Eco Positive Glossary

Plants (e.g., soybean, wheat, and cotton) whose carbon- fixation products have three carbon atoms per molecule. Compared with C4 plants, C3 plants show a greater increase in photosynthesis with a doubling of CO2 concentration and less decrease in stomatal conductance, which results in an increase in leaf-level water-use efficiency.

Plants (e.g., maize and sorghum) whose carbon fixation products have four carbon atoms per molecule. Compared with C3 plants, C4 plants show little photosynthetic response to increased CO2 concentrations above 340 ppm but show a decrease in stomatal conductance, which results in an increase in photosynthetic water-use efficiency.

Negotiating coalition of countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus, Albania, and the Republic of Moldova.

The incorporation of CO2 into glucose by enzymatic reactions.

Cancellation is a way of reducing overall emissions by purchasing carbon offsets and retiring them so that they may not be used to offset others' emissions. Cancelled credits can no longer be traded.

The branches and leaves of woody plants that are formed some distance above the ground.

A term used to describe an emissions trading system, where total emissions are limited or 'capped' (e.g. European Union Emissions Trading Scheme). Permits are issued up to that cap, and a market allows those participants emitting less than their quota to sell their excess permits to emitters needing to buy extra permits to meet their quota.

In the context of climate change, the process of developing the technical skills and institutional capability in developing countries and economies in transition to enable them to address effectively the causes and results of climate change.

Carbon (natural) sequestration refers to the long-term storage of carbon in forests and vegetation, soils or in the oceans.

The balance of the exchanges (incomes and losses) of carbon between the carbon reservoirs or between one specific loop (e.g., atmosphere - biosphere) of the carbon cycle. An examination of the carbon budget of a pool or reservoir can provide information about whether the pool or reservoir is functioning as a source or sink for CO2.

A method of calculating the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced in a certain time frame from an activity. Carbon calculation can be done for anything from one car journey to a whole business or industry. There are a number of different calculation methods used in the carbon offset market.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) or geosequestration involves capture, transport, injection and long-term storage of GHGs in underground geological formations for the primary purpose of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

A generic term to assign a value to an emission, reduction or offset of greenhouse gas emissions. A carbon credit usually is equivalent to one tonne of CO2e. In relation to carbon offsets bought by a business or individual in the voluntary market (ie. not within an ETS), a carbon credit usually represents one tonne of CO2e to reduce their carbon footprint that has been reduced or sequestered at another site.

All parts (reservoirs) and fluxes of carbon; usually thought of as a series of the four main reservoirs of carbon interconnected by pathways of exchange. The four reservoirs, regions of the Earth in which carbon behaves in a systematic manner, are the atmosphere, terrestrial biosphere (usually includes fresh water systems), oceans, and sediments (includes fossil fuels). Each of these global reservoirs may be subdivided into smaller pools ranging in size from individual communities or ecosystems to the total of all living organisms (biota). Carbon exchanges from reservoir to reservoir by various chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes.

The amount of carbon per unit area for a given ecosystem or vegetation type, based on climatic conditions, topography, vegetative-cover type and amount, soils, and maturity of the vegetative stands.

A greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxide is a major contributor to climate change because it is emitted in such large quantities.

A measure of the global warming potential of a particular greenhouse gas compared to that of carbon dioxide. One unit of a gas with a CO2e rating of 21, for example, would have the warming effect of 21 units of carbon dioxide emissions (over a time frame of 100 years).

Enhancement of plant growth or of the net primary production by CO2 enrichment that could occur in natural or agricultural systems as a result of an increase in the atmospheric concentration of CO2.

A mixture of a known quantity of CO2-in air or CO2-in-N2 used to calibrate carbon dioxide analyzers.

The rate of exchange of carbon between pools (reservoirs).

The global warming impact of human activities in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases they produce. The emissions associated with the use of power, transport, food and other consumption for an individual, family or organisation are added up to give one comparable measure in units of carbon dioxide equivalent.

