Climate change adaptation refers to actions that reduce the vulnerability of people, ecosystems, and infrastructure to the current or expected impacts of climate change, such as extreme events, natural disasters, sea-level rise, biodiversity loss, and food and water insecurity.

It involves adjusting natural and human systems to changes resulting from global warming through measures that mitigate harm and take advantage of beneficial opportunities. These actions seek to make societies and ecosystems more resilient to the effects of climate change that are already underway, such as droughts and floods. It therefore involves adapting to changes that are already occurring, while their effects can be minimized through planning and action.

The Adaptation Committee (AC) was established in 2010 as part of the Cancun Adaptation Framework to promote the implementation of enhanced action on adaptation under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The AC’s activities include providing technical support and guidance to Parties; sharing relevant information, knowledge, experience, and good practices; promoting synergy and strengthening engagement with national, regional, and international organizations, centres, and networks; identifying ways to encourage the implementation of adaptation actions, including finance, technology, and capacity-building; and considering information communicated by Parties on their monitoring and review.

Much of the AC’s work is collaborative; one example is the task force on National Adaptation Plans (NAP taskforce), which serves as the panel within the AC that continuously examines issues related to NAPs.

The Adaptation Fund (AF) is a mechanism created to finance adaptation projects and programmes in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Unlike other funds that prioritize emissions reductions (mitigation), the AF focuses exclusively on measures to increase resilience and reduce vulnerabilities, such as building flood defences or resilient agricultural systems.

Although originally established in 2001 under the Kyoto Protocol, it was formally integrated into the Paris Agreement architecture to serve its objectives. In particular, it supports the Global Goal on Adaptation defined in Article 7 of the Paris Agreement, which seeks to enhance adaptive capacity worldwide.

Acronym for Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use. A sector encompassing greenhouse gas emissions and removals related to agriculture, forests, and other land uses. It includes activities such as livestock production, crop cultivation, deforestation, reforestation, and soil management, and is one of the main components of emissions in Global South countries.

Acronym for African Group of Negotiators. It was created in 1995 during COP1 (Berlin, Germany) and is composed of 54 African countries that work together to represent the continent’s common interests in international climate change negotiations. The African Group aims to ensure that Africa’s priorities — such as climate finance, adaptation, mitigation, capacity-building, and loss and damage — are effectively addressed in global climate agreements.

The Independent Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC) is a coalition of eight Latin American and Caribbean countries that share interests and positions on climate change in international climate negotiations. Founded in 2012 at COP18 in Doha, AILAC seeks to develop coordinated and ambitious positions that contribute to balanced multilateral climate negotiations, guided by a vision consistent with sustainable development and responsibility toward the environment and future generations.

The BASIC Group is a coalition of four major emerging economies — Brazil, South Africa, India, and China — that coordinate their positions in climate negotiations. Formed in 2009, the political bloc seeks to reconcile the interests of developing and developed countries, emphasizing the need to protect the growth space of emerging economies.

BRICS is an economic and political grouping that held its first summit in 2009. The group currently has 11 member countries and 10 partner countries.

Member countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia (has not yet formalized its accession), South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

Partner countries: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

Although it was not created to discuss climate issues, BRICS has gained increasing relevance in this area. The group accounts for 39% of global GDP, 48.5% of the world’s population, 24% of international trade, 51% of global fossil fuel production, and nearly 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions — not including partner countries.

The BRICS Policy Center’s Socio-Environmental Platform brings together detailed studies on the climate ambition of the group’s countries, available on our website.

Acronym for Biennial Transparency Report. Parties to the Paris Agreement are required to submit these reports every two years; they must include information on national inventory reports, progress toward Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), policies and measures, impacts and adaptation, levels of financial support, technology development, transfer, and adaptation, capacity-building needs, and areas for improvement.

An economic mechanism designed to encourage decarbonization in the public and private sectors through the pricing of greenhouse gas emissions. The system is based on transactions in tradable units — such as credits, quotas, or allowances — between different actors around the world. By technical definition, each unit traded is equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) avoided, reduced, or removed from the atmosphere.

