iii CLIMATE ADAPTATION: The process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects. In human systems, adaptation seeks to moderate or avoid harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. In some natural systems, human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate and its effects (IPCC, 2014). ADAPTIVE CAPACITY: The ability of systems, institutions, humans and other organisms to adjust to potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to respond to consequences (IPCC, 2014). CLIMATE CHANGE: A change in the state of the climate that can be identified (for example, by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period, typically for decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forcing such as modulations of the solar cycles, volcanic eruptions, and persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use. The Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in its Article 1, defines climate change as: ‘a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.’ The UNFCCC thus makes a distinction between climate change attributable to human activities altering the atmospheric composition and climate variability attributable to natural causes (IPCC, 2014). CLIMATE FINANCE: Local, national or transnational financing — drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing — that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change (UNFCCC). The financial resources paid to cover the costs of transitioning to a low-carbon global economy and to adapt to, or build resilience against, current and future climate change impacts (Falconer & Stadelmann) DECARBONISATION: The process by which countries or other entities aim to achieve a low-carbon economy, or by which individuals aim to reduce their consumption of carbon (IPCC, 2014). GREEN GROWTH: A socially inclusive economic growth and development path that is low-carbon, climate-resilient, and resource-efficient; and maintains and enhances biodiversity and ecosystems (AfDB, 2021). Green growth is the pursuit of economic development in an environmentally sustainable manner (GGKP, 2016). GREEN JOBS: Decent jobs that contribute to preserve or restore the environment, be they in traditional sectors, or in new, emerging green sectors (ILO, 2016). MITIGATION (OF CLIMATE CHANGE): A human intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The IPCC definition also considers human interventions to reduce the sources of other substances which may contribute directly or indirectly to limiting climate change, including, for example, the reduction of particulate matter emissions that can directly alter the radiation balance (e.g. black carbon) or measures that control emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and other pollutants that can alter the concentration of tropospheric ozone, which has an indirect effect on the climate (IPCC, 2014). NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS: Actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits (IUCN). RESILIENCE: The capacity of social, economic and environmental systems to cope with a hazardous event or trend or disturbance, responding or reorganizing in ways that maintain their essential function, identity and structure, while also maintaining the capacity for adaptation, learning and transformation (IPCC, 2014). RISK: The potential for consequences where something of value is at stake and where the outcome is uncertain, recognizing the diversity of values. Risk is often represented as probability or likelihood of occurrence of hazardous events or trends multiplied by the impacts, if these events or trends occur. The term ‘risk’ is often also used to refer to the potential, when the outcome is uncertain, for adverse consequences on lives, livelihoods, health, ecosystems and species, economic, social and cultural assets, services (including environmental services) and infrastructure (IPCC, 2014). SUSTAINABILITY: A dynamic process that guarantees the persistence of natural and human systems in an equitable manner (IPCC, 2014). SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (IPCC, 2014). VULNERABILITY The propensity or predisposition to be adversely affected. Vulnerability encompasses a variety of concepts and elements including sensitivity or susceptibility to harm and lack of capacity to cope and adapt (IPCC, 2014). Glossary of key terms
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