EPA Victoria set up this forum for organisations that want to address the strategic and practical issues of greenhouse gas emissions. The network aims to stimulate debate and innovation in carbon management, provide the support and tools organisations need to develop sound carbon management strategies, and transform climate change from a business cost to a business opportunity.

Ratio of carbon-12 to either of the other, less common, carbon isotopes, carbon- 13 or carbon-14.

A popular but misleading term for a trading system through which countries may buy or sell units of greenhouse-gas emissions in an effort to meet their national limits on emissions, either under the Kyoto Protocol or under other agreements, such as that among member states of the European Union. The term comes from the fact that carbon dioxide is the predominant greenhouse gas and other gases are measured in units called "carbon-dioxide equivalents."

An individual, family or organisation that is responsible for no net emissions of greenhouse gases from all its activities is considered "carbon neutral". Emissions must be cut to a minimum and any necessary emissions then offset by emission reducing activities elsewhere.

A carbon offset is an investment in a project or activity that reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or sequesters carbon from the atmosphere that is used to compensate for GHG emissions from your own activities.

The reservoir containing carbon as a principal element in the geochemical cycle.

An individual, family or organisation that is responsible for taking more greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere than it emits is said to be "carbon positive". This requires minimising one's own emissions and more than offsetting remaining emissions by paying for activities such as forest planting or investing in renewable energy.

An economic value placed on the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from human activity. This price is designed to create an incentive to avoid emitting. A carbon price is usually derived from either a carbon tax or a price under an ETS.

The process of removing carbon from the atmosphere and depositing it in a reservoir.

A pool (reservoir) that absorbs or takes up released carbon from another part of the carbon cycle. For example, if the net exchange between the biosphere and the atmosphere is toward the atmosphere, the biosphere is the source, and the atmosphere is the sink.

A pool (reservoir) that releases carbon to another part of the carbon cycle.

Import duty levied by countries with greenhouse gas emission caps in place on carbon-intensive goods from countries without such controls in place. The intention is to protect the competiveness of local industries whose goods have higher prices than their imported rivals because they reflect the cost of carbon.

A tax on greenhouse gas emissions that leads to a carbon price.

See Emission Trading

The recoverable fossil fuel (coal, gas, crude oils, oil shale, and tar sands) and biomass that can be used in fuel production and consumption.

Convention on Biological Diversity.

See Carbon Capture and Storage

See Chicago Climate Exchange

See Clean Development Mechanism.

At its thirteenth meeting the Executive Board designated the UNFCCC Secretariat as the CDM registry administrator. In carrying out this task the secretariat has put into production a version of the CDM registry, which, while capable of communicating with the ITL, is operating temporarily as a stand alone system. This version of the CDM registry is being used to issue CERs from registered CDM project activities (CDM Registry).

See Certified emission reduction

The certification process is the phase of a CDM or JI project when permits are issued on the basis of calculated emissions reductions and verification, possibly by a third party.

A credit generated under Kyoto’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) for the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases equal to one tonne of CO2-equivalent. They are designed to be used by industrialised countries to count toward their Kyoto targets but can also be used by EU companies and governments as offsets against their emissions under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Chlorofluorocarbon.

Carbon Financial Instrument. The name of the futures contract through which parcels of emission permits are traded on the European Climate Exchange and the Chicago Climate Exchange. Each CFI consists of 100 permits (mandatory EUAs in Europe and voluntary allowances and offsets on the Chicago market) covering the emission of 100 tonnes of CO2.

Compact fluorescent lamps use less power and have a longer rated life than incandescent light bulbs and therefore use less energy across their lifecycle.

Central Group 11 (negotiating coalition of Central European Annex I parties).

Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention.

Methane.

A US-based, voluntary but legally binging greenhouse gas emissions registry, reduction, and trading system.

Chemical substances containing carbon and fluorine. Prior to 1990 these were used widely in a range of technologies, such as a propellant gas for sprays and refrigeration. They can deplete the ozone layer and also contribute to global warming.

