The annual UN climate talks, where intricate issues such as energy policy and financial aid dynamics take center stage, have spawned a unique vocabulary that seems to grow with every meeting.
To help navigate the terms being discussed at this year’s COP29 gathering, we’ve put together a handy guide.
**UNFCCC:** This stands for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It’s not only the title of the 1992 treaty that nearly 200 nations committed to in order to combat climate change, but it also refers to the secretariat responsible for implementing that agreement.
**COP:** This abbreviation signifies Conference of Parties, representing the yearly summit of the nations that have signed the UNFCCC treaty. This year’s COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, will be the 29th convening since the UNFCCC’s inception in 1994.
**NDC:** Speaking of pledges, NDCs—or Nationally Determined Contributions—are essentially each nation’s strategy for cutting down emissions and coping with climate consequences. The next wave of these contributions is due in February, but some countries are gearing up to unveil fresh plans during the sessions in Baku.
**Global Warming:** This term denotes the slow and steady rise in the Earth’s average temperature—a situation that many are looking to address through these talks.
**Climate Change:** Often confused with global warming, this term encompasses not just the rise in temperatures, but also the resulting impacts, like severe weather events that can wreak havoc globally.
**Greenhouse Gases (GHGs):** These culprits, commonly known as GHGs, are crucial players in trapping solar heat within the atmosphere, thus leading to global warming. Methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are the primary offenders, frequently dubbed “carbon emissions” as they both contain carbon. A staggering degree of these emissions stems from burning fossil fuels and various industrial processes.
**Paris Agreement:** This landmark 2015 treaty, forged during the COP21 discussions in Paris, established a commitment among countries to strive for limiting global temperature rise to “well below” 2°C above pre-industrial levels, aiming even for a target of 1.5°C. Additionally, it mandates that nations update their emissions reduction pledges every five years to ensure progress.
**Net Zero:** Contrary to what it might imply, achieving net zero doesn’t mean emitting absolutely nothing. Instead, it signifies balancing the amount of greenhouse gases released with what can be captured through technologies, afforestation, and similar initiatives. Striving for “net zero” aims to curb the increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases.
**Loss and Damage:** Last year, a collective of nations earmarked a whopping $800 million for a new fund targeting ‘loss and damage’ caused by climate-related disasters in poorer countries. Now that the fund has appointed a director and a host nation, discussions at COP29 will revolve around fund allocation and seeking further contributions.
**Carbon Offset:** Often known as a “carbon credit,” this mechanism enables countries or corporations to mitigate their carbon emissions by investing in projects that reduce emissions elsewhere. It’s a way to balance the scales, if you will.
**Article 6:** This term points to a specific provision in the Paris Agreement that governs carbon offsets and serves as shorthand for international trading regulations surrounding carbon credits within the UNFCCC framework. The overarching aim for governments at COP29 is to finalize rules for trading these offsets, making the market dynamic a functional reality.
By familiarizing ourselves with this ever-evolving jargon, we can better understand the conversations and commitments that emerge from such crucial gatherings. As environmental advocate and writer Bill McKibben once said, “We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change, and the last that can do something about it.” As we come together at COP29, it’s vital to grasp these concepts so we can engage meaningfully in tackling the defining challenge of our time.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
