The world of sustainability and carbon emissions is filled with abbreviations and acronyms. In this article, we list the most important ones. We will regularly add new ones as we come across them. They are in alphabetical order.
- ACR – American Carbon Registry : A leading carbon offset program founded in 1996 as the world’s first private voluntary GHG registry. It operates in the voluntary and regulated carbon markets/ The ACR Standard details ACR’s requirements and specifications for quantifying, monitoring, and reporting project-based GHG emissions reductions and removals, verification, project registration, and issuance of offsets.
- ADEME – Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Énergie : ADEME stands for “Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Énergie,” which translates to the “Agency for the Environment and Energy Management” in English. ADEME is a French government agency that promotes sustainable development, energy transition, and environmental protection. It operates under the authority of the French Ministry for Ecological Transition and Solidarity.
- CDP – Carbon Disclosure Project : CDP stands for “Carbon Disclosure Project.” CDP is an international, non-profit organisation that operates a global environmental disclosure system. It encourages companies and cities to measure, manage, and disclose their environmental impacts, particularly related to greenhouse gas emissions, climate change mitigation, water usage, and forest conservation.
- CH4 – Methane : Methane is a gas that is lighter than air. Humans produce methane through the combustion of natural gas and coal. Livestock farming is another big source of methane. Methane is among the most potent greenhouse gases.
- CO2 – Carbon Dioxide : Carbon Dioxide is a colourless gas composed of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. It is one of the most important greenhouse gases. It is produced through various natural processes but is also a byproduct of industrial production and transportation processes. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere has been increasing.
- CSRD – Corporate Sustainability Reporting : CSRD stands for Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. It is a term commonly used in the context of sustainability and refers to a directive to enhance corporate transparency and accountability regarding environmental and social aspects of their activities. The CSRD is an initiative by the European Union (EU) that aims to update and strengthen the existing non-financial reporting requirements for companies.
- DBEIS – Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy : DBEIS stands for Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. It is a government department in the United Kingdom responsible for developing and delivering policies related to business, energy, and industrial strategy, including those related to sustainability and climate change.
- EPA – Environmental Protection Agency : This agency is responsible for creating standards and laws that help protect the environment, both natural spaces and human communities, from harmful pollutants and practices. The EPA conducts environmental assessment, research, and education, and it also works to enforce its standards and regulations, often in partnership with state and local governments.
- ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) : These are three key factors investors and other stakeholders use to evaluate corporations and determine the sustainability and societal impact of an investment in a company or business. These factors provide a broader view of a company’s practices and impacts beyond just financial performance. Many investors now consider ESG ratings an important tool for evaluating risk and long-term sustainability.
- ETS – Emissions Trading Scheme : An Emissions Trading Scheme is a market-based approach to controlling greenhouse gas emissions. It is designed to limit the overall emissions of pollutants by limiting the total amount of emissions allowed. Under an ETS, companies or entities that produce emissions are allocated or can purchase permits, known as emission allowances, which represent the right to emit a specific amount of greenhouse gases. These allowances can be bought, sold, or traded among participants in the scheme.
- GHG – Greenhouse Gas : GHG stands for “Greenhouse Gas.” It refers to any gas in the Earth’s atmosphere that can trap heat and contribute to the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming and climate change.The accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere enhances the natural greenhouse effect, causing an increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature and disrupting the climate system.
- GLEC – Global Logistics Emissions Council : The Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) is a partnership of companies, industry associations, and programs working together to develop a framework for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions from logistics activities. GLEC aims to provide consistent and transparent methods for calculating emissions across the global logistics sector
- GRI – Global Reporting Initiative : The GRI is an independent international organisation that has pioneered sustainability reporting since 1997. It helps businesses, governments and other organisations understand and communicate their impacts on issues such as climate change, human rights, and corruption.
- GS – The Gold Standard : The Gold Standard (GS) is a voluntary carbon offset program focused on progressing the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring that projects benefit their neighbouring communities.
- GWP – Global Warming Potential : GWP is a metric used to measure the potential contribution of a substance to global warming over a specific time horizon, usually 100 years. GWP is expressed as a factor relative to carbon dioxide (CO2), which has a GWP of 1.
- HFCs – Hydrofluorocarbons : HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons) are synthetic compounds used as refrigerants, aerosol propellants, and foam-blowing agents. HFCs are considered one of the significant contributors to global warming and are included in the category of high-global-warming-potential (high-GWP) gases.
- NF3 – Nitrogen trifluoride : Nitrogen trifluoride is used as a cleaning agent in the electronics industry. It removes residue and contaminants without damaging the surfaces. It’s also used in the production of semiconductors and photovoltaic cells. It has a significantly higher global warming effect than CO2.