Refers to types or aspects of coal-fired electricity production, which is purported to have a reduced impact on the environment. For example flue gases can be treated with steam with the purpose of removing sulfur dioxide, and reburned so as to make the carbon dioxide in the flue gas economically recoverable.

A Kyoto Protocol initiative under which projects set up in developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generate tradable credits called CERs, the first step towards a global carbon market. These credits can be used by industrialised nations to offset carbon emissions at home and meet their Kyoto reduction targets. The projects include renewable energy generation, reforestation and clean fuels switching.

The CDM EB is accountable to the Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. It registers validated project activities as CDM projects, issues certified emission reductions to relevant projects participants, and manages series of technical panels and working groups meetings.

A forest-management technique that involves harvesting all the trees in one area at one time.

Establishes in the United States federally enforceable emissions limits (or "caps") for three pollutants - SO2, NOx, and mercury for a period of 2008-2018. Clear Skies' NOx and SO2 requirements affect all fossil fuel-fired electric generators greater than 25 megawatts (MW) that sell electricity.

A service which facilitates and simplifies transactions among multiple parties.

The statistical collection and representation of the weather conditions for a specified area during a specified time interval, usually decades, together with a description of the state of the external system or boundary conditions. The properties that characterize the climate are thermal (temperatures of the surface air, water, land, and ice), kinetic (wind and ocean currents, together with associated vertical motions and the motions of air masses, aqueous humidity, cloudiness and cloud water content, groundwater, lake lands, and water content of snow on land and sea ice), nd static (pressure and density of the atmosphere and ocean, composition of the dry ir, salinity of the oceans, and the geometric boundaries and physical constants of the system). These properties are interconnected by the various physical processes such as precipitation, evaporation, infrared radiation, convection, advection, and turbulence.

Levy on all imports of petrol and diesel at a rate of 1.5 cents per litre introduced as a voluntary measure of the Swiss industry. This will generate around 100 million Swiss Francs annually, which will go towards closing the gap in CO2 emissions reductions.

The long-term fluctuations in temperature, precipitation, wind, and all other aspects of the Earth's climate. External processes, such as solar-irradiance variations, variations of the Earth's orbital parameters (eccentricity, precession, and inclination), lithosphere motions, and volcanic activity, are factors in climatic variation. Internal variations of the climate system also produce fluctuations of sufficient magnitude and variability to explain observed climate change through the feedback processes interrelating the components of the climate system.

The magnitude of a climatic response to a perturbing influence. In mathematical modeling of the climate, the difference between simulations as a function of change in a given parameter.

A statistically significant difference between the control and disturbed (see climate sensitivity) simulations of a climate model.

The five physical components (atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere) that are responsible for the climate and its variations.

The change in one or more climatic variables over a specified time.

The deviation of a particular climatic variable from the mean or normal over a specified time.

The period in history from about 5000 to about 2500 B.C. during which surface air temperatures were warmer than at present in nearly all regions of the world. In the Arctic region, the temperature rose many degrees, and in temperate regions, the increase was 1.0 degrees - 1.7 degrees C. In this period, glaciers and ice sheets receded greatly, and the melt-water raised sea level by about 3 meters.

A visible mass of condensed water vapor particles or ice suspended above the Earth's surface. Clouds may be classified on their visible appearance, height, or form.

Reflectivity that varies from less than 10 to more than 90% of the insolation and depends on drop sizes, liquid water content, water vapor content, thickness of the cloud, and the sun's zenith angle. The smaller the drops and the greater the liquid water content, the greater the cloud albedo, if all other factors are the same.

The coupling between cloudiness and surface air temperature in which a change in surface temperature could lead to a change in clouds, which could then amplify or diminish the initial temperature perturbation. For example, an increase in surface air temperature could increase the evaporation; this in turn might increase the extent of cloud cover. Increased cloud cover would reduce the solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface, thereby lowering the surface temperature. This is an example of negative feedback and does not include the effects of longwave radiation or the advection in the oceans and the atmosphere, which must also be considered in the overall relationship of the climate system.

