Glossary of Terms
Glossary of Terms
|
Term |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Baseline Emissions Inventory (BEI) |
The sum and categorisation of the total greenhouse gas emissions accounted for in your area in a given year. This is the year against which future progress is compared. |
|
Baseline year |
This is the year in which the BEI was calculated, with which future progress in emissions reductions is compared. |
|
Biodiversity |
The variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat, a high level of which is usually considered to be important and desirable. |
|
Carbon sequestration |
The uptake and storage of carbon. Trees and plants, for example, absorb carbon dioxide, release the oxygen and store the carbon. |
|
Climate adaptation |
The process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects in order to moderate harm or take advantages of beneficial opportunities. |
|
Climate hazard |
Extreme weather events or natural disasters that are primarily caused by climate-related factors. They can cause harm to human health, livelihoods or natural resources. |
|
Climate mitigation |
The process of reducing climate change which involves reducing the flow of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere either by reducing the sources of these gases or enhancing the sinks that accumulate and store these gases. |
|
Climate neutrality |
The idea of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by balancing those emissions so they are equal to or less than the emissions that get removed through the planet’s natural absorption. This reduction of emissions would occur through climate action. |
| Climate resilience | Climate resilience is the capacity of a system, whether physical, social or ecological, to absorb and respond to climate change and by implementing effective adaptation planning and sustainable development (including governance and institutional design) to reduce the negative climate impacts while also taking advantage of any positive outcomes. This will allow the system to either return to its previous state or to adapt to a new state as quickly as possible. |
|
Climate Risk Assessment |
A process for identifying and evaluating the potential impacts of climate change on various sectors and activities. |
|
Decarbonisation Zone (or decarbonising zone) |
A spatial area identified by the local authority. It is an area in which a range of climate mitigation measures can co-exist to address local low carbon energy, greenhouse gas emissions and climate needs. |
| Environmental sustainability |
Protecting and preserving natural resources for future generations, through practices such as conservation, renewable energy and responsible waste management – ensures we are living with the means of your natural resources and not breaching replenishment rates. |
|
Evidence-based |
An approach that emphasises the practical application of the findings of the best available current research. |
|
Extreme weather events |
A time and place in which weather, climate, or environmental conditions rank above a threshold value near the upper or lower ends of the range of historical events. |
|
Greenhouse gas emissions |
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) trap solar energy and prevent the sun’s energy from bouncing back into space thus creating the greenhouse effect. The main GHG emissions are water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities compound the greenhouse effect, contributing to climate change. |
|
Local Authority Climate Action Plan (LACAP) |
Plans to help local authorities address in an integrated way the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and climate adaptation. Under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, each local authority is required to prepare a local authority climate action plan for its respective administrative area. Once adopted by the local councils, each plan will be valid for five years and is subject to update at least every five years. |
| LULUCF |
Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry is a category of GHG emissions and covers the following sub-categories; Forest land, Cropland, Grassland, Wetlands, Settlements, Other land and Harvested Wood products. Across the EU-27 the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector has been a net sink for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, primarily due to extensive forest cover. Ireland’s LULUCF sector is currently a net source of emissions, and emissions reductions for this sector are set to become increasingly challenging, as the age profile of the forest stock matures and harvesting levels increase in line with projected forecasts. |
| Paris Agreement |
A legally binding international treaty on climate change agreed in 2015 at UNFCCC’s COP21. |
Abbreviations
|
Abbreviation |
Term |
|---|---|
| AA | Appropriate Assessment |
| AT | Active Travel |
|
BEI |
Baseline Emission Inventory |
| BER | Building Energy Rating |
|
CAP |
Climate Action Plan |
|
CARO |
Climate Action Regional Office |
| CCMA | County and City Management Association |
| CCRA | Climate Change Risk Assessment |
|
CO2 |
Carbon Dioxide |
| DAFM | Department of Agriculture Food and Marine |
| DECA | Delivering Effective Climate Action 2030 |
| DECC | Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
| DHLGH | Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
|
DZ |
Decarbonisation Zone |
|
EU |
European Union |
| EV | Electric Vehicle |
|
GCC |
Galway County Council |
|
GHG |
Greenhouse gas |
|
KPI |
Key Performance Indicator |
|
ktCO2e |
Kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents |
| IPCC |
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |
| ISO |
International Organisation for Standardisation |
|
LACAP |
Local Authority Climate Action Plan |
| LAWPRO |
Local Authority Water Programme |
| LEO | Local Enterprise Office |
| LGMA |
Local Government Management Agency |
| LULUCF |
Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry |
| M and R |
Monitoring and Recording |
| NAF |
National Adaptation Framework |
| NBS |
Nature Based Solutions |
| NPWS |
National Parks and Wildlife Service |
| NTA |
National Transport Authority |
| OPW | Office of Public Works |
| PPN |
Public Participation Network |
| PV |
Photovoltaic |
| SDG |
Sustainable Development Goals |
| SEA |
Strategic Environmental Assessment |
|
SEAI |
Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland |
|
SPC |
Strategic Policy Committee |
| SUDS |
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems |
| UG | University Galway |
|
UN |
United Nations |
| ZEVI |
Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland |