The public service department of New Zealand charged with advising the government on foreign and trade policy, and promoting New ZealandÕs interests in trade and international […]

Structural and non-structural measures undertaken to eliminate or limit the adverse impact of hazards.

Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases.

Observation, measurement and valuation of progress in order to identify change.

Monitoring-Observation, measurement and valuation of progress in order to identify change. Early Warning-The provision of timely and effective information, through identified and authoritative institutions, that allows […]

Measurable, reportable and verifiable. A process/concept that potentially supports greater transparency in the climate change regime.

A member of the World Bank Group, MIGA is an international financial institution which offers political risk insurance and credit enhancement guarantees. It aims to promote […]

Nitrous oxide. A powerful greenhouse gas with a global warming potential evaluated at 310. Major sources of nitrous oxide include soil cultivation practices, especially the use […]

An ecumenical organisation of AustraliaÕs Christian churches in dialogue and practical cooperation. It works in collaboration with state ecumenical councils around Australia.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established the national adaptation plan (NAP) process to facilitate adaptation planning in least developed countries (LDCs) and […]

Documents prepared by least developed countries (LDCs) identifying urgent and immediate needs for adapting to climate change.

A document submitted in accordance with the Convention (and the Protocol) by which a Party informs other Parties of activities undertaken to address climate change. Most […]

NDA or focal points are government institutions that serve as the interface between each country and the Fund. They provide broad strategic oversight of the Green […]

An Australian Government initiative established to assist states and territories with significant costs of natural disasters. Through the NDRRA, the Australian Government provides financial assistance to […]

An organisation that is neither a part of a government nor a conventional for-profit business. They include many groups and institutions that are entirely or largely […]

A part of Emergency Management Australia through which State or Territory authorities must channel requests for Australian Government assistance following a disaster.

A Crown Research Institute of New Zealand that conducts commercial and non-commercial research across a broad range of disciplines in the environmental sciences. It aims to […]

A network of community-based volunteers and staff that are formed around the world. There are 189 NRCS that support the public authorities in their own countries […]

A system managed and operated by the Australian Red Cross, used throughout the Australia to unite families and close friends of persons affected by major emergencies.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established the nationally appropriate mitigation action (NAMA) process to facilitate mitigation planning in least developed countries (LDCs) […]

NDCs are the primary means for governments to communicate internationally the steps they will take to address climate change in their own countries. NDCs reflect each […]

Any portion of the natural environment, such as air, water, soil, botanical and zoological resources and minerals.

Needs Analysis-Examination and analysis of information in order to make recommendations about the needs required to improve the situation. Needs Assessment-Collection and organisation of information to […]

The New Zealand GovernmentÕs international aid and development agency managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It aims to support sustainable development and the […]

Enhancement of plant growth through the deposition of nitrogen compounds. In IPCC reports, this typically refers to fertilization from anthropogenic sources of nitrogen such as, man-made […]

A letter issued from a National Designated Authority (NDA) or focal point confirming that it has no objection to a funding proposal submitted on behalf of […]

Measures whose benefits such as improved performance or reduced emissions of local/regional pollutants, but excluding the benefits of climate change mitigation equal or exceed their costs. They are […]

No-regrets mitigation options are those whose benefits, such as reduced energy costs and reduced emissions of local/regional pollutants, equal or exceed their cost to society, excluding the […]

Technology for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions whose other benefits (in terms of efficiency or reduced energy costs) are so extensive that the investment is worth it for […]

A letter given by the National Designated Authorities (NDA) or focal point to aspirant entities seeking the Green Climate Fund (GCF) accreditation. Entities applying for accreditation […]

Refers to countries that have ratified or acceded to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that are not included in Annex I of the […]

Organizations that are not part of a governmental structure. They include environmental groups, research institutions, business groups, and associations of urban and local governments. Many NGOs […]

A movement of 115 members representing the interest and priorities of developing countries. It was formed as an organisation of States that did not seek to […]

Ocean: The mass of water occupying all of the Earth’s surface not occupied by land, but excluding all lakes and inland seas.Island: A land mass, especially […]

An organisational unit within the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responsible for leading and coordinating the U.S. GovernmentÕs response to disasters overseas.

UNDRO was previously a standalone organisation of the United Nations that assisted in the UN deliverance of disaster and emergency relief. In 1992 it was incorporated […]

A New Zealand government committee responsible for providing the Prime Minister with strategic policy advice and oversight on security and intelligence matters.

The cost of an economic activity foregone by the choice of another activity.

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 […]

The implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention which prohibits the use of chemical weapons and requires their destruction. OPCW is comprised of 190 member states, […]

ACP member states from the Pacific Region, comprising Cook Islands, Timor-Leste, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, […]

A major climate change adaptation project funded by the GEF and the Australian Government, and implemented by UNDP and SPREP in the Pacific region. It worked […]

A project implemented in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu by the National Council of Churches in Australia, and organized by faith-based networks. It was designed […]

A secretariat for the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Movement. The Centre collects and disseminates information, advocates and lobbies, promotes understanding, and mobilisation of resources within […]

The regional ecumenical organisation representing the Christian church in the Pacific Region. It seeks to pursue the visibility and unity of the member churches of the […]

An applied science, information and technology centre, working to reduce disaster risks and impacts on life, poverty, and economies worldwide. The PDC delivers information, tools and […]

The PDRMPN was established in 2006 to support capacity building and assist Pacific island countries and territories in the implementation of the Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction […]

A regional strategy for disaster risk management (DRM) in the Pacific. It is due to be replaced in 2015 by an integrated regional strategy that combines […]

A Pacific regional body formed to provide a forum for agencies involved in the design and delivery of emergency management training and development within the region […]