The generation of these assets depends on methodologies and certification standards that vary according to the nature of the project. Their financial valuation in the market is dynamic and is determined by the interaction of supply and demand, the distinction between the regulated market (mandatory by law) and the voluntary market, as well as the type of activity and the year in which the credit was generated, referred to in the sector as its “vintage.”

CO₂ offsetting (carbon offsetting) occurs through financial mechanisms that support environmental projects around the world. Under these schemes, individuals, companies, and even countries can invest in initiatives (such as forest-carbon projects) to purchase credits for avoided carbon emissions and thereby balance or “neutralize” their own emissions.

Carbon removal may also be referred to as carbon capture or carbon sequestration. It occurs through technological mechanisms and practices for removing CO₂ from the atmosphere. There are two main types of sequestration: biological and geological.

Biological carbon sequestration is the natural process through which trees and other plants absorb CO₂ during photosynthesis and store it in their biomass and in soils. Geological sequestration, by contrast, is part of the carbon capture and storage (CCS) process, which consists of injecting CO₂ underground and preventing its release into the atmosphere.

A carbon sink is a natural or artificial system that absorbs more CO₂ from the atmosphere than it emits, thereby contributing to climate regulation. The main natural sinks are forests, oceans, and soils, which capture the gas through processes such as photosynthesis and the storage of organic matter.

When the LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry) sector is classified as a carbon sink in a country’s emissions profile, it means that the sector removes more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits.

Acronym for Convention on Biological Diversity. It is a United Nations treaty established during the well-known ECO-92 — the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 — and is one of the most important international instruments related to the environment. A total of 195 countries plus the European Union signed and ratified the Convention.

The Convention is structured around three main pillars: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of biodiversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of energy resources. In this context, biodiversity is addressed at the levels of ecosystems, species, and genetic resources.

The Convention encompasses everything directly or indirectly related to biodiversity and thus functions as a kind of legal and political framework for several other, more specific environmental conventions and agreements, such as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety; the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture; the Bonn Guidelines; the Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development; the Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines for the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity; the Guidelines for the Prevention, Control and Eradication of Invasive Alien Species; the Principles and Guidelines of the Ecosystem Approach to Biodiversity Management; and others. The Convention also initiated negotiations on an International Regime on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-Sharing arising from such access; established thematic work programmes; and led to various cross-cutting initiatives.

Acronym for the principle of Common, But Differentiated Responsibilities, a foundational principle of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The principle was formalized during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as Eco-92, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. It is mentioned in Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 4, paragraph 1, of the UNFCCC.

CBDR recognizes that all States share a common obligation to address environmental and climate degradation, but establishes that this responsibility is not the same for all, taking into account the different capacities and circumstances of each country. The principle reflects the historical disparity in economic development and greenhouse gas emissions between developed and developing countries, since the former emitted larger volumes of these gases over a longer period. For this reason, CBDR is grounded in a principle of historical responsibility.

The principle was later expanded to CBDR-RC by adding the expression “in light of their respective capabilities”. This update reinforces the notion that, in addition to differentiated responsibilities, each country has different capacities to contribute fairly and proportionately to addressing the climate crisis.

Acronym for Certified Emission Reductions. These are carbon credits issued to Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects under the rules of the Kyoto Protocol. Each CER represents the reduction or removal of 1 metric tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) from the atmosphere.

Climate ambition refers to the set of targets, commitments, policies, and strategies that countries define to address the climate crisis — both by reducing emissions (mitigation) and by adapting to impacts that are already unavoidable (adaptation). Under the Paris Agreement (2015), these ambitions are expressed through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).At the Global South Climate Ambition Observatory, the monitoring and analysis of these ambitions are organized into seven main thematic areas, which are explored in more detail on the About page.

Climate risk is the likelihood that an event or change in the climate will cause negative impacts. It results from the combination of three factors: climate hazard, meaning the possibility that an event such as a flood, drought, or heatwave will occur; exposure, meaning the presence of people, homes, economic activities, or ecosystems in areas that may be affected; and vulnerability, meaning the degree of sensitivity and the capacity (or difficulty) to protect oneself and adapt to the impacts. The greater these three factors, the greater the climate risk.

