Glossary Terms

The ability of systems, institutions, humans and other organisms to adjust to potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to respond to consequences.  Source: IPCC glossary

Conditions that affect the feasibility of adaptation and mitigation options, and can accelerate and scale-up systemic transitions that would limit temperature increase to 1.5°C and enhance capacities of systems and societies to adapt to the associated climate change, while achieving sustainable development, eradicating poverty and reducing inequalities. Enabling conditions include finance, technological innovation, strengthening policy instruments, institutional capacity, multilevel governance, and changes in human behaviour and lifestyles. They also include inclusive processes,…

The presence of people; livelihoods; species or ecosystems; environmental functions, services, and resources; infrastructure; or economic, social, or cultural assets in places and settings that could be adversely affected. Source: IPCC glossary

The potential occurrence of a natural or human-induced physical event or trend that may cause loss of life, injury, or other health impacts, as well as damage and loss to property, infrastructure, livelihoods, service provision, ecosystems and environmental resources. Source: IPCC glossary

The spaces within which the human-environment interaction take place; Physical spaces can include both built/”natural” ecosystems interacting with humans, their built environments (physically as structures, but also incorporating their supporting “infrastructure” of cultures, decision making, social, and governance hierarchies and processes.

It looks at the legal and regulatory implications of innovations in terms of compliance, but also transformative power. No new technology, product, process, or intervention can survive if proven being against the existing set of binding rules that govern the selected domain. Source: Bruno et al. 2020

Actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural and modified ecosystems in ways that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, to provide both human well-being and biodiversity benefits. Source: IUCN (2016)

It refers to the organizational impact of a certain technology, product, process, or intervention. The impact includes both the results of an innovative effort and the broader effects within the specific organization implementing that innovation. Source: Bruno et al. 2020

The potential for adverse consequences for human or ecological systems, recognizing the diversity of values and objectives associated with such systems. In the context of climate change, risks can arise from potential impacts of climate change as well as human responses to climate change. Relevant adverse consequences include those on lives, livelihoods, health and wellbeing,…

The degree to which a system or species is affected, either adversely or beneficially, by climate variability or change. Source: IPCC glossary