A global partnership, managed by the World Bank that assists high risk, low-capacity developing countries enhance their capacity in disaster prevention and climate change adaptation. It […]

An international collaboration for comprehensive monitoring of the EarthÕs oceans. It also generates oceanographic services and creates a networking platform for research, operational, and user communities.

A programme hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that supports efforts in sustainable development through disaster risk management. It facilitates an integrated approach to […]

An index representing the combined effect of the differing times greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere and their relative effectiveness in absorbing outgoing infrared radiation.

Global Ocean Observing System.

The processes and systems by which an organization or society operates.

A financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established to help developing countries in achieving a paradigm shift to low-carbon pathways […]

A gas that absorbs radiation at specific wavelengths within the spectrum of radiation (infrared radiation) emitted by the EarthÕs surface and by clouds. The gas in […]

The atmospheric gases responsible for causing global warming and climate change. The major GHGs are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N20). Less prevalent […]

The monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a countryÕs borders in a specific time period, usually calculated on an annual basis. […]

An intergovernmental organisation of developing countries in the United Nations. This coalition is designed to promote and articulate its membersÕ collective interests and enhance a joint […]

A large negotiating alliance of developing countries that focuses on numerous international topics, including climate change. The G-77 was founded in 1967 under the auspices of […]

Compounds containing either chlorine, bromine or fluorine and carbon. Such compounds can act as powerful greenhouse gases (q.v.) in the atmosphere. The chlorine and bromine containing […]

A potentially damaging physical event, phenomenon and/or human activity, which may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental […]

Identification, study and monitoring of any hazard to determine its potential, origin, characteristics, behaviour and effects on the community.

The process of establishing geographically where and to what extent hazards are likely to affect an area.

An event, activity or phenomenon that has the potential to cause harm to life, health or property, damage to the environment or some combination of these.

The health status of millions of people is projected to be affected through, for example, increases in malnutrition; increased deaths, diseases and injury due to extreme […]

A hazard that has the potential to significantly affect the well-being of a community.

A period of abnormally hot weather. Heat waves and warm spells have various and in some cases overlapping definitions (IPCC-SREX, 2014)

Hydrofluorocarbons.

HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus causes AIDS – Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome and leads to failure of the human immune system.Ê

Refers to the concern that some governments will be able to meet their targets for greenhouse-gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol with minimal effort and could […]

Rights inherent to all human beings, whatever their nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status.

Previously a section of AusAID that was primarily concerned with administering AustraliaÕs humanitarian aid. Now subsumed into Australian Aid.

Hydrology-Study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water throughout the Earth. Meteorology-The study of atmospheric phenomena.

Coordinated under the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), HFA is a guideline that assists the efforts of nations and communities to build resilience […]

Independent Assessment Report, the output of an independent assessment of each Annex I Party’s International Transaction Log, which in turn is part of the Party’s reporting […]

International consultation and analysis, a form of review currently being negotiated and designed in the UNFCCC intergovernmental process.

Outlines the actions to minimize and/or compensate for the adverse impacts and identify opportunities and actions to enhance the positive impacts of a project for indigenous […]

A hazard resulting from Industries (manufacturing of a good or service).

Radiation emitted by the EarthÕs surface, the atmosphere and by clouds. Also known as terrestrial and long-wave radiation. Infrared radiation has a distinctive spectrum (i.e., range […]

The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise

Pervasive influx and development of insects affecting humans, animals, crops and materials.

A New Zealand Crown Research Institute that is a provider of earth, geoscience and isotope research and consultancy services. It purpose is to understand natural earth […]

CubaÕs national meteorological institute.

An integrated approach for sustainably managing coastal areas, taking into account all coastal habitats and uses.

An international organisation of Parliaments of sovereign states established to promote representative democracy and world peace. It is a permanent forum for political multilateral negotiations.

Established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization and the UN Environment Programme, the IPCC surveys world-wide scientific and technical literature and publishes assessment reports that […]

Accredited entities with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) that are expected to mobilize and manage the GCF finance at a global level such as the United […]

The IAEA is the worldÕs centre for cooperation in the nuclear field. It is an agency under the United Nations (UN) that works with its Member […]

An international financial institution which offers loans to middle-income developing countries. Working closely with the World Bank Group it provides a combination of financial resources, knowledge […]

A specialised agency of the United Nations that codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters planning and development of international air transport.

A humanitarian institution signatory to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, their Additional Protocols that gives the organisation mandate to protect victims of international and internal armed […]

An international trade union which merged with the World Confederation of Labour in 2006 to form the International Trade Union Confederation.

An independent, treaty-based international organisation and international tribunal established to prosecute individuals for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community.

An intergovernmental organisation with 190 member countries that facilitates international police cooperation. It assists police around the world by providing technical and operational support.