The degree to which a system — whether social, economic, or environmental — is susceptible to or unable to cope with the adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extreme events. Vulnerability is analysed in relation to physical phenomena, but also, and especially, to pre-existing social and economic conditions that determine the impact of those phenomena.

Conceptually, it is the result of the equation between exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity.

The CMA (Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement) is the supreme body that oversees implementation of the Paris Agreement, bringing signatories together annually to make decisions, assess emissions targets, and promote effective climate action. Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that are not Parties to the Paris Agreement may participate in the CMA as observers, but without the right to take decisions. The CMA’s functions in relation to the Paris Agreement are similar to those performed by the COP for the UNFCCC.

Carbon equivalent (or carbon dioxide equivalent).

CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) is a unit of measurement adopted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to aggregate all types of greenhouse gases and standardize emissions information.

Thus, any greenhouse gas emissions — whether from a country or a company — are calculated in CO₂e. Each gas has a global warming potential expressed in CO₂-equivalent terms. For example, one tonne of methane (CH₄) represents 28 CO₂e. In other words, the effect of CH₄ in the atmosphere is 28 times greater than that of one tonne of CO₂.

The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the UNFCCC. All States that are Parties to the Convention are represented at the COP, where they review and take the decisions necessary to implement the Convention and any other legal instruments adopted by the COP.

One of the COP’s main tasks is to review the national communications and emissions inventories submitted by Parties. Based on this information, the COP assesses the effects of the measures taken by Parties and the progress achieved toward the Convention’s ultimate objective.

The COP meets annually unless the Parties decide otherwise. The first COP meeting was held in Berlin, Germany, in 1995.

Constituencies are the thematic groups of non-governmental organizations that follow the Climate Convention negotiations. These groups bring together civil-society organizations on the basis of shared interests, profiles, or areas of activity.

The UNFCCC recognizes nine constituencies: BINGO (Business and Industry NGOs), which brings together non-profit associations linked to businesses and industries; ENGO (Environmental NGOs), made up of environmental organizations; Farmers, which includes organizations of farmers, livestock producers, and rural workers; IPO (Indigenous Peoples Organizations), composed of Indigenous peoples’ organizations; LGMA (Local Governments and Municipal Authorities), which brings together local governments and municipal authorities; RINGO (Research and Independent NGOs), which brings together academic, scientific, and independent research organizations; TUNGO (Trade Union NGOs), made up of trade-union organizations; WGC (Women and Gender Constituency), focused on women’s rights and gender justice; and YOUNGO (Children and Youth NGOs), which brings together children’s and youth organizations.

The process of progressively reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide (CO₂), in sectors such as energy, transport, and industry. It involves replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources, increasing energy efficiency, and changing production and consumption patterns.

A process of structural transformation of global energy mixes aimed at replacing systems based on fossil fuels (carbon-intensive) with low- or zero-carbon energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass, hydropower, and green hydrogen. The energy transition involves profound changes in infrastructure, energy storage, consumption patterns, and regulatory governance. In the context of the Paris Agreement, it is the main driver for achieving net zero (net-zero emissions) by mid-century, seeking to decouple economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions.

Acronym for Enhanced Transparency Framework. It is the central system of the Paris Agreement establishing international procedures for countries to report, review, and assess progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and in climate adaptation actions.

The ETF rules require countries to report their GHG emissions in detail, enabling monitoring of whether the objective of keeping the increase in global average temperature “well below 2°C” is being met.

Acronym for the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Energy Transition Index. The index analyses 120 countries and measures each country’s capacity to advance its energy transition by assessing the performance of the national energy system (considering security, equity, and sustainability) and the level of transition readiness, which encompasses factors such as infrastructure, policies, and availability of capital.

Acronym for Emissions Trading System. A market-based emissions-trading system that sets a maximum limit (cap) on emissions from certain sectors or companies. Emissions allowances are allocated under the cap and can be traded, creating an economic incentive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Acronym for Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. It is an operating entity within the UNFCCC financial framework that seeks to address the growing needs of vulnerable communities in developing countries facing the irreversible impacts of climate change.

The Fund mobilizes financial resources through government contributions and partnerships with the private sector to finance initiatives aimed at recovering from climate-related loss and damage and enabling communities to rebuild and adapt.

The Group of 77 + China is the largest political negotiating bloc in the UNFCCC, forming a coalition of virtually all developing countries. It is regarded as the “voice of the Global South” in international deliberations.

Founded by 77 countries in 1964 in the context of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the group now operates throughout the United Nations system (including the UNFCCC) and currently has 135 members and one observer country.

Acronym for Global Goal on Adaptation. It is a collective commitment linked to Article 7.1 of the Paris Agreement, established with the aim of “enhancing the world’s adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change.” Proposed by the African Group of Negotiators in 2013 and established in 2015, the goal is intended to function as a unifying framework capable of driving political action and finance for adaptation on the same scale as is already occurring for mitigation measures.

The GGA seeks to enable timely, scalable, and context-specific adaptation action. It recognizes that countries face different climate impacts and vulnerabilities, and encourages solutions tailored to local contexts and the specific needs of vulnerable people.

Acronym for greenhouse gases. These gases are capable of retaining heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change. The main ones include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), ozone (O₃), sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), and various substances belonging to the chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), perfluorocarbon (PFC), and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) families.

The term Global South refers to a set of countries that share trajectories marked by economic inequalities, legacies of colonization or external dependence, and less influence over the dynamics of the international system. Although the concept is not limited to geographic location, since many of these countries are situated at different latitudes, it has a political-historical dimension: it highlights how these nations have been systematically marginalized in development processes and in the decisions that have shaped the world order. A fuller explanation of the concept and the reasons these countries were chosen as the focus of this Observatory is available on the Global South Context page.

The Global Stocktake (GST) is a process for assessing worldwide progress in implementing the Paris Agreement. This assessment takes place every five years and is carried out three years after a round of updates to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), based on the NDCs submitted by each country that is a signatory to the international agreement.

The first Global Stocktake took place during COP28 in 2023, and its results contributed to countries revising their ambitions as they prepared the newest NDCs — the so-called NDCs 3.0 — for which the final submission deadline was September 2025.

Acronym for Intended Nationally Determined Contribution. iNDCs were the initial proposals for climate targets and commitments that each country submitted before the Paris Agreement entered into force.

The Paris Agreement was approved in 2015, reached the necessary number of signatory countries in 2016, and had its targets implemented from 2020 onward. After ratification, iNDCs were converted into NDCs.

Acronym for Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It is the United Nations body responsible for assessing scientific evidence related to climate change. The IPCC was created to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments of climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as to present options for adaptation and mitigation.

Through its assessments, the IPCC determines the state of knowledge in the field. It identifies where there is consensus in the scientific community on climate-related topics and where further research is needed. The reports are prepared and reviewed in several stages, with the aim of ensuring objectivity and transparency.

Acronym for Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcome. An ITMO is a unit representing greenhouse gas emissions reductions or removals traded between countries under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. It functions as a carbon credit that allows the purchasing country to meet its climate targets by financing emissions-reduction projects in the host country.

Acronym for Just Energy Transition Partnerships. These are models of international financial cooperation created to support emerging economies that are heavily dependent on fossil fuels — especially coal — in transitioning to renewable energy sources. What distinguishes these partnerships is their focus on social justice, ensuring that vulnerable communities, mining-sector workers, and low-income households receive socioeconomic support and are not marginalized during the decarbonization process. JETPs are currently financed by the International Partners Group (IPG), composed mainly of G7 countries and international financial institutions, with active projects in countries such as South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Senegal.

Acronym for Just Transition Work Programme. A mechanism established at COP27 (Sharm el-Sheikh) and operationalized at COP28 to discuss, coordinate, and promote just-transition strategies at the global level. The JTWP focuses on creating pathways that integrate mitigation and adaptation targets with social protection, poverty eradication, and the protection of workers’ rights. Unlike purely technical approaches, this work programme emphasizes the importance of social dialogue and the inclusion of all sectors of society to ensure that the shift toward low-emission economies is equitable and does not exacerbate existing inequalities.

