Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits benficial opportunities. Soucr: UNFCCC
A fuel produced from dry organic matter or combustible oils produced by plants. These fuels are considered renewable as long as the vegetation producing them is maintained or replanted, such as firewood, alcohol fermented from sugar, and combustible oils extracted from soy beans. Their use in place of fossil fuels cuts greenhouse gas emissions because the plants that are the fuel sources capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Source: UNFCCC
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. Source: UNFCCC
A mechanism under teh Kyoto Protocol through which developed countries may finance greenhouse gas emission reduction or removal projects in developing countries, and receive credits for doing so which they may apply towards meeting mandatory limits on their own emissions. Source: UNFCCC
Climate is usually defined as the "average weather", or more rigorously, as the statistical description of the weather in terms of the mean and variability of relevant quantities over periods of several decades (typically three decades as defined by WMO). These quantities are most often surface variables such as temperature, precipitation, and wind, but in a wider sense the "climate" is the description of the state of the climate system. Source: UNFCCC
(FCCC usage) 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 observed over comparable time periods. Source: IPCC
(IPCC usage) Climate change as referred to in the observational record of climate occurs because of internal changes within the climate system or in the interaction between its components, or because of changes in external forcing either for natural reasons or because of human activities. It is generally not possible to make clear attribution between these causes. Projections of future climate change reported by IPCC generally consider only the influence on climate of anthropogenic increases in greenhouse gas and other human-related factors. Source: IPCC
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme body of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. 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". Source: UNFCCC
Decent Work is that productive work developed under conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity, in which rights are protected and adequate remuneration and social coverage are provided. Decent Work is characterised by the following components: a) productive work; b) protection of rights; c) adequate pay and d) social coverage. Source: ILO
One of the three Kyoto mechanisms, by which an Annex I Party may transfer Kyoto Protocol units to or acquire units from another Annex I Party. An Annex I Party must meet specific eligibility requirements to participate in emissions trading. Source: UNFCCC
The GEF is an independent financial organization that provides grants to developing countries for projects that benefit the global environment and promote sustainable livelihoods in local communities. The Parties to the Convention assigned operation of the financial mechanism to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on an on-going basis, subject to review every four years. The financial mechanism is accountable to the COP. For more information see: http://www.thegef.org/. Source: UNFCCC
Green jobs reduce the environmental impact of enterprises and economic sectors, ultimately to levels that are sustainable. Green jobs are found in many sectors of the economy from energy supply to recycling and from agriculture and construction to transportation. They help to cut the consumption of energy, raw materials and water through high-efficiency strategies, to de-carbonize the economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to minimize or avoid altogether all forms of waste and pollution, to protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity. Source: ILO
Greenhouse gases are the atmospheric gases responsible for causing global warming and climate change. The major GHGs are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Less prevalent - but very powerful - greenhouse gases are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). Source: UNFCCC
Established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the IPCC surveys world-wide scientific and technical literature and publishes assessment reports that are widely recognized as the most credible existing sources of information on climate change for policy and decision makers. The IPCC also works on methodologies and responds to specific requests from the Convention's subsidiary bodies. The IPCC is independent of the Convention (UNFCCC). Source: UNFCCC
International Labour Standards are Conventions and Recommendations adopted by the International Labour Conference, covering a broad range of social and labour matters. Source: ILO
A system consisting of employers as buyers and workers as sellers, the purpose of which is to match job vacancies with job applicants and to set wages. Source: ILO
In the context of climate change, mitigation is a human intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases. Examples include using fossil fuels more efficiently for industrial processes or electricity generation, switching to solar energy or wind power, improving the insulation of buildings, and expanding forests and other "sinks" to remove greater amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Source: UNFCCC
Documents prepared by least developed countries identifying urgent and immediate needs for adapting to climate change. The NAPAs are then presented to the international donor community for support. Source: UNFCCC
A document submitted in accordance with the Convention (and the Kyoto Protocol) by which a Party informs other Parties of activities undertaken to address climate change. Most developed countries have now submitted their fourth national communications; most developing countries have completed their first national communication and are in the process of preparing their second. Source: UNFCCC
The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, adopted in June 1998, highlights this set of core labour principles endorsed by the international community. The Declaration covers four main areas for the establishment of a social "floor" in the world of work: 1. Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; 2. Elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; 3. Effective abolition of child labour; 4. Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. Source: ILO
Social dialogue is defined by the ILO to include all types of negotiation, consultation or simply exchange of information between, or among, representatives fo governments, employers and workers, on issues of common interest relating to economic and social policy. It can exist as a tripartite process, with the government as an official party to the dialogue or it may consist of bipartite relations only between labour and management (or trade unions and employers' organisations), with or without indirect government involvement. Concertation can be informal or institutionalised, and often it is a combination of the two. It can take place at the national, regional or at enterprise level. It can be inter-professional, sectoral or a combination of all of these. The main goal of social dialogue itself is to promote consensus building and democratic involvement among the main stakeholders in the world of work. Successful social dialogue structures and processes have the potential to resolve important economic and social issues, encourage good governance, advance social industrial peace and stability and boost economic progress.Source: ILO
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Source:IPCC
Organization of employees, usually associated beyond the confines of one enterprise, established for protecting or improving, through collective action, tre economic and social status of its members. Source:ILO
Tripartite cooperation is defined as referring "to all dealings between the government and workers' and employers' organizations concerning the formulation and implementation of economic and social policy". Tripartism is reflected in the structure of the ILO itself: both the International Labour Conference and the Governing Body are composed of equal numbers of government, workers' and employers' representatives. Tripartism at the naional level is enshrined in a number of ILO Conventions and Recommendations. The Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) specifically requires effective consultation between government, employers' and workers' representatives at each stage of ILO standards-related activities. Source: ILO
Describes the full range of activities which are required to bring a product or service from conception, through the different phases of production (involving a combination of physical transformations and the input of various producer services), delivery to final consumers, and final disposal after use. Source: ILO
The degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of the character, magnitude, and rate of climate variation to which a system is exposed, its sensitivity, and its adaptive capacity. Source: UNFCCC
Adaptation