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.

Carbon dioxide.

Carbon dioxide equivalent. In order to compare emissions between the six Kyoto Protocolgreenhouse gases they have been assigned a global warming potential (GWP) measured in carbon dioxide equivalents to reflect their influence on warming the atmosphere. GWP is a relative scale, where CO2 = 1. The other gases are given a number based on their effect on the atmosphere relative to CO2. For example, methanehas a GWP of 21, meaning it has 21 times the amount of heating capacity of CO2.

Coalbed methane is methane contained in coal seams, and is often referred to as virgin coalbed methane, or coal seam gas. Coal mine methane is the subset of coalbed methane that is released during the process of coal mining.

Occurring naturally within coal deposits, this gas is largely composed of methane, which is also the principal component of natural gas.

Lands and waters adjacent to the coast that exert an influence on the uses of the sea and its ecology or whose uses and ecology are affected by the sea.

The five-year Kyoto Protocol Commitment Period is scheduled to run from calendar year 2008 to calendar year-end 2012.

To avoid “over-sell” and thus non-compliance with targets, Annex I Parties to hold a minimum level of AAUs, CERs, ERUs and/or RMUs in a commitment period reserve that cannot be traded.

Often created by a COP to aid in negotiating text. It consists of the same membership as the COP. When the Committee has finished its work, it turns the text over to the COP, which finalizes and then adopts the text during a plenary session.

Standardized format for reporting estimates of greenhouse-gas emissions and removals and other relevant information by Annex I Parties.

Central Administrator programme started at January 1, 2005 according to EU Directive 2003/87/EC, which underline the necessity to maintain an independent transaction log recording the issue, transfer and cancellation of allowances within European Union.

Achievement by a Party its quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

A committee that helps facilitate, promote and enforce on compliance with the provisions of the Kyoto Protocol. It has 20 members with representation spread among various regions, small-island developing states, Annex I and non-Annex I parties, and functions through a plenary, a bureau, a facilitative branch and an enforcement branch.

The regulated market for carbon credits (specifically CERs, EUAs, AAUs, and ERUs) used to reach emissions targets under the Kyoto Protocol or the EUETS. Also called the Regulated Market.

The natural biological decomposition of solid organic wastes such as food scraps, paper and lawn clippings, creating a soil-like substance called humus, which can be used instead of artificial fertilisers. The decomposition process produces methaneand carbon dioxide, therefore when composting occurs in controlled areas these greenhouse gases can be prevented from entering the atmosphere. Composting also reduces the amount of waste going to landfill.

The supreme body of the Convention. It currently meets once a year to review the Convention's progress. The word "conference" is not used here in the sense of "meeting" but rather of "association," which explains the seemingly redundant expression "fourth session of the Conference of the Parties."

A category of in-session documents containing new proposals or outcomes of in-session work. CRPs are for use only during the session concerned.

A panel established to improve the preparation of national communications from developing countries. National communications are an obligation of Parties to the Climate Change Convention.

The tendency for an object moving above the Earth to turn to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere relative to the Earth's surface. The effect arises because the Earth rotates and is not, therefore, an inertial reference frame.

Countries that are in the transition from a planned economy to a market-based economy, i.e. the Central and East European countries, Russia, and the former republics of the Soviet Union.

The crediting period is the duration when a project generates carbon credits. The crediting period shall not extend beyond the operational lifetime of the project. For CDM projects the crediting period continues for either a 7-year period, which can be renewed twice to make a total of 21 years, or for a one-off 10-year period; for JI projects crediting period overlaps with the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol (2008-2012). The JI projects starting as of 2000 may be eligible as JI projects if they meet the requirements of the JI guidelines. The end of the crediting period can be after 2012 subject to the approval by the Host Party.