A process of moving toward environmentally sustainable economies in an inclusive manner, aimed at creating decent work opportunities, reducing inequalities, and ensuring that no one is left behind. A just transition seeks to maximize the social and economic benefits of climate action while minimizing and strategically managing structural challenges. The concept is based on effective social dialogue, respect for fundamental principles and rights at work, and compliance with international labour standards (ILO).

An international treaty adopted in 1997 and in force since 2005 that operationalizes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Unlike the Convention, which only encourages mitigation policies, the Kyoto Protocol established legally binding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions-reduction targets for industrialized countries and economies in transition. The treaty is based on the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), assigning a greater burden to developed nations because of their historical responsibility for emissions accumulated in the atmosphere.

In Annex B, the Protocol set targets requiring an average reduction in emissions of 5% below 1990 levels during the first commitment period (2008—2012). It currently has 192 Parties.

Although the Kyoto Protocol has not been revoked, its target cycle ended in 2020. The Paris Agreement is its functional successor, inheriting its institutional architecture (such as the UNFCCC) while extending mitigation responsibility to all nations and modernizing market mechanisms.

Acronym for Least Developed Countries Group. A negotiating bloc composed of 44 nations located in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. The group acts in a coordinated manner at United Nations climate conferences with the aim of ensuring a fair and ambitious global response to climate change. Because these countries have historically contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions while at the same time being the most vulnerable to their impacts, their priorities include climate finance, technology transfer, and support for adaptation and action to address loss and damage.

Acronym for Like-Minded Developing Countries. A negotiating bloc made up of approximately 24 developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Consolidated after COP13 (2007) and the Bali Action Plan, the group operates as a coalition within the G77+China. Its main characteristic is its uncompromising defence of the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), emphasizing that developed countries must take historical leadership in reducing emissions and providing climate finance, while developing countries retain their right to sustainable development and poverty eradication.

A term referring to the negative impacts of climate change that exceed the adaptive capacity of societies and ecosystems. It encompasses both extreme weather events (such as hurricanes and floods) and slow onset events, such as sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and desertification. The concept was formalized by the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) at COP19 and later enshrined in Article 8 of the Paris Agreement.

Actions on Loss and Damage are structured around three pillars: (1) Avert: through mitigation measures (emissions reductions); (2) Minimize: through proactive adaptation measures; and (3) Address: when damage has already occurred, involving financial support, reconstruction, and rehabilitation.

Acronyms for Long-Term Strategies or Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategies. The Paris Agreement establishes that countries should submit plans to decarbonize their economies by mid-century (2050). All plans submitted to the UNFCCC are available on the Long-term strategies portal on the Convention’s website.

Acronym for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry.

This sector refers to greenhouse gas emissions and removals resulting from human activities related to the use and management of land, forests, and other land areas. It covers activities such as the management of cropland, grassland, forests, and settlements, as well as land-use changes, including tree planting (afforestation and reforestation), deforestation, and burning. These actions may result in greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere — as in the case of deforestation — or in the removal of these gases through photosynthesis, the process by which forests absorb carbon from the atmosphere.

Climate change mitigation refers to actions undertaken by governments, companies, and society to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions, as well as to expand carbon sinks (natural or artificial processes capable of removing these gases from the atmosphere).

Emissions can be reduced through the transition to renewable and low-carbon energy sources; increased energy efficiency; the adoption of low- or zero-carbon modes of transport; and the promotion of sustainable practices in agriculture, land use, and production and consumption patterns.

Expanding carbon sinks involves actions such as reforestation, the restoration of forests, wetlands, and mangroves, maintaining soil health, and protecting terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

Acronym for Mitigation Work Program. An initiative established during COP26 (Glasgow) with the purpose of urgently scaling up ambition and the implementation of mitigation measures to maintain the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Operational from 2023 to 2026, the programme consists of at least two global dialogues per year and investment-focused events. The MWP seeks to overcome technical and financial barriers by promoting the exchange of experience and the identification of sectoral opportunities (transport, for example) from the perspective of a just energy transition.

Acronym for National Adaptation Plans.

