Terms to Remember

An Introduction to Climate Change: Science, Politics, and Impacts

 Terms Meaning

AAU Assigned Amount Units defined under Kyoto Protocol

The ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate variability and extremes) to moderate potential damages, to take advantage of
Adaptive capacity
opportunities, or to cope with the consequences.

AFOLU Agriculture Forest and Land Use

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a large system of ocean currents that carry warm water from the tropics northwards into the
AMOC
North Atlantic.

Industrialized countries that were members of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) in 1992, plus countries with
Annex -1 countries
economies in transition (The EIT Parties), including the Russian Federation, the Baltic States, and several Central and Eastern European States

Anthropogenic climate
Human-induced climate change— climate change caused by human activities as opposed to natural processes
change

Alliance of Small Island States is an intergovernmental organization of low-lying coastal and small island countries. Established in 1990, the main purpose
AOSIS
of the alliance is to consolidate the voices of Small Island Developing States to address global warming.
 Terms Meaning

The Arctic is a polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of
Arctic
Alaska, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Northern Canada, Norway, Russia and Sweden

Microscopic particles suspended in the lower atmosphere that reflect sunlight back to space. These generally have a cooling effect on the planet
Atmospheric aerosols
and can mask global warming. They play a key role in the formation of clouds, fog, precipitation and ozone depletion in the atmosphere.

The BASIC countries (also Basic countries or BASIC) are a bloc of four large newly industrialized countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and
BASIC countries
China – formed by an agreement on 28 November 2009.

BECCS BECCS stands for Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage. It combines bio-energy production with carbon capture and storage.

Carbon budget A tolerable quantity of greenhouse gas emissions that can be emitted in total over a specified time

All parts (reservoirs) and fluxes of carbon. The cycle is usually thought of as four main reservoirs of carbon interconnected by pathways of
exchange. The reservoirs are the atmosphere, terrestrial biosphere (usually includes freshwater systems), oceans, and sediments (includes fossil
Carbon cycle fuels). The annual movements of carbon, the carbon exchanges between reservoirs, occur because of various chemical, physical, geological, and
biological processes. The ocean contains the largest pool of carbon near the surface of the Earth, but most of that pool is not involved with rapid
exchange with the atmosphere.
 Terms Meaning

A metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential (GWP). Carbon
Carbon dioxide equivalent dioxide equivalents are commonly expressed as “million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MMtCO2eq).” The carbon dioxide
equivalent for a gas is derived by multiplying the tons of the gas by the associated GWP.

Carbon leakage A reduction in emissions in one country or sector causing an increase in emissions in a different country or sector.

The process of storing CO2. This can happen naturally, as growing trees and plants turn CO2 into biomass (wood, leaves, and so on). It can
Carbon sequestration
also refer to the capture and storage of CO2 produced by industry.

It is a natural or artificial reservoir that accumulates and stores some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period. The
Carbon sinks
process by which carbon sinks remove CO2 from the atmosphere is known as carbon sequestration.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the process of capturing carbon dioxide generated by large emissions sources (such as a factory or a
CCS power plant), transporting it to a storage site, and depositing it usually in an underground geological formation where it will not enter the
atmosphere for thousands of years.

The Clean Development Mechanism(CDM) is one of the flexible mechanisms defined in the Kyoto Protocol that provides for emissions
CDM
reduction projects which generate Certified Emission Reduction units which may be traded in emissions trading schemes
 Terms Meaning

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR), also known as greenhouse gas removal, is a process in which carbon dioxide gas (CO 2) is removed from the
CDR
atmosphere and sequestered for long periods of time.

Certified Emission Reductions (CERS) are a type of emissions unit (or carbon credits) issued by the CDM Executive Board for emission reductions
CER
achieved by CDM projects and verified by a DOE (Designated Operational Entity) under the rules of the Kyoto Protocol.

Adjustment or preparation of natural or human systems to a new or changing environment which moderates harm or exploits beneficial
Climate adaptation
opportunities

A human intervention to reduce the human impact on the climate system; it includes strategies to reduce greenhouse gas sources and emissions and
Climate mitigation
enhancing greenhouse gas sinks.

A quantitative way of representing the interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and ice. Models can range from relatively simple to
Climate model
quite comprehensive.

The benefits of policies that are implemented for various reasons at the same time including climate change mitigation acknowledging that most
Co-benefit policies designed to address greenhouse gas mitigation also have other, often at least equally important, rationales (e.g., related to objectives of
development, sustainability, and equity)

Carbon dioxide is a gas in the Earth’s atmosphere. It occurs naturally and is also a by-product of human activities such as burning fossil fuels. It is
CO2
the principal greenhouse gas (ghg) produced by human activities.
 Terms Meaning

Principle of international environmental law establishing that all states are responsible for addressing global environmental destruction yet not equally
Common but differentiated
responsible. The principal balances, on the one hand, the need for all states to take responsibility for global environmental problems and, on the other
responsibilities
hand, the need to recognize the wide differences in levels of economic development between nations.

COP Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The annually published Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) by German watch analyses to what extent countries have been affected by the impacts of
CRI
weather-related loss events such as storms, floods and heat waves

DACCS stands for Direct air carbon capture and storage. DACCS uses a chemical agent to bond with carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air and isolate it from
DACCS
the atmosphere.

The process of reducing carbon in the economy or a particular sector by adopting low carbon technologies such as renewable energy and electric vehicles,
Decarbonization
or reducing the use of fossil fuels, so that the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is reduced

DOE Designated Operational Entities (DOEs), which are certified by the Board to act as third-party verifiers of CDM projects

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, the Rio Summit, the Rio Conference,
Earth Summit
and the Earth Summit, was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to 14, 1992.
 Terms Meaning

Outputs, conditions, or processes of natural systems that directly or indirectly benefit humans or enhance social welfare. Ecosystem services can benefit
Ecosystem services
people in many ways, either directly or as inputs into the production of other goods and services

A unique value for scaling emissions to activity data in terms of a standard rate of emissions per unit of activity (e.g., grams of carbon dioxide emitted per
Emission factor
barrel of fossil fuel consumed, or per pound of product produced).

Emission peak The point when global emissions switch from increasing to decreasing.

Emissions trading (also known as cap and trade, emissions trading scheme or ETS) is a market-based approach to controlling pollution by providing
Emission trading
economic incentives for reducing the emissions of pollutants

El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is an irregularly periodic variation in winds and sea surface temperatures over the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean,
ENSO
affecting the climate of much of the tropics and the subtropics. The warming phase of the SST is known as El Niño & the cooling phase as La Niña.

Emission Reduction Units (ERUs). An Emission Reduction Unit (ERU) is an emission reduction issued pursuant to Joint Implementation. This unit is equal
ERUs
to one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent

EUETS stands for European Union emission trading system. It is the world's first major carbon market and remains the biggest one. The EU ETS: operates
EUETS in all EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. limits emissions from more than 11,000 heavy energy-using installations (power stations and
industrial plants) and airlines operating between these countries.
 Terms Meaning

External forcings include natural phenomena, such as volcanic eruptions and solar variations, as well as human-induced changes in the chemical
External forcings
composition of the atmosphere.

The difference between insolation (sunlight) absorbed by the Earth and energy radiated back to space. The influences that cause changes to the
Forcing agent
Earth’s climate system altering Earth’s radiative equilibrium, forcing temperatures to rise or fall

Natural resources, such as coal, oil and natural gas, containing hydrocarbons. These fuels are formed in the Earth over millions of years and
Fossil fuels
produce CO2 when burnt.

GDP Gross Domestic Product

Large, continental ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere have grown and retreated many times in the past. We call times with large ice sheets
Glacial and Inter-glacial periods “glacial periods” (or ice ages) and times without large ice sheets “interglacial periods.” The most recent glacial period occurred between about
120,000 and 11,500 years ago. Since then, Earth has been in an interglacial period called the Holocene.

The terms the North and the South, when used in a global context, are alternative designations for “developed” and “developing” countries.
Global North-South
Together, the North and South constitute virtually the entire global population.

The Global Stocktake is a fundamental component of the Paris Agreement which is used to monitor its implementation and evaluate the collective
Global Stocktake
progress made in achieving the agreed goals
 Terms Meaning

The Global Mean Surface Temperature(GMST) is an average of the temperature distribution on the Earth’s surface calculated from averaged
GMST
readings. The gmst makes a rough first classification, which concerns the climatic conditions on the earth in a certain period.

The goal of the Green New Deal (GND) is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid the worst consequences of climate change while
GND
also trying to fix societal problems like economic inequality and racial injustice.

