UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; a 1992 treaty aimed at fighting global warming, with nearly 200 countries involved.
COP: Conference of Parties; an annual summit where countries that signed the UNFCCC treaty meet to discuss climate change. COP29 is being held in Baku.
NCQG: New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance; a funding target for helping developing countries tackle climate change.
NDC: Nationally Determined Contributions; country-specific action plans outlining how each nation will reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts. New plans are due in February.
Global Warming: The long-term rise in Earth's average temperature due to human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels.
Climate Change: Includes global warming and its broader effects, such as extreme weather events.
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs): Gases like methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) that trap heat in the atmosphere, causing global warming. They are produced mainly by burning fossil fuels.
Net Zero: Achieving a balance where no more carbon emissions are released than can be removed through technologies like CO2 capture or tree planting. It doesn't mean no emissions at all.
Loss and Damage: A fund set up to help poorer countries suffering from the impacts of climate disasters. It was pledged $800 million last year.
Carbon Offset: Also called carbon credits; these are investments made by companies or countries to reduce emissions elsewhere to compensate for their own emissions.
Article 6: A provision in the Paris Agreement that deals with carbon markets and offsets, allowing countries to trade carbon credits. The goal is to set up rules for these markets at COP29.
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