A measure at the ecosystem level of how well plants use available water in growth. The grams of dry weight gained by plants during the growing season per unit land area are divided by the millimeters of water lost (including evaporation directly from the soil).

The portion of the climate system consisting of the world's ice masses and snow deposits, which includes the continental ice sheets, mountain glaciers, sea ice, surface snow cover, and lake and river ice. Changes in snow cover on the land surfaces are by and large seasonal and closely tied to the mechanics of atmospheric circulation. The glaciers and ice sheets are closely related to the global hydrologic cycle and to variations of sea level and change in volume and extent over periods ranging from hundreds to millions of years.

United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development.

Debundling is defined as the fragmentation of a large project activity into smaller parts.

A non-binding political statement made by ministers attending a major meeting (e.g. the Geneva Ministerial Declaration of COP-2).

Heterotrophic organisms that break down dead protoplasm and use some of the products and release others for use by consumer organisms.

The breakdown of matter by bacteria and fungi. It changes the chemical makeup and physical appearance of materials.

That part of the ocean below the main thermocline.

The removal of forest stands by cutting and burning to provide land for agricultural purposes, residential or industrial building sites, roads, etc. or by harvesting the trees for building materials or fuel. Oxidation of organic matter releases CO2 to the atmosphere, and regional and global impacts may result.

UK Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The progressive destruction or degradation of vegetative cover especially in arid or semiarid regions bordering existing deserts. Overgrazing of rangelands, large-scale cutting of forests and woodlands, drought, and burning of extensive areas all serve to destroy or degrade the land cover. The climatic impacts of this destruction include increased albedo leading to decreased precipitation, which in turn leads to less vegetative cover; increased atmospheric dust loading could lead to decreased monsoon rainfall and greater wind erosion and/or atmospheric pollution.

An office, ministry, or other official entity appointed by a Party to the Kyoto Protocol to review and give national approval to projects proposed under the Clean Development Mechanism.

A domestic legal entity or an international organization accredited and designated by the CDM EB. The DOE validates and requests registration of a proposed CDM projects activity as well as verifies emission reductions of a registered CDM project activity.

The process of independent evaluation of a JI project by an accredited Independent Entity whether the Project Design Document (PDD) fulfill all requirements to JI projects under Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol and the JI guidelines.

Occurs when a carbon emissions reduction is counted toward multiple offsetting goals or targets (voluntary or mandated). An example would be if an energy efficiency project sold voluntarily credits to business owners, and the same project was counted toward meeting a national emissions reduction target.

The process of accumulation and sinking of warm surface waters along a coastline. A change of air flow of the atmosphere can result in the sinking or downwelling of warm surface water. The resulting reduced nutrient supply near the surface affects the ocean productivity and meteorological conditions of the coastal regions in the downwelling area.

A quantitative method developed by H. H. Lamb for comparing the magnitude of volcanic eruptions. The formulae use observations either of the depletion of the solar beam, temperature lowering in middle latitudes, or the quantity of solid matter dispersed as dust. The reference dust veil index is 1000, assigned to the Krakatoa 1883 eruption, and the index is calculated using all three methods, where the information is available, for statistical comparison purposes. Abbreviated D.V.I.

Early credits can be given for projects implemented between 2000 and 2008 to achieve compliance in the first commitment period.

The interacting system of a biological community and its nonliving environmental surroundings.

A circular movement of water or air that is formed where currents pass obstructions or between two adjacent currents that are flowing counter to each other.

See Countries with Economies in Transition.

An irregular variation of ocean current that from January to March flows off the west coast of South America, carrying warm, low-salinity, nutrient-poor water to the south. It does not usually extend farther than a few degrees south of the equator, but occasionally it does penetrate beyond 12 degrees S, displacing the relatively cold Peru Current. The effects of this phenomenon are generally short-lived, and fishing is only slightly disrupted. Occasionally (in 1891, 1925, 1941, 1957 - 58, 1965, 1972 - 73, 1976, and 1982 - 83), the effects are major and prolonged. Under these conditions, sea surface temperatures rise along the coast of Peru and in the equatorial eastern Pacific Ocean and may remain high for more than a year, having disastrous effects on marine life and fishing. Excessive rainfall and flooding occur in the normally dry coastal area of western tropical South America during these events. Some oceanographers and meteorologists consider only the major, prolonged events as El Nino phenomena rather than the annually occurring weaker and short-lived ones. The name was originally applied to the latter events because of their occurrence at Christmas time.

Binding purchase agreement signed between buyer (of CERs or ERUs) and seller.

A tradable unit, equivalent to one metric tonne of CO2 emissions, generated by a Joint Implementation project and used to quantify emissions reductions for the purpose of buying and selling credits between Annex 1 countries under the Kyoto Protocol.

A measurable reduction in the level of greenhouse gases being emitted by a country, state, organisation or individual.

Emissions-to-cap (E-t-C) is calculated by subtracting the seasonally adjusted cap from emissions (actual or forecasted). This metric gives an indication of whether the market (for a specific period) is producing more or less than the seasonally adjusted cap for that same period. More specifically, if not taking CERs into account, a positive (negative) E-t-C means that the market is fundamentally short (long), suggesting a buy (sell) signal.

A provision of the Kyoto Protocol that allows Annex 1 countries to trade emissions reduction credits in order to comply with their Kyoto-assigned targets. This system allows countries to pay and take credit for emissions reduction projects in developing countries where the cost of these projects may be lower, thus ensuring that overall emissions are lessened in the most cost-effective manner.

The ratio of the radiation emitted by a surface to that emitted by a black body at the same temperature.

An analytical technique to study the solar radiation incident on the Earth in which explicit calculations of atmospheric motions are omitted. In the zero- dimensional models, only the incoming and outgoing radiation is considered. The outgoing infrared radiation is a linear function of global mean surface air temperature, and the reflected solar radiation is dependent on the surface albedo. The albedo is a step function of the global meansurface air temperatures, and equilibrium temperatures are computed for a range of values of the solar constant. The one-dimensional models have surface air temperature as a function of latitude. At each latitude, a balance between incoming and outgoing radiation and horizontal transport of heat is computed.

The point at which an intergovernmental agreement becomes legally binding - occurring at a pre-stated interval after a pre-stated and required number of ratifications by countries has been achieved. The Climate Change Convention required 50 ratifications to enter into force. It now enters into force for each new Party 90 days after that Party ratifies the Convention.

The sum of all external conditions affecting the life, development, and survival of an organism.

A coalition or negotiating alliance consisting of Mexico, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland.

The level on a glacier where accumulation equals ablation and the net balance equals zero.

See Emission Reduction Units.

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

Emissions Trading Scheme.

See European Union Emissions Trading Scheme.

See European Union Allowances.

As a regional economic integration organization, the EU is a Party to both the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. However, it does not have a separate vote from its member states. Because the EU signed the Convention when it was known as the EEC (European Economic Community), the EU retains this name for all formal Convention-related purposes. Members are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Allows the holder to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide under the EU ETS. EUAs may be used among countries in the EU ETS as well as countries where the Scheme has been linked to other emissions trading schemes.

Trading Scheme within the European Union. The first compliance phase is from 2005 to 2007, while the second compliance phase continues from 2008 to 2012.

In terms of carbon offsets, ex-ante refers to reductions that are planned or forecasted but have not yet been achieved. The exact quantities of the reductions are therefore uncertain.

A 10-member panel elected at COP-7 which supervises the CDM.

An expert group established at COP7 with the objective of enhancing the implementation of Article 4.5 of the Convention, by analyzing and identifying ways to facilitate and advance technology transfer activities under the Convention

Groups of experts, nominated by Parties, who review national reports submitted by Annex I Parties to the UNFCCC, and the Kyoto Protocol.

As opposed to ex-ante offsets, ex-post reductions have already occurred and their quantities are certain.