1990: The widely used ‘base year’ for calculating emissions reductions.
2 degrees: The 2 degrees Celsius threshold is widely regarded as a point beyond which the impacts of climate change will become increasingly and dangerously severe. More recent evidence suggests that this ‘danger point’ is likely to be lower.
Carbon price: Whether greenhouse gas emissions are allocated permits and traded, or whether they are taxed, a price is set by ‘the market’ and/or the government for a tonne of CO2 equivalent emissions.
CO2 equivalent: a way of standardising the impact of other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide which have a greater ‘warming’ effect than carbon dioxide.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): the international scientific body created to rigorously peer review the latest scientific evidence on climate change and produce consensus reports that can inform the international negotiations.
Responsibility Target: a level of net emissions reduction that a country accepts responsibility for achieving. These net emissions reductions can be achieved through domestic action that cuts emissions, domestic action that ‘sequesters’ (absorbs) carbon dioxide or by purchasing emissions reduction credits overseas.
2 degrees: The 2 degrees Celsius threshold is widely regarded as a point beyond which the impacts of climate change will become increasingly and dangerously severe. More recent evidence suggests that this ‘danger point’ is likely to be lower.
Carbon price: Whether greenhouse gas emissions are allocated permits and traded, or whether they are taxed, a price is set by ‘the market’ and/or the government for a tonne of CO2 equivalent emissions.
CO2 equivalent: a way of standardising the impact of other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide which have a greater ‘warming’ effect than carbon dioxide.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): the international scientific body created to rigorously peer review the latest scientific evidence on climate change and produce consensus reports that can inform the international negotiations.
Responsibility Target: a level of net emissions reduction that a country accepts responsibility for achieving. These net emissions reductions can be achieved through domestic action that cuts emissions, domestic action that ‘sequesters’ (absorbs) carbon dioxide or by purchasing emissions reduction credits overseas.
