms, PAMs	Policies and measures. Official term under the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol for domestic policies to reduce or limit GHG emissions.
QELRC	Quantified Emission Limitation and Reduction Commitment. Official term in the Kyoto Protocol for the emission limitation or reduction target taken on by each Party listed in Annex B.
SAR	Second Assessment Report. Issued by the IPCC at the end of 1995, this provided the scientific basis for the negotiation of the Kyoto Protocol.
SBI	Subsidiary Body for Implementation. Body established under the UNFCCC to assist the COP in the assessment and review of the Convention’s implementation.
SBSTA	Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice. Body established under the UNFCCC to provide the COP and other subsidiary bodies with timely information and advice on scientific and technological matters relating to the Convention.
SF₆	Sulphur hexafluoride. An industrial gas and the most potent of the six GHGs controlled by the Kyoto Protocol, with a 100-year GWP of 23,900.
Sinks	Ecosystems, notably forests and oceans, which can remove carbon from the atmosphere by absorbing and storing it, thereby offsetting CO₂emissions. The Kyoto Protocol allows certain terrestrial human-induced sinks activities undertaken since 1990 to be counted towards Annex I Parties' emission targets. See also LULUCF.
Supplemental, Supplementarity	The Protocol requires use by Annex I Parties of Emissions Trading and JI to be supplemental to domestic actions to limit or reduce their emissions. Such supplementarity also applies in the case of the CDM, which Annex I Parties may use to meet only part of their QELRCs.
TAR	Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The latest assessment of the policy-relevant scientific, technical and socio-economic dimensions of climate change concentrates on new findings since 1995. The contributions to the TAR of the IPCC's three working groups, including their summaries for policymakers and technical summaries, were released earlier this year. See http://www.ipcc.ch/
UNFCCC	United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Adopted at the June 1992 ‘Earth Summit’ in Rio de Janeiro and in force since March 1994. The Convention’s ultimate objective, and that of the Kyoto Protocol and any other instruments attached to the UNFCCC, is ‘to achieve ... stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic [man-made] interference with the climate system.’
Umbrella Group	Negotiating group within the UNFCCC process comprising the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Iceland, Russia and Ukraine.