United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Glossary of Terms

This document is a glossary of terms used in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations and related activities, compiled by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) using definitions from the UNFCCC and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).

• The UNFCCC was adopted in 1992 and entered into force in 1994, currently consisting of 198 parties. Its primary objective is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent "dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system" while ensuring food production is not threatened and economic development remains sustainable.
• The Paris Agreement establishes two primary temperature goals: pursuing efforts to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and holding the increase to "well below 2°C" above those same levels.
• The UNFCCC utilizes a financial mechanism to provide funds to developing country parties, which is accountable to the Conference of the Parties (COP). The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has served as an operating entity for many years, and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) was designated as an operating entity at COP17 in 2011.
• The Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) is the reporting framework of the Paris Agreement. A cornerstone of this framework is the Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), which parties are required to submit every two years, with the first submission deadline set for December 31, 2024, though Small Island Developing States and least developed countries have discretion regarding submission.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2024). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Glossary of Terms. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/eesis-united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate-change-glossary-of-terms

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Glossary of Terms. 2024. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/eesis-united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate-change-glossary-of-terms.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Glossary of Terms |date=21 October 2024 |url=https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/eesis-united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate-change-glossary-of-terms |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2024united, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Glossary of Terms}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2024}, month = oct, url = {https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/eesis-united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate-change-glossary-of-terms}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }