A Glosssary of Climate Change & Forestry
There are 107 entries in this glossary.All
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Clean Development Mechanism, or CDM |
Defined in Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol, CDM projects undertaken in developing countries are intended to meet two objectives: (1) to address the sustainable development needs of the host country; and(2) to generate emissions credits that can be used to satisfy commitments of Annex 1 Parties and thus increase flexibility in where government Parties meet their reduction commitments. Projects that limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions can earn the investor (governmentor industry) credits if approved by the CDM Executive Board. A share of the proceeds from the project activities (US $0.10 per CER for first 15,000 tonnes CO2eq; US$0.20 per CER there after) is used to cover administration costs, and 2 percent of the credits are assessed to create an adaptation fund to assist developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects from climate change to take action to adapt. |
| Climate Change (UNFCCC definition) |
A change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability over comparable time periods. |
| Climate Convention |
See ‘UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’, or UNFCCC. |
| Commitment Period |
To allow Parties some flexibility in when they meet their GHG emissions reduction obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, the first emissions target applies to a 5-year period (2008–12), known as the first commitment period. Terms governing the the second and subsequent commitment periods are subject to future negotiation. Negotiations concerning the second period are now in progress. |
| Commitment Period Reserve |
To prevent Annex B Parties from overselling allocations from their Assigned Amount. Annex B Parties are required to maintain a ‘commitment period reserve’ that is equal to the lower of 90 percent of their respective assigned amounts, or ‘100 percent of five times their most recently reviewed inventories’. |
| Conference of the Parties |
The Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC also serves as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol(COP/MOP), the Protocol’s supreme body, but only Parties that have ratified or acceded to the Protocol may participate in deliberations and make decisions. |
| Conference of the Parties, or COP |
The Conference of the Parties (to the UNFCCC) is the supreme body of the Convention, comprised of countries that have ratified or acceded to the UNFCCC. The first session of the COP (COP-1) was held in Berlin in 1995,and sessions have been held annually since then. |
| Decision |
A formal agreement that (unlike a resolution) leads to binding actions. Ir becomes part of the agreed body of decisions that direct the work of the COP and UNFCCC Secretariat. Decisions enter into force immediately, are binding on all Parties and do not require further ratification, accession or acceptance by Parties. |
| Deforastation |
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. |
| Deforestation |
The removal of forest and undergrowth (NSW-EPA, 1995) Refers to change of land cover with depletion of tree crown cover to less than 10%. Changes within the forest class (e.g. from closed to open forest) which negatively affect the stand or site and, in particular, lower the production capacity, are termed forest degradation (FAO, 1998) The conversion of forest to another land use or the long-term reduction of tree canopy cover below the 10% threshold (FAO, 2000) The direct human-induced conversion of forested land to non-forested land. (UNFCCC, 2001) Clearing of tree formations and their replacement by non forest land use (PEENRA website) A secondary forest that has lost, through human activities, the structure, function, species composition or productivity normally associated with a natural forest type expected on that site. Hence, a degraded forest delivers a reduced supply of goods and services from the given site and maintains only limited biological diversity. Biological diversity of degraded forests includes many non-tree components, which may dominate in the under canopy vegetation. (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA, 2001) Forest that delivers a reduced supply of goods and services from a given site and maintains only limited biological diversity. It has lost the structure, function, species composition and /or productivity normally associated with the natural forest type expected at that site. (ITTO, 2002) |