A network of Pacific NGOs existing to facilitate communication and provide a common voice at regional and international forums. It also aims to strengthen Pacific forms […]

A free trade agreement amongst the 14 Forum Island Countries. The agreement enhances liberalisation of trade in goods through the removal of virtually all economic trade […]

An intergovernmental organisation that aims to enhance economic, social and political cooperation between 16 independent countries of the Pacific Region. Members include Australia, Cook Islands, federated […]

An intergovernmental agency established to facilitate regional cooperation and co-ordination between Pacific Ocean states with respect to fisheries policies. It aims to strengthen national capacity and […]

An international organisation established by treaty that enjoys legal personality in each of the sixteen member countries. It is responsible for implementing the decisions made by […]

A regional strategy for climate change action in the Pacific. The framework aims to inform the decisions and actions of national, regional and international partners, and […]

A 5-year project that began in 2007, and worked to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the Pacific region through the promotion of renewable energy as an […]

Non-state actors are entities that participate or act in international relations but do not belong to any established state institution. In the Pacific they include non-profit, […]

A strategic framework endorsed by Pacific Island Forum Leaders in 2005, with the purpose of strengthening regional cooperation and integration in the Pacific. It is a […]

A programme funded under the 9th European Development Fund to assist capacity building in trade for the 14 Pacific ACP states. The project was administered through […]

Epidemic disease that spreads across a large region or even worldwide.

Paris Agreement is an international agreement agreed at the 21st Session of the Conference of Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change […]

An intergovernmental organisation with 117 member states. It encourages the resolution of disputes that involve states, state entities, intergovernmental organisations, and private parties by assisting in […]

Perfluorocarbon.

The process of formulating goals and objectives and determinating strategies and activities to achieve them.

Procedures developed and implemented by government(s) regarding the goal of mitigating climate change through the use of technologies and measures.

A frequently used phrase — sometimes abbreviated as PAMs — referring to the steps taken or to be taken by countries to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions under […]

A general statement or understanding that guides thinking in decision-making.

Degradation of one or more elements or aspects of the environment by noxious industrial, chemical or biological substances as a result of human or mechanical failure […]

Avoiding a solution that is irreversible, because the assumptions on which the solution is based may prove incorrect, in favour of a seemingly inferior solution that […]

Activities and measures taken in advance to ensure effective community and national response to the impact of hazards.

Collaborative arrangements between the public sector (government/intergovernmental organizations) and the private sector (business enterprises/civil society organizations)

The process of informing the population, increasing consciousness of risks and spreading knowledge of how people can reduce the effects of hazards.Ê

Legally binding targets and timetables under the Kyoto Protocol for the limitation or reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions by developed countries.

An imposed positive radiative forcing (q.v.) on the Earth-atmosphere system (e.g., through the addition of greenhouse gases) represents an energy surplus. The temperature of the surface […]

A simple measure of the importance of a potential climate change mechanism. Radiative forcing is the perturbation to the energy balance of the Earth-atmosphere system (in […]

Decisions and actions taken after a disaster to restore the normal living conditions while encouraging and facilitating adjustments to reduce disaster risk.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation.

Replanting of forests on lands that have previously contained forests but that have been converted to some other use.

Electronic databases that tracks and records all transactions under the Kyoto Protocol’s greenhouse-gas emissions trading system (the Òcarbon marketÓ) and under mechanisms such as the Clean […]

Rules or codes enacted by governments that mandate productspecifications or process performance characteristics.

The provision of immediate life support, shelter and other survival needs to persons affected by, or responding to, a disaster.

A Kyoto Protocol unit equal to 1 metric tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent. RMUs are generated in Annex I Parties by LULUCF activities that absorb carbon […]

The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions

An obligation of Parties to the Climate Change Convention; they are called upon to promote and cooperate in research and systematic observation of the climate system, […]

Scientific/technical research and development of new production processes or products, coupled with analysis and measures that provide information to potential users regarding the application of the […]

A component or components of the climate system where a greenhouse gas or a precursor of a greenhouse gas is stored. Trees are “reservoirs” for carbon […]

The capacity of a system, community or society potentially exposed to hazards to adapt, by resisting or changing in order to reach and maintain an acceptable […]

Actions taken before, during, and immediately after a disaster to ensure that its effects are minimised, and that people affected are given immediate relief and support.

Reinforcement of structures in order to be more resistant to the forces of natural hazards. Retrofitting involves consideration of changes in the mass, stiffness, damping, load […]

Regular scrutiny by Convention Parties of the adequacy of the treaty’s Article 4.2 (a) and (b) outlining developed country commitments to limit greenhouse-gas emissions. The first […]

Three environmental conventions, two of which were adopted at the 1992 “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), […]

The probability of harmful consequences, or expected losses (deaths, injuries, property, livelihoods, economic activity disrupted or environment damaged) resulting from interactions between natural or human induced […]

A systematic use of information to determine how often specific events may occur and the extent of their likely consequences.

The process of establishing geographically the effects a particular hazard may have, and related vulnerability.

The process of formally or informally shifting the financial consequences of particular risks from one party to another whereby a household, community, enterprise or state authority […]

A centre that is responsible for the distribution of information, advisories, and warnings regarding the specific program they are a part of, agreed by consensus at […]

The movement of passengers and / or goods on roads.

Generally refers to the provision of facilities and services for the safe disposal of human urine and faeces. It can also refer to the maintenance of […]

An emerging natural phenomenon causing flooding of the coastal areas, particularly in the Pacific Islands and other island nations of the world, including low-lying nations.

The movement of passengers and / or goods at sea, between two ports.