The process for preparing NAPs was established during the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, with the aim of enabling Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and other developing countries to identify their medium- and long-term adaptation needs and develop strategies and programmes to address them.

The main objectives of the NAP process are to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change by strengthening adaptive capacity and resilience, and to integrate adaptation coherently into development policies, programmes, and plans across all relevant sectors and at different levels of governance.

National adaptation plans prepared by developing countries are communicated and submitted to the UNFCCC through the NAP Central platform.

Nature-based solutions (NbS) refer to actions aimed at protecting, sustainably managing, and restoring natural or modified ecosystems in order to address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, while at the same time generating benefits for human well-being and biodiversity.

The concept is grounded in the relationship between biodiversity conservation, ecosystem integrity, and human well-being. Ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss can undermine ecosystem services - such as climate regulation, water availability, and soil fertility - and, consequently, affect people’s living conditions.

The term has been adopted by a wide range of actors, including countries, international organizations and forums, companies, and local governments. At the same time, the concept has been criticized for its broad scope and lack of precision, which may allow for different interpretations and uses. One of the main concerns is the risk that NbS may be instrumentalized for greenwashing practices, particularly when nature-based solutions are presented as alternatives to reducing greenhouse gas emissions at source or to effectively protecting biodiversity. From this perspective, Friends of the Earth International warns in its report “Nature-based Solutions: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” that the concept may obscure the structural causes of the climate and biodiversity crises and distract from the need to reduce emissions and protect, conserve, and restore ecosystems.

The BRICS Policy Center’s Socio-Environmental Platform has published two works on the topic, both in Portuguese: Governança global de diversidade biológica e de clima e o conceito de soluções baseadas na natureza, and, in partnership with FES Brazil, the publication Que solução é essa? Uma análise das soluções baseadas na natureza na pós-COP 26.

The New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG) was one of the main outcomes of the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29).

The goal establishes at least US$300 billion per year by 2035 to support climate action in developing countries, with developed countries taking the lead in mobilizing these resources. This amount may come from various public and private sources, and the text also encourages voluntary participation by other countries, including developing countries.

In addition, the NCQG calls on all actors — public and private — to scale up climate finance to reach US$1.3 trillion per year by 2035.

The NCQG updates the commitment made in 2009 during COP15 (in Copenhagen), when developed countries committed to mobilize US$100 billion annually for developing countries. It also incorporates this commitment into the Paris Agreement framework.

Despite this, the NCQG has been criticized, especially by developing countries. The main points include the lack of greater clarity regarding the responsibility of developed countries, the absence of emphasis on public and non-concessional finance (that does not increase indebtedness), and the lack of a more precise definition of what may be considered climate finance, leaving room for broad interpretations.

Acronym for Nationally Determined Contributions. NDCs are the voluntary targets and commitments that each country submits to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.

Established by the Paris Agreement, all signatory nations must submit their NDCs, update them periodically — every five years — and ensure a progression in climate ambition, meaning that each new target should be more ambitious than the previous one.

These targets are fundamental to fulfilling the Paris Agreement and achieving the global objective of limiting the increase in the planet’s average temperature to 1.5°C—2°C by the end of the century.

Negotiating groups in the UNFCCC are coalitions of countries formed to align positions, strengthen negotiating power, and represent common interests in climate discussions. There are currently 16 official groups in the Convention’s negotiating process. The main ones include the G77+China — which brings together developing countries — the European Union, AOSIS (which represents small island States), and the African Group (AGN).

The result of total greenhouse gas emissions after subtracting removals by sinks such as forests and carbon-capture technologies. When net emissions are equal to zero, climate neutrality is said to have been achieved.

A term referring to climate neutrality, or net-zero emissions. Net zero is the condition in which the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activity is equal to the amount removed from (or offset in) the atmosphere through other actions.

The concept of net-zero emissions is subject to criticism and is sometimes referred to as “net omissions.” This is because a commitment to climate neutrality does not necessarily imply a real and significant reduction in emissions, but merely achieving a balance between what is emitted and what is offset. The focus therefore shifts away from how much is emitted and toward how much can be balanced.