- NBS – Nature-based Solutions : Nature-based solutions (NBS) is the sustainable management and use of natural features and processes to tackle socio-environmental issues. The European Commission’s definition of NBS states that these solutions are “inspired and supported by nature, which are cost-effective, simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience.
- NFRD – Non-Financial Reporting Directive : NFRD stands for “Non-Financial Reporting Directive.” The Non-Financial Reporting Directive is a regulatory framework implemented by the European Union (EU) to enhance corporate transparency and disclosure of non-financial information by certain large companies. The directive requires companies to report on their policies, risks, and performance regarding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters.
- NFSI – Non-Financial and Sustainability Information Statement : The NFSI is a legal requirement in the United Kingdom. The non-financial and sustainability information statement must contain the climate-related financial disclosures of the company, like a description of the company’s governance arrangements for assessing and managing climate-related risks and opportunities and how the company identifies, assesses, and manages climate-related risks and opportunities.
- NOx – Nitric Oxide : NOx is shorthand for Nitric Oxide and Nitrogen Dioxide. These are gases and pollutants that are a result of the combustion of fuels. They contribute to smog and acid rain and affect the ozone layer.
- N2O – Nitrous Oxide : Nitrous Oxide is not as polluting as Nx, but still harms the environment, especially the ozone layer.
- OECD – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development : It is an international organisation that works to build better policies for better lives. Its goal is to shape policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity, and well-being for all. The OECD provides a forum where governments can collaborate to share experiences and seek solutions to common problems.The OECD provides guidance, support, and tools for its member countries to help them align their policy actions with the SDGs.
- PFCs – Perfluorocarbons : Perfluorocarbons are mainly used in the electronics industry, where they are used as heat transfer fluids and coolants. They harm the environment and are potent greenhouse gases.
- SBTi – Science Based Targets initiative : This initiative is a collaboration between the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The SBTi encourages companies to set targets for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions based on the latest scientific consensus about what is necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement — keeping global warming well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.
- SDR – Sustainability Disclosure Requirements : SDR means that UK-based funds and assets that want to market themselves as sustainable must meet a strict set of criteria once it is enforced. These regulations primarily combat greenwashing and ensure investors are provided with the correct information on how the funds impact social or environmental sustainability and how this is measured and reported.
- SECR – Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting : Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting is a reporting framework introduced in the United Kingdom to promote sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. SECR requires certain organisations to disclose their energy consumption and carbon emissions in their annual reports, increasing transparency and accountability regarding their environmental impact.
- SF6 – Sulphur hexafluoride : Sulphur hexafluoride is a gas used in the electrical industry as a gaseous dielectric medium, which is a gas buffer in high-voltage environments. SF6 is one of the most potent greenhouse gases.
- SFC – Smart Freight Centre : Smart Freight Centre (SFC) is an international non-profit organisation focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from freight transportation. Their goal is to guide the global logistics industry to track GHG emissions. They want to reduce the industry’s GHG emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030 and reach zero emissions by 2050 or earlier.
- TCFD – Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures : The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures is an initiative launched by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) in 2015 to develop voluntary recommendations for companies to disclose climate-related financial information. The TCFD framework aims to enhance transparency and enable better decision-making by businesses, investors, and other stakeholders regarding climate-related risks and opportunities.
- TTW – Tank-To-Wheel : Tank-To-Wheel refers to the energy consumption and emissions a vehicle produces while driving. This term is often used in life-cycle assessments of vehicle emissions, along with WTT, or “Well-To-Tank”. TTW is especially important when comparing different types of vehicles with different operational efficiencies and emission profiles, such as conventional gasoline or diesel vehicles versus electric or hybrid vehicles.
- WTT – Well-To-Tank : Well-To-Tank describes the energy use and emissions associated with fuel production, processing, distribution, and storage. It’s part of a broader framework often used in life-cycle assessments of vehicle emissions: WTW, or “Well-To-Wheel.” WTT analysis is particularly important when considering alternative fuels such as biofuels, hydrogen, or electric power. While an electric vehicle may produce no emissions at the point of use (TTW), the emissions produced during the generation of electricity (WTT) are also a critical part of the overall environmental impact.
- WTW – Well-To-Wheel : The “Well-To-Wheel” analysis is divided into two parts: the aforementioned “Well-To-Tank” (WTT) and “Tank-To-Wheel” (TTW). TTW covers the emissions from the vehicle’s operation, such as fuel combustion in the engine. By considering both WTT and TTW, this method can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the environmental impact of different types of vehicles and fuels.
