Climate governance
The structures, processes and actions through which private and public actors seek to mitigate and adapt to climate change. For a more generic definition see: Governance Source: IPCC AR6 Glossary For further information: Ireland Climate Regional Offices PAP/RAC: Coastal Resilience Handbook for the Adriatic
Anthropocene
A proposed new geological epoch resulting from significant human-driven changes to the structure and functioning of the Earth system, including the climate system. Originally proposed in the Earth System science community in 2000, the proposed new epoch is undergoing a formalisation process within the geological community based on the stratigraphic evidence that human activities have […]
Carbon Capture and Storage System
Anthropogenic activities removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and durably storing it in geological, terrestrial or ocean reservoirs, or in products. It includes existing and potential anthropogenic enhancement of biological or geochemical CO2 sinks and direct air carbon dioxide capture and storage (DACCS) but excludes natural CO2 uptake not directly caused by human activities. […]
Net zero
Net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. This doesn’t necessarily mean eliminating all greenhouse gas emissions but rather balancing any residual and inevitable ones with an equivalent uptake. Source: CMCC Foresight: Net zero For further information: The Conversation: Climate scientists: concept of […]
Carbon budget
This term refers to two concepts in the literature: (1) an assessment of carbon cycle sources and sinks on a global level, through the synthesis of evidence for fossil-fuel and cement emissions, emissions and removals associated with land use and land use change, ocean and natural land sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO2), and […]
Air pollution
Degradation of air quality with negative effects on human health or the natural or built environment due to the introduction, by natural processes or human activity, into the atmosphere of substances (gases, aerosols) which have a direct (primary pollutants) or indirect (secondary pollutants) harmful effect. Source: IPCC AR6 Glossary
Decarbonisation
Human actions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from human activities. The process by which countries, individuals or other entities aim to achieve zero fossil carbon existence. Typically refers to a reduction of the carbon emissions associated with electricity, industry and transport. Source: IPCC AR6 Glossary
Climate
In a narrow sense, climate is usually defined as the average weather – or more rigorously, as the statistical description in terms of the mean and variability of relevant quantities – over a period of time ranging from months to thousands or millions of years. The classical period for averaging these variables is 30 years, […]
Climate change
A change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g., by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forcings such as modulations of […]
Climate empowerment
Climate empowerment is a term adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in reference to the goal of empowering all members of society to engage in climate action, through education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information, and international cooperation on these issues. The Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) […]