International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (1990-2000)

An international financial institution, part of the World Bank, which offers concessional loans and grants to the worldÕs poorest developing countries. This association shares the World […]

A humanitarian network that reaches 150 million people in 189 National Societies through the work of over 17 million volunteers. This volunteer and community-based network act […]

A global development institution and member of the World Bank that offers investment, advisory, and asset management services encouraging development in the private sectors of developing […]

A specialized agency of the United Nations established as an international financial institution dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries. It finances agricultural development projects […]

An inter-governmental organisation representing the hydrographic community. Its primary role is to ensure that the worldÕs seas, oceans and national waters are properly surveyed and charted. […]

A United Nations agency dealing with labour issues, particularly international labour standards, social protection, and work opportunities for all. Its primary concern is cooperation between governments […]

A specialised agency of the United Nations with 171 Member States and three Associate Members. Its acts as the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security […]

An international organisation of 188 countries whose primary purpose is to ensure the stability of the international monetary system. It works to foster global monetary cooperation, […]

The supreme governing body of the Olympic Movement. It is responsible for facilitating collaboration between all parties of the Olympic family, and ultimately the organisation of […]

An inter-governmental organisation in the field of migration. It is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by […]

An international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organisations. It promotes worldwide proprietry, industrial and commercial standards.

An international community, created in 1970, representing 80 member states and governments (57 members and 23 observers) where French is the customary language and where there […]

An international humanitarian network that is dedicated to preventing and alleviating human suffering in warfare and natural disasters. It is composed of the International Committee of […]

A United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies. It coordinates the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promotes international cooperation in assigning satellite […]

A commercial communications satellite services provider. Acting as an intergovernmental consortium it uses a combination of satellite and terrestrial connectivity technology to assist enterprises, governments and […]

An international trade union federation that represents 176 million workers through its 328 affiliated organisations within 162 countries and territories. It promotes and defends workersÕ rights […]

A set of criteria adopted by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to assess the funding proposals submitted by accredited implementing entities.

Means physical displacement (relocation, Loss of residential land or Loss of shelter), economic displacement (loss of land, assets or access to assets, including those that lead […]

IT hardware includes desktops, displays, laptops and printers.

An independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance for the Government of Japan. It aims to contribute to the development of Japanese and global economy […]

A mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol through which a developed country can receive “emissions reduction units” when it helps to finance projects that reduce net greenhouse-gas […]

The Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee (JISC), under the authority and guidance of the CMP, inter alia, supervises the verification procedure for Joint Implementation projects.

An acronym representing non-EU industrialized countries which occasionally meet to discuss various issues related to climate change. The members are Japan, the United States, Switzerland, Canada, […]

A non-scientific term; but the popular concept is that it is the higher high waters which occur around Christmas time. Equally high tides occur in the […]

Three procedures established under the Kyoto Protocol to increase the flexibility and reduce the costs of making greenhouse-gas emissions cuts. They are the Clean Development Mechanism, […]

An international agreement standing on its own, and requiring separate ratification by governments, but linked to the UNFCCC. The Kyoto Protocol, among other things, sets binding […]

(in revision) Is the opposite of an El Ni–o pattern, during which waters in the west Pacific are warmer than normal and trade winds are stronger

Deterioration of land quality or land forms resulting from natural phenomena or human activity.

Branch of planning that determines the options for land use, with the effects on the community.

A greenhouse gas inventory sector that covers emissions and removals of greenhouse gases resulting from direct human-induced land use, land-use change and forestry activities.

Downhill movement of natural soil and rock.

That portion of cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions by developed countries — countries trying to meet mandatory limits under the Kyoto Protocol — that may reappear in […]

The worldÕs poorest countries. The criteria currently used by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for designation as an LDC include low income, human resource weakness […]

A panel of 13 experts which provides advice to LDCs on the preparation and implementation of national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs) — plans for addressing […]

A fund managed by the Global Environment Facility that supports Least Developed Countries in the preparation and implementation of their national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs).

The LDCF is a fund established to support a work programme to assist Least Developed Country Parties to carry out, inter alia, the preparation and implementation […]

Acts and other legal instruments established at various levels of governments.

Farm animals regarded as an asset

The supply, handling, transportation and distribution of resources. It includes all aspects of ordering, receiving, packing, moving, storing and delivering.

A potentially fatal mosquito born disease caused by parasites.

The cost on one additional unit of effort. In terms of reducing emissions, it represents the cost of reducing emissions by one more unit.

The pricing of commercial goods and services such that the price equals the additional cost that arises from the expansion of production by one additional unit.

The practice of analysing, making and implementing decisions to maintain or alter any area of the marine environment or marine resource. It is often aimed at […]

Pollution of oceans, lakes or rivers Êresulting from the discharge of hydrocarbons (often petroleum or crude oil), chemicals or other potentially harmful matter from tanks, tankers […]

Conditions that prevent or impede the diffusion of cost-effective technologies or practices that could mitigate GHG emissions.

Actions that can be taken by a government or a group of governments, often in conjunction with the private sector, to accelerate the use of technologies […]

A bilateral or multilateral agreement between two or more parties.

The study of the physics, chemistry, and dynamics of the atmosphere and the direct effects of the atmosphere upon the Earth’s surface, the oceans, and life […]

A hydrocarbon that is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential estimated at 21. Methane is produced through anaerobic (without oxygen) decomposition of waste in […]

A set of reforms of the EUÕs Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) adopted by the EU Council of Ministers in 2003. These reforms aim to strengthen links […]

A New Zealand government ministry focused on growing the success of its national primary sectors. It focuses on maximising export opportunities, improving sector productivity, increasing sustainable […]

A central New Zealand government agency responsible for emergency management. The ministry provides policy advice to government, supports community disaster risk management planning and operations, ensures […]