Acronym for Non-Market Approaches. Defined by Article 6.8 of the Paris Agreement, which establishes mechanisms to facilitate implementation of climate targets (NDCs) through instruments that do not involve trading carbon credits. Unlike asset markets, NMAs seek to promote mitigation and adaptation through voluntary cooperation, public-policy coordination, technology transfer, and financial capacity-building.

NMAs focus on areas in which traditional markets are often insufficient, such as integrated water resources management, energy efficiency, the circular economy, and reductions in fossil-fuel subsidies. The objective is to create synergies among different actors to strengthen climate resilience without creating dependence on commercial transactions.

Acronym for Overall Mitigation in Global Emissions. A concept established under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement requiring carbon-market mechanisms to generate a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere rather than merely offsetting emissions from one place to another. In practice, OMGE determines that a fixed percentage (currently set at 2%) of the carbon credits generated by a project must be automatically cancelled at the time of issuance. These cancelled credits cannot be used by any country or entity to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), ensuring that this reduction effort benefits the global climate exclusively.

Acronym for Paris Agreement Committee to Facilitate Implementation and Promote Compliance. A mechanism established by Article 15 of the Paris Agreement with the dual function of facilitating implementation of the treaty’s guidelines and monitoring compliance with the obligations undertaken by Parties. The committee is composed of experts and operates according to non-contentious (non-adversarial) and non-punitive principles, meaning that its work is not intended to resolve legal disputes or impose sanctions and penalties. Instead, PAICC works transparently to identify obstacles and provide technical support, always taking into account national capacities and the specific circumstances of each country, particularly developing nations.

The most recent legally binding international treaty on climate change was adopted in 2015, during the 21st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21). The agreement was approved by 195 Parties on 12 December 2015, entered into force on 4 November 2016, and began to be implemented from 2020 onward.

Its main objective is to keep the increase in the global average temperature well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. This limit is considered essential by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as exceeding it may intensify extreme events such as droughts, heatwaves, and heavy rainfall.

The Paris Agreement operates in five-year cycles, during which countries must submit their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Each new NDC must represent a higher level of ambition than the previous one.

The treaty also reaffirms that developed countries should take the lead in providing climate finance to developing and vulnerable countries, while encouraging voluntary contributions from other Parties.

Collective progress in implementing the Paris Agreement is assessed every five years through the Global Stocktake.

Acronym for Subsidiary Bodies. These are permanent structures established to provide technical, scientific, and operational support to the UNFCCC’s decision-making bodies (COP, CMP, and CMA). There are two main bodies that meet annually (usually in June in Bonn, Germany).

The SBSTA (Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice): Its function is to provide information and advice on science, technology, and methodologies for climate negotiations.

And the SBI (Subsidiary Body for Implementation): It focuses on assessing and reviewing implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol, addressing issues such as transparency, finance, and capacity-building.

Acronym for Sector Emission Target. An emissions target established for a specific sector of the economy, such as energy, transport, or agriculture. These targets guide public policies and decarbonization strategies, contributing to the achievement of national climate commitments.

A branch of forest science that applies biological and technical principles to the establishment, management, and regeneration of forest stands. Its objective is to reconcile economic demand for resources (such as timber, biomass, and pulp) with the provision of ecosystem services. In the context of climate change, silviculture plays a strategic role both in mitigation — through carbon sequestration in planted and native forests — and in adaptation, by restoring degraded landscapes and increasing the resilience of biomes.

The practice encompasses everything from genetic improvement of seeds and soil nutrient management to complex harvesting and restoration systems, and may be applied in commercial monocultures or in Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) systems.

The SUR Group, formerly known as the ABU Group, is a negotiating group within the UNFCCC. It mainly represents Latin American countries, specifically those with similar positions on climate-change issues.

The Group was formally established in 2006 during COP12 (Nairobi, Kenya) to strengthen coordination and solidarity among Latin American countries. It is currently composed of Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Acronym for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The UNFCCC is an international treaty adopted in 1992 that entered into force in 1994, with the objective of coordinating global responses specifically to climate change. The Convention seeks to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere in order to avoid “dangerous human interference” with the climate. The UNFCCC is currently the main international forum for climate negotiations and cooperation, bringing together 198 States Parties.

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