Category: Climate

The International Panel for Climate Change has set 1.5˚C as a “defense line” for global temperature increase. The projected goal is to keep global rise below a 1.5˚C increase from pre-industrial levels.

An act, usually taken by a company in response to environmental regulation, to reduce its negative environmental impact. Abatements may be strategies to reduce various forms of pollution. 

A “one-size-fits-all” approach to emissions reduction, where all companies set emissions reduction targets that are aligned with the global, annual emissions reduction rate required to meet 1.5˚C (according to the SBTi). 

Reduction in total emissions between the target year and the base year. 

In the context of the human relationship with climate change, adaptation refers to the way humans can shape their behavior to cope with the impacts of climate change that are already underway. 

The reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of one solution (produce, service, policy, etc.) compared to the reference/baseline scenario. 

A form of renewable energy sourced from the combustion of recently living organic materials. 

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released when recently living organic matter (such as trees) is burned. 

A carbon credit is a tradeable certificate that represents a specific amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and permits the owner of the credit to emit that given amount of carbon dioxide. 

The sum of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and greenhouse gas removals in a system expressed as carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents. 

To be carbon negative is to remove more carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere than emitted. 

A state of net-zero carbon emissions, such as by removing as much carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as is emitted. Can be used at the product, brand, corporate, and process levels. 

The quantified compensation of a specific value of carbon emissions through avoided emissions or carbon capture. 

The process of removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Two major natural forms of carbon sequestration are biologic (i.e. through vegetation) and geologic (i.e. through geologic pressures that produce coal and oil). 

Any sort of reservoir that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases. Wetlands are prominent natural carbon sinks. 

Any set of technologies that reduce environmental harm compared to their conventional product/tech, such as through energy-efficient processes. 

Phenomenon of an increase in temperature, observed since the 1950s, due to an imbalance between the energy provided by solar radiation and the energy returned by the Earth’s system. 

Taking steps to curb the impacts of climate change, such as by reducing and/or stabilizing emissions in the atmosphere. 

Funding at the local, national or transnational levels, sourced from public, private and alternative channels, with the goal of supporting initiatives for both mitigating and adapting to climate change.

A state in which human activities result in net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including carbon. 

Risks that arise from the physical impacts of Climate Change. Climate physical risks are categorized as acute or chronic. 
-Acute risks occur in a single event, such as severe storms, tornados, etc.
-Chronic risks included long-term, ongoing impacts, such as rising temperatures and invasive species expansion.

An entity’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate disturbances. 

Risks inherent to changing policies and strategies associated with low-carbon solutions. 

An evaluation product that identifies and describes risks, impacts, and opportunities related to climate change specific to the work of a given organization. 

Goals set by a corporation to minimize the impact on the climate. Targets may include a variety of climate forcers across different corporate activities (i.e., operations, value chain, or products) and may use various methods including emissions abatement, compensation, or neutralization. 

A Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) modeling pathway to “net-zero” which calculates the removal of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (other than carbon dioxide) in the energy supply, transport, industry and buildings sectors. 

The reduction or elimination of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with electricity, industry, and transport. 

When two different parties claim the same carbon removal or reduction credit (e.g. an offset developer in country A sells a credit to company B, but country A has already claimed that credit). In carbon accounting, the term may also refer to the double-entry of the same greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  

This is the case when all companies reduce their absolute emissions or economic emissions intensity at the same rate.

An increase in a given country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to a company’s movement from a country with a strict climate policy to one with a lenient climate policy. 

The technological process of speeding natural weathering by spreading large quantities of finely ground rock material onto land or in the ocean; the accelerated weathering removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere during its natural process. 

Fuels formed from once-living things that have fossilized over millions of years under geologic pressures, usually stored deep in geologic zones; comprised of hydrocarbons that can be burned to produce heat or power. The major fossil fuels are coal, oil and natural gas. 

A renewable source of energy that comes from hot water or steam from the earth. 

List of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions sources used to track changes over time. 

Most widely recognized and utilized method for greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting. 

An entity’s process of publicly disclosing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

Also called the global carbon budget, refers to the total emissions limit to curb global temperature rise by a specified amount and probability. Emissions budgets can be determined for carbon dioxide (CO2) only or all greenhouse gases (GHGs).

The capacity of a greenhouse gas to impact radiative forcing, expressed as a reference substance and specified time horizon. It pertains to the potential to induce changes in the global average surgace-air temperature, leading to subsequent changes in various climate factors and their associated effects, such as storm frequency and intensity, rainfall patterns and flooding frequency.

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.