The Green Climate Fund is a fund established within the framework of the UNFCCC as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism to assist
Green Climate Fund
developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change

Greenhouse effect GHGs in the lower atmosphere absorbing radiation from the Earth's surface, and preventing much of it escaping into space

A gigatonne is a thousand million tonnes. “GtCO2e” is an abbreviation for “gigatonnes of equivalent carbon dioxide”. It is a simplified way to put
GtCO2e emissions of various ghgs on a common footing by expressing them in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide that would have the same global
warming effect

‘Global Warming Potential’(GWP), is a metric, or standard of measurement, used to put a quantifiable figure to the impact of a greenhouse gas on
GWP
climate change

HFC-23 is a byproduct of Hydrochloroflurocarbon-22, which is used in industrial refrigeration. It is a potent greenhouse gas with global warming
HFC-23
potential of 14,800 times more than that of CO2.
 Terms Meaning

A period of relatively warm climate between 11,000 and 5,000 years ago is most clearly recorded in the middle and high latitudes of the Northern
Hemisphere, where it is generally associated with the local orbitally forced summer insolation maximum. However, proxy-based reconstructions
Holocene thermal maximum
have shown that both the timing and magnitude of the warming vary substantially between different regions, suggesting the involvement of extra
feedbacks and forcings.

Hothouse earth A period in which there are no continental glaciers whatsoever on the planet.

Any of several organic compounds composed of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon. hfcs are produced synthetically and are used primarily as
Hydroflourocarbons (HFCs)
refrigerants. They contribute to the depletion of Earth’s ozone layer

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organisation established in the framework of the
IEA
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis.

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) is a scientific institution based in Pune, India for expanding research in tropical Indian
IITM
Ocean of the tropics in general with special reference to monsoon meteorology and air-sea interaction of India monsoon.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India. It is the principal agency
IMD
responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology.
 Terms Meaning

Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) is a term used under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (unfccc) for
INDCs
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by countries

The process of change from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacturing. This process began in the UK
Industrial revolution
in the 18th century and from there spread to other parts of the world.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World
IPCC Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its
potential environmental and socio- economic impacts

IPCC AR The IPCC prepares comprehensive Assessment Reports (ARs) about knowledge on climate change, its causes, potential impacts and response option

Internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMO). It is listed in article 6.2. Article 6.2 applies to any ‘internationally transferred mitigation outcome’
ITMO
(ITMO), if a country is using this ITMO to fulfill its national climate target

Joint Implementation (JI), defined in Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol, allows an Annex B Party to buy emission reduction units (ERUs) from an emission
JI
reduction or emission removal project in another Annex B Party.
 Terms Meaning

A protocol attached to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which sets legally binding commitments on greenhouse gas emissions.
Kyoto Protocol Industrialized countries agreed to reduce their combined emissions to 5.2 per cent below 1990 levels during the five-year period 2008-2012. It was
agreed by governments at a 1997 UN conference in Kyoto, Japan, but did not legally come into force until 2005. A different set of countries agreed
a second commitment period in 2013 that will run until 2020

Around 125,000 years ago, the Earth was 1° to 2°C warmer than the present, and the sea level was thought to be 4 to 6 meters higher. However,
scientists now suggest that sea level was possibly as much as 10 metres above current levels. Such a large excess of seawater would mean that the
Last inter-glacial period
Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets melted much more than previously assumed, which has implications for how much sea- level rise we should
expect with anthropogenic climate warming.

Leapfrogging is the notion that areas which have poorly-developed technology or economic bases can move themselves forward rapidly through the
Leapfrog technologies
adoption of modern systems without going through intermediary steps

Methane is the second most important human-made greenhouse gas. Sources include both the natural world (wetlands, termites, wildfires) and
Methane
human activity (agriculture, waste dumps, leaks from coal mining)

It is the most recent time in Earth’s history when mean global temperatures were substantially warmer for a sustained period, providing an
Mid- Pliocene period
accessible example of a world that is similar in many respects to what models estimate could be the Earth of the late 21st century
 Terms Meaning

Formally Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty, adopted in Montreal on September 16, 1987,
Montreal Protocol that aimed to regulate the production and use of chemicals that contribute to the depletion of Earth’s ozone layer. Initially signed by 46 countries,
the treaty now has nearly 200 signatories

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government responsible for
NASA
the civilian space program, as well as research on aerospace and climate change research.

A biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth. As
Natural carbon cycle
the burning of fossil fuels mobilize carbon into the atmosphere, the Earth’s carbon cycle is pushed out of balance resulting in climatic changes

NCAOR The National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) is an Indian research and development institution, situated in Vasco, Goa

'Net zero' means that any emissions are balanced by absorbing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere. In order to meet the 1.5°C global
Net-Zero
warming target in the Paris Agreement, global carbon emissions should reach net zero around mid-century.

The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) is an autonomous research organization in India to undertake scientific research and studies of
NIO
special oceanographic features of the Northern Indian Ocean.
 Terms Meaning

A colorless gas, N2O that when inhaled produces loss of sensibility to pain preceded by exhilaration and sometimes laughter, and is an atmospheric
Nitric Oxide (N2O)
pollutant and greenhouse gas produced by combustion

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an American scientific agency that focuses on the conditions of the oceans,
NOAA
major waterways, atmosphere and weather forecasting

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 37 member countries,
OECD
founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.

Ozone depletion consists of two related events observed since the late 1970s: a steady lowering of about four percent in the total amount of ozone in
Ozone hole Earth's atmosphere, and a much larger springtime decrease in stratospheric ozone around Earth's polar regions. The latter phenomenon is referred to
as the ozone hole.

Peatlands are terrestrial wetland ecosystems in which waterlogged conditions prevent plant material from fully decomposing. Consequently, the
Peatlands
production of organic matter exceeds its decomposition, which results in a net accumulation of peat.

Permafrost is any ground that remains completely frozen—32°F (0°C) or colder—for at least two years straight. These permanently frozen grounds
Permafrost
are most common in regions with high mountains and in Earth’s higher latitudes—near the North and South Poles.
 Terms Meaning

PPM PPM stands for parts per million and is used to calculate the concentration of gases in the Earth’s atmosphere.

PPP Purchasing Power Pairty

Radiative forcing Radiative forcing is a measure of how the energy balance of the Earth- atmosphere system is influenced when factors that affect climate are altered.

A Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) is a greenhouse gas concentration trajectory adopted by the IPCC. Four pathways were used for
RCP
climate modeling and research for the IPCC fifth Assessment Report in 2014.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) incentivises a break from historic trends of increasing deforestation rates
REDD+ and greenhouse gases emissions. It is a framework through which developing countries are rewarded financially for any emissions reductions
achieved.

A capability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant multi-hazard threats with minimum damage to social well-being, the
Resilience
economy, and the environment

Sustainable Development Mechanism(SDM). Centrally governed by a UNFCCC body and is also meant to contribute to sustainable development in
SDM
host countries.
 Terms Meaning

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are a group of developing countries that are small island countries which tend to share similar sustainable
SIDS development challenges. These include small but growing populations, limited resources, remoteness, susceptibility to natural disasters,
vulnerability to external shocks, excessive dependence on international trade, and fragile environments.
An IPCC special report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C above pre- industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the
SR 1.5
context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty

SROCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate

Storm surge is an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tides. Storm surge should not be
Storm Surge
confused with storm tide, which is defined as the water level rise due to the combination of storm surge and the astronomical tide.

TIO Tropical Indian Ocean

A tipping point is a threshold for change, which, when reached, results in a process that is difficult to reverse. Scientists say it is urgent that
Tipping point
policy makers half global carbon dioxide emissions over the next 50 years or risk triggering changes that could be irreversible.

UNDP The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations’ global development network
 Terms Meaning

UNEP stands for United Nation Environment Programmes. It is the global champion for the environment with programmes focusing on
UNEP
sustainable development, climate, biodiversity and more.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is one of a series of international agreements on global environmental
UNFCCC issues adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. UNFCCC aims to prevent “dangerous” human interference with the climate system. It
entered into force on 21 March 1994 and has been ratified by 192 countries.

Western disturbance(WDs) WDs carry high velocity winds that agitate the atmosphere and aggravate storm conditions. They peak between December – February

The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for
World Bank
the purpose of pursuing capital projects.

The Worldwide Fund(WWF) for Nature is an international non-governmental organisation working in the field of the wilderness preservation, and
WWF
the reduction of human impact on the environment.