Archives: Glossary

State-level goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by a specific amount by a pre-determined date. 

Release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. Coal burning generates GHG emissions, which refer to the release of GHGs into the atmosphere during the coal combustion process. 

A reference point that contains information about the negative, adverse effects on human health caused by exposure to harmful agents, such as chemical emissions from production.

An entity’s process of offsetting carbon/greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by implementing a carbon offsetting project within the entity’s internal value chain.

The method used to calculate emissions intensity targets based on the principle of converging to a sector-wide physical emissions intensity in the future year of a mitigation pathway. 

Intensity reductions show the actual efforts a company has to put in and are calculated based on the absolute results, proportionally to the growth of the company. In contrast, absolute reductions which are independent of growth. Quantis advises companies to have both numbers at hand internally as intensity reductions are easier to track and absolutely easier to communicate externally. 

A report requested by the United Nations on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas (GHG) emission pathways. Its focus is on strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty.

An international treaty that brings the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) into operation. It commits industrialized countries and economies to limit and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in accordance with specific targets. 

The destination of an entity’s decarbonization journey; the degree of emissions reductions necessary to reach net zero, based on the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). 

Interventions set in place to reduce emissions or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in order to reduce climate risk. Examples include using fossil fuels more efficiently in industrial processes or switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

A tool that guides planners across various priority levels in the stages of environmental risk mitigation. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) calls on companies to prioritize value chain emission reductions before acting outside their value chains as part of their Net-Zero Strategy. 

A set of measures planned by a company to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that may include abatement, insetting, compensation and neutralization. 

Short-term targets (over the next 5-10 years) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are formed by up-to-date climate science. 

Where more greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are removed than output into the atmosphere.

A state in which more emissions have been removed than emitted. 

A state of balance between anthropogenic emissions and anthropogenic removals. In most cases, it is important to specify either net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions or net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which also include non-CO2 GHGs such as methane.

An entity’s declaration of carbon or climate neutrality (either regarding carbon emissions only or covering all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions) 

Measures taken by an entity to remove carbon/greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the atmosphere and permanently store them in order to counterbalance the impact of emissions that remain unabated. 

A carbon offset represents one metric ton of carbon dioxide that’s been reduced or removed from the atmosphere. The funds from carbon offset purchases pay for projects that (in theory) reduce or remove greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, such as reforestation or energy efficiency initiatives.  

Atmospheric gas composed of 3 oxygen atoms (O3). There are two “ozones” in Earth’s atmosphere. In the upper atmosphere (stratospheric), naturally occurring O3 serves as a buffer from some of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. At ground-level (tropospheric), this man-made “ozone” is caused by chemical reactions caused by polluting emissions from industrial activity such as cars, powerplants, refineries, etc.

Thinning of earth’s upper (stratospheric) ozone (O3) layer, due to the release of chemical compounds from industrial activity. 

Under the Paris Agreement, countries agreed to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the state prior to pre-industrial levels by curbing the global increase to below 2 degrees Celsius with a priority on reducing temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

An internationally recognized environmental standard that presents a specification for carbon neutrality; used to demonstrate an entity’s carbon neutrality status.

Metric describing the emissions per physical unit of an activity (e.g., a ton of greenhouse gases (GHGs) per ton of cement produced). 

Radiative forcing, or climate forcing, is the difference between incoming and outgoing radiation within Earth’s atmosphere. When incoming energy (energy absorbed) is greater than outgoing energy (energy emitted), the planet warms. Radiative forcing has increased since the industrial revolution. 

Actions taken by entities to remove carbon from the atmosphere and permanently store it within or beyond the value chain. This may include regenerative agriculture within the value chain, or the implementation of carbon offset credits.

Emissions that remain unabated as a result of a project and after all reasonable and feasible abatement efforts have been made. 

The process of noting an offset as “used” and removing it from the carbon trade market. The offset can not be resold or claimed again.

Methods rooted in up-to-date scientific knowledge used to calculate science-based targets (SBTs) from a mitigation pathway, company input variables, and an allocation formula. 

Direct greenhouse (GHG) emissions from sources controlled or owned by an organization (e.g., emissions associated with fuel combustion in boilers, furnaces, vehicles).

Indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with purchasing electricity, steam, heat, or cooling.

All other indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that result from company action, but occur from sources not owned or controlled by the company. These are emissions that typically result on the supplier or customer end (e.g., transport, distribution, or disposal methods by consumers).

Absolute emissions or emissions intensity pathways for a specific sector that may be used for calculating near- term and long-term reduction targets; method for net-zero.

Energy harnessed from the sun’s radiation. Solar panels absorb photons emitted from the sun and transfer the energy to be stored by batteries, where it is regenerated for electrical use.

The Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures’ (TCFD) Aligned Climate Related Risk Assessment is a method for assessing an entity’s climate-related financial risk, and is denoted into 4 categories: Governance, Strategy, Risk Management, and Metrics and Targets in order to provide thematic guidance to organizations specific to how they operate.

Coal burned in power stations with no form of carbon capture.

Also known as Scope 3 emissions; emissions arising from activities related to assets not owned or directly controlled by the reporting organization, but nevertheless influenced indirectly within its value chain.

A feature of carbon offset projects; the “vintage” is the specific year in which a measured reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions occurred.