A Glosssary of Climate Change & Forestry
There are 107 entries in this glossary.All
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Article 3.9 (Kyoto Protocol) |
Future commitments for Annex B Parties to the Kyoto Protocol are addressed in Article 3.9, which requires that negotiation of subsequent commitments (after 2012)by Annex 1 Parties should begin at least seven years before the end of the first commitment period (2006). Implementation of this article led to the formation of the Ad Hoc Working Group (AWG) at COP/MOP-1. |
| Article 9 (Kyoto Protocol) |
Under the Kyoto Protocol the COP/MOP must periodically review the Protocol taking into account the best available information on climate change. Based on there view’s findings the COP/MOP is expected to take appropriate actions. In the negotiations some Parties have attempted to use the review to argue that the ultimate objectives of the Convention are not being met necessitating deeper cuts or wider participation from Parties. Other Parties believe that the review should focus on the progress of Annex 1 Parties in meeting their obligations on emissions, financing and technology transfer. The first review was undertaken at COP/MOP-2 with others following at regular intervals. |
| Articles 4.8 and 4.9 (UNFCCC) |
Adverse impacts of climate change, the impact of measures taken to respond to climate change, and compensation for these impacts is referred to in Articles 4.8 and 4.9 of the Convention. This issue is also addressed under Article 3.14 of the Kyoto Protocol. In the negotiations, discussion of article 4.8 is of particular concern to small island countries and those non-Annex I countries whose economies are highly dependent on exporting fossil fuels. Article 4.9 refers specifically to the special situations of least developed countries (LDCs). |
| Articles 5, 7 and 8 (Kyoto Protocol) |
Issues surrounding the preparation (methodologies),communication and review of national inventories under the Kyoto Protocol are addressed in Articles 5, 7 and 8 respectively. The main aspects of the discussions of these articles include establishing appropriate methods (or consequences for not having methods), how to account for sinks (LULUCF), how adjustments would be made to national inventories and monitoring of a country’s progress against its Kyoto commitment. |
| Assigned Amount |
Under the Kyoto Protocol establishes limits on the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions that each developed country may emit in the first commitment period(2008–12). The assigned amount is calculated by multi-plying total greenhouse gas emissions in 1990 by 5 (for the five-year commitment period) and then by the percentage agreed to as listed in Annex B of the Protocol(e.g. 92 per cent for EU Member State, 93 per cent for the USA). Units of the assigned amounts are referred to as AAUs (Assigned Amount Units). |
| Assigned Amount Unit, or AAU |
Under the Kyoto Protocol participating Annex B Parties are allocated AAUs, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2 equivalent emission, in an amount equal to the assigned emissions obligation. For compliance, at the end of the commitment period, Annex 1 Nations must surrender AAUs (and other recognized emissions allowances: see CER and ERU) in an amount equal to their actual covered emissions over the period. Annex B Parties that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol can exchange AAUs through emissions trading. |
| Baseline |
A projected level of future emissions against which reductions by project activities might be setermined, or the emissions that would occur without policy intervention. |
| Biomass |
The total dry organic matter or stored energy content of living oorganisms. Biomass can be used for fuel directly by burning it (e.g. wood), indirectly by fermentation to an alcohol (e.g. sugar) or extraction of combustible oils (e.g. soybeans) |
| Buenos Aires Plan of Action, or BAPA |
The Plan of Action agreed by governments at COP-4 hel in Buenos Aires (November, 1998). The Plan of Action states the aim to resolve, by COP-6, alist of outstanding issues concerning the COnvention and the Kyoto Protocol, principally on the Kyoto Mechanisms and compliance. The development and transfer of technology, compensation for adverse effects (of climate change itself and mitigation policies), and the status of projects under the Activities Implemented Jointly (AIJ) pilot programme are also included in the Plan of Action. Agreement on the elements of the BAPA was reached at COP-7 (Marrakech, 2001) and is often referred to as the Marrakech Accords. |
| Capacity Building |
A process of constructive interaction between developed and developing countries to help developing countries build the capability and skills needed to achieve environmentally sound forms of economic development. Under current negotiations, capacity building should assist developing countries to build, develop, strengthen, enhance and improve their capabilities to achieve the objective of the Convention and their participation in the Kyoto Protocol process. |
