| Aarhus Convention |
Shorthand for the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. Adopted in Aarhus, Denmark, in 1998, and entered into force in 2001. |
| ABS |
Access to genetic resources and benefit sharing. Acronym used in the context of the biodiversity negotiations. |
| ACAP |
Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels. One of the agreements under the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Adopted in 2001, and entered into force in 2004. |
| ACC |
Adapting to Climate Change (project of the Caribbean region) |
| Acceptance |
In practice acceptance is used instead of ratification when, at a national level, constitutional law does not require an agreement to be ratified by the head of State. Acceptance has the same legal effect as ratification. |
| Accession |
Act whereby a State becomes a Party to an international agreement already negotiated and signed by other States. Accession has the same legal effect as ratification, although an acceding State has not signed the agreement. |
| Acclamation |
Mode of adoption of decisions without voting. The decision is considered adopted when all delegations have indicated their support by applause. |
| ACCOBAMS |
Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Contiguous Atlantic Area. One of the agreements under the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Adopted in 1996, and entered into force in 2001. |
| Accreditation |
Approval and assertion of the fact that credentials submitted by delegates to a particular meeting are in order. |
| Ad hoc |
Latin word meaning "this purpose." An ad hoc committee, for example, is created with a unique and specific purpose or task and once it has studied and reported on a matter, it is discontinued. |
| Adaptation |
(1) Actions taken to help communities and ecosystems cope with changing climate conditions (UNFCCC). (2) Genetically determined characteristic that enhances the ability of an organism to cope with its environment (CBD). |
| Adaptation Fund |
Fund established under the Kyoto Protocol to provide support for adaptation projects. |
| ADB |
Asian Development Bank |
| Add. |
Stands for addendum. Used to reference additions to existing documents. |
| Additionality |
(1) Funding principle meaning that projects would not be undertaken in absence of funds from the Global Environment Facility. (2) Approval test for projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol. CDM projects are considered additional if they would not have taken place in the absence of the Clean Development Mechanism. |
| Adhesion |
Act whereby a State becomes a Party to some of the principles laid down in an international agreement or some of the provisions agreed upon in an agreement already negotiated and signed by other States. The State is not bound by all the provisions of the agreement, but only those that it has agreed to. |
| Adoption |
(1) Adoption by a country of an international agreement refers to the process of its incorporation into the domestic legal system, through signature, ratification or any other process required under national law. (2) Adoption by the international community of an international agreement is the formal act by which the form and content of a proposed treaty text are established. (3) Adoption of a decision, resolution, or recommendation is the formal act (e.g. strike of gavel) by which the form and content of a proposed decision, resolution or recommendation are approved by delegations. |
| ADR |
Alternative dispute resolution |
| Advanced Informed Agreement |
Principle whereby the international exchange of resources or products that could have adverse effects on the environment should not proceed without the informed agreement of, or contrary to the decision of, the competent authority in the recipient country. |
| AEWA |
African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement. One of the agreements concluded under the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals. Adopted in 1995, and entered into force in 1999. |
| Afforestation |
The direct human-induced conversion of land that has not been forested for a period of at least 50 years to forested land through planting, seeding and/or the human-induced promotion of natural seed sources (UNFCCC). |
| Agenda |
Programme of work during a meeting. |
| Agenda 21 |
Programme of action on sustainable development adopted at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, often referred to as the Blueprint for Sustainable Development. Agenda 21 has 40 chapters dealing with all aspects of sustainable development, including social and economic dimensions (combating poverty and promoting human health), conservation and resource management, major groups (e.g. women, indigenous people, business and unions), and means of implementation (e.g. financial resources, transfer of technology, public awareness and education). |
| Agreement |
(1) Generic term for an international legally binding instrument. In this sense, encompasses several instruments, such as treaties, conventions, protocols, oral agreements. (2) Specific term used to designate international instruments that area usually less formal and deal with a narrower range of subject-matter than treaties. |
| AHTEG |
Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group. Within the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a group of experts convened once or several times to provide expert advice to the Conference of the Parties on specific issues. Example: AHTEG on climate change and biodiversity. |
| AIA |
Advanced Informed Agreement |
| AIDA |
Interamerican Association for the Defense of the Environment (known by its Spanish acronym) |
| AIMS |
(REC project on) Acceptance and Implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements in South Eastern Europe |
| Alien species |
Species occurring in an area outside of its historically known natural range as a result of intentional or accidental dispersal by human activities. Alien species are not necessarily invasive species. |
| ALJ |
Administrative law judge (e.g., United States) |
| AMCEN |
African Ministerial Conference on the Environment. established in 1985 to strengthen cooperation between African governments on economic, technical and scientific activities to halt the degradation of Africa's. AMCEN plays an important role in providing political guidance to Africas positions on many MEAs. |
| Amendment |
(1) A modification or addition to an existing legal instrument (e.g., treaty, convention, or protocol). (2) A modification to a proposal under negotiation (e.g., draft decision, draft recommendation, or draft resolution). |
| ANA |
National Water Agency (e.g. Brazil) (known by its Portugese acronym) |
| AOSIS |
Alliance of Small Island States. A negotiating group of 43 small island and low-lying coastal States. (frequently within the context of the UNFCCC negotiations). |
| Approval |
In practice, approval has been used instead of ratification when, at a national level, constitutional law does not require an international agreement to be ratified by the head of State. Approval has the same legal effect as ratification. |
| ARA |
Academic Research Agreement |
| ARCA |
Regional Conservation Policy Alliance for Latin America and the Caribbean (know by its Spanish acronym) |
| ASCOBANS |
Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas. One of the agreements under the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Adopted in 1991 and entered into force in 1994. |
| ASEAN |
Association of Southeast Asian Nations. A regional community of 10 States with the aim of accelerating economic growth and social progress, and promoting peace and security. |
| ASEANWEN |
ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network |
| Assessed contribution |
Contribution, expressed in percentage, of a Member State to the budget of an international organization. |
| ATCM |
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. The governing body of the Antarctic Treaty (see ATS). Meets annually. |
| ATS |
Antarctic Treaty System. Refers to all instruments adopted within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty, adopted in 1959, and entered into force in 1961. In addition to measures adopted annually by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), the following treaties compose the ATS: (a) The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (CCAS); (b) The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR); (c) The Convention for the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resource Activities (CRAMRA); (d) The 1991 Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty; and (e) The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP). |
| AU |
African Union |
| AVIGREF |
Villagers' Association for the Managements of Wildlife Reserves (Benin) (known by its French acronym) |