Glossary

Unlock the language of sustainability in this comprehensive guide to key terms and concepts.

  • c

  • Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)An international organization that encourages companies to disclose their carbon emissions and climate change strategies, and provides a platform for benchmarking and reporting.
  • Carbon FootprintThe total amount of carbon emissions that a company produces, including direct and indirect emissions.
  • Carbon IntensityThe amount of carbon emissions per unit of economic activity, such as carbon emissions per dollar of GDP or per unit of product produced.
  • Carbon LeakageThe phenomenon where carbon reduction policies in one region lead to increased emissions in another region, due to companies relocating their operations to avoid regulations.
  • Carbon MarketA market-based mechanism for trading carbon credits or offsets, often used to meet carbon reduction targets or to finance emissions reduction projects.
  • Carbon OffsetThe process of compensating for carbon emissions produced by a company's activities by supporting carbon reduction projects elsewhere.
  • Carbon PricingA policy tool that puts a price on carbon emissions, either through a tax or a cap-and-trade system, to incentivize companies to reduce their emissions.
  • Circular EconomyAn economic model that aims to minimize waste and maximize the use of resources, by designing products for reuse, repair, and recycling.
  • Climate ChangeRefers to long-term shifts in weather patterns, caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, leading to global warming.
  • Climate FinanceFinancial investments or mechanisms designed to support climate mitigation or adaptation, such as climate bonds or green loans.
  • Climate Risk AssessmentA process of evaluating the physical and financial risks that climate change poses to a company's operations, assets, and supply chain.
  • CSRDLa Directive sur la publication d'informations non financières (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) est une proposition de la Commission européenne visant à mettre à jour et à élargir la directive existante sur la publication d'informations non financières (NFRD) dans le but d'améliorer la qualité et la cohérence des rapports de durabilité des entreprises. La CSRD exigerait que les grandes entreprises divulguent des informations supplémentaires sur les questions de durabilité dans leurs rapports annuels, y compris des informations sur le climat et les impacts sociaux et environnementaux.

  • e

  • Emission factorsEmission factors are standardized coefficients that allow the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions from a particular activity or source. They are typically expressed as the amount of greenhouse gases emitted per unit of activity or unit of energy consumed. Emission factors are used to estimate greenhouse gas emissions from a variety of sources, including energy consumption, transportation, industrial processes, and land use changes.
  • Energy EfficiencyRefers to reducing the amount of energy needed to perform a task or achieve a goal, by using more efficient technologies and practices.
  • Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) CriteriaNon-financial factors used to evaluate the sustainability and ethical impact of investments or companies, including environmental performance.

  • g

  • GHG ProtocolThe GHG Protocol is a widely-used international standard for greenhouse gas accounting and reporting. It was developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and provides a framework for companies and organizations to measure and manage their greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Greenhouse gases (GHG)Refers to gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases. They contribute to climate change.

  • i

  • IPCCThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a scientific body established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The IPCC is responsible for assessing the scientific, technical, and socio-economic information relevant for understanding the risks of climate change caused by human activity. The IPCC's reports are widely recognized as the most authoritative source of information on climate change, and are used by governments, businesses, and organizations around the world to guide their policies and actions on climate change.

  • k

  • Kyoto ProtocolThe Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty adopted in 1997 as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It sets legally binding targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions for developed countries, with the goal of mitigating global climate change. The Kyoto Protocol has since been replaced by the Paris Agreement.

  • l

  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)A tool used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product or service over its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal.
  • Low Carbon TechnologyTechnologies that emit lower amounts of carbon than conventional technologies, such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, or energy-efficient appliances.

  • n

  • Net ZeroNet Zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. This is achieved by reducing emissions as much as possible and offsetting any remaining emissions through the use of carbon removal technologies or carbon offsets. The concept of Net Zero is becoming increasingly popular as a target for companies, organizations, and governments to achieve in order to combat climate change.
  • NFRDLa Directive sur la publication d'informations non financières (NFRD) est une directive de l'Union européenne (UE) qui oblige les grandes entreprises ayant plus de 500 employés à divulguer des informations non financières sur des questions environnementales, sociales et de gouvernance (ESG). La NFRD vise à augmenter la transparence et la responsabilité dans la communication d'entreprise et à aider les investisseurs à prendre des décisions éclairées en fonction des performances en matière de durabilité d'une entreprise.

  • p

  • Paris AgreementThe Paris Agreement is an international treaty adopted in 2015 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It sets targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with the goal of pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

  • r

  • Renewable EnergyEnergy derived from renewable resources such as wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal power that does not emit carbon dioxide and other GHGs.

  • s

  • Science-Based Targets (SBT)Ambitious and measurable targets for reducing carbon emissions, in line with the latest climate science, that companies can set and commit to.
  • Scope 1Scope 1 refers to direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by an organization, such as emissions from combustion of fossil fuels in boilers or vehicles owned by the organization.
  • Scope 2Scope 2 refers to indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the consumption of purchased electricity, heat, or steam by an organization.
  • Scope 3Scope 3 refers to a category of greenhouse gas emissions that are associated with a company's value chain but occur outside of the company's direct control or ownership. These emissions include those produced by suppliers, transportation of goods and services, and use of the company's products. Measuring and managing Scope 3 emissions can be challenging but is increasingly important for companies to achieve sustainability goals.

  • t

  • Tapio

    Tapio is the nordic god of the forest. That's why we picked this name!