Glossary

AAU

Assigned Amount Unit, emission allowance assigned to industrialised countries prior to the start of the commitment period based on their emission caps and emission reduction targets.

AIJ

Activities Implemented Jointly, the pilot phase of the CDM and JI mechanisms.

Additionality

Additionality, the criterion of additionality of emission reductions is a prerequisite for the approval of CDM/JI projects.

Annex B State

Countries listed in Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol who have adopted a greenhouse gas emissions target. The list of Annex B states is largely identical with the list of Annex I states.

Annex I State

Countries listed in Annex I of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. For the most part, these are the industrialised nations of the OECD and Eastern Europe. Non-Annex I states are thus the developing countries.

BMU

Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit (German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety)

Baseline

Estimated emissions in the reference scenario.

CDM

Clean Development Mechanism

CDM Executive Board (EB)

The CDM EB monitors implementation of CDM projects.

CER

Certified Emission Reduction, the type of emission reduction certificate generated by CDM projects.

CO₂

Carbon dioxide.

CO₂e

Carbon dioxide equivalent.

COP

Conference of the Parties, the annual conference of the parties to the UNFCCC.

COP/MOP

Conference of the Parties serving as a Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol, the annual conference of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol.

DFP

Designated Focal Point, the competent national authority in the approval of JI projects.

DNA

Designated National Authority, the competent national authority in the approval of CDM projects.

DOE

Designated Operational Entity, an independent auditor accredited by the CDM Executive Board to assess eligibility and compliance of CDM projects with the prescribed criteria.

Domestic Offset Project

A domestic offset project is a climate change project conducted in an industrialised country without the involvement of a foreign project partner.

ERU

Emission Reduction Unit, the type of emission reduction certificate generated by JI projects.

EU

European Union.

EU Allowance

An emissions permit issued under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

EU Emissions Trading Directive

Directive establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emissions allowance trading with the EU.

EU Linking Directive

Directive regulating the integration of the CDM and JI project-based mechanisms into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

IE

Independent Entity, an accredited entity which assesses eligibility and compliance of JI projects with the prescribed criteria.

JI

Joint Implementation.

JI Coordination Unit (JIKO)

Joint Implementation Coordination Unit (JIKO) at the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. The ministry’s contact point for climate change projects conducted using the CDM and JI mechanisms.

Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee (JISC)

Oversees the JI Track 2 process.

Leakage

The increase in greenhouse gas emissions occurring outside project boundaries and which can be traced to the project activity. This leakage must be included in the calculation of the emission reductions achieved or of the amount of carbon stored.

Linking Directive

EU Linking Directive

Monitoring

Documentation of CDM/JI project implementation.

PDD

Project Design Document, the standardised project documentation which CDM/JI project developers must submit when requesting project approval.

ProMechG

Germany’s Project-Based Mechanisms Act transposing the EU Linking Directive into national law.

Project boundary

The project boundary is determined by the project developer and stated in the PDD. It must take in all emission sources that can be directly traced to the project activity.

RMU

Removal Unit, an emissions certificate issued under Article 3.3 and 3.4 for national sink activities in industrialised countries.

SBSTA

Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice, a subsidiary body of the Climate Change Convention which reports to the Conference of the Parties (COP).

Supplementarity

The principle by which states may only cooperate with one another if their activities supplement national measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

TEHG

Germany’s Federal Emissions Trading Act (TEHG), which transposes the EU Emissions Trading Directive into national law.

Track 1

The simplified procedure for JI projects.

Track 2

International procedure for JI projects monitored by the JI Supervisory Committee.

UNFCCC

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

URF

Uniform Reporting Format, a standardised reporting format used for AIJ projects.

WCD

World Commission on Dams, a multi-stakeholder dialogue commissioned by the World Bank to produce criteria for sustainable dam projects.