Climate change

Ten useful acronyms for the COP20

  • 27 November 2014
ICC sustainable cities

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) will again be the focal point for business views at this year’s UNFCCC COP20 Conference.

Coordinating global business input on climate challenges, ICC representatives will have a strong presence at this major event which kicks off on 1 December in Peru.

But did you know the COP20 is actually shorthand for the 20th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change?

To mark the occasion, we’ve put together this cheat sheet of 10 handy acronyms you might come across during the summit.

ADP

Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action

The mandate of the ADP is to develop a protocol, a legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties. This should be completed no later than 2015 in order to be adopted at the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) in Paris, and be fully implemented by 2020.

BINGO

Business and Industry Non-Governmental Organizations

Since the early days of the UNFCCC, non-governmental organizations have been actively involved, attending sessions and exchanging views with other participants, including government negotiators and delegates. BINGO represents the voice of business and industry NGOs. ICC acts as the BINGO focal point since the very beginning of the UNFCCC.

CIF

Climate Investment Funds

CIF are the financing instruments implemented by multilateral development banks and designed to support transformation towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development. There are two funds: the Clean Technology Fund and the Strategic Climate Fund. ICC serves as an observer to the Strategic Climate Fund.

CMP

Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol

The first CMP was held in Montreal, Canada, in 2005. The event, one of the largest-ever intergovernmental conferences on climate change, marked the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. ICC has presented business input towards and following the Kyoto Protocol.

COP

Conference of the Parties

An annual meeting held with parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. As of March 2014, there were 196 parties to the UNFCCC environmental treaty. ICC has been contributing business views since the first environment conference in 1972 in Stockholm.

CTCN / TEC

Climate Technology Centre and Network , and Technology Executive Committee

The Technology Mechanism was established to promote environmentally sound technology and transfer. It includes two main branches: the Technology Executive Committee and the Climate Technology Centre and Network. ICC organizes the selection process for the official private sector representative.

GCF

Green Climate Fund

This fund aims to support projects, programmes, policies and other activities in developing country Parties. ICC acts as an observer and organizes the selection process for the two official private sector representatives.

GEF

Global Environment Facility

The GEF is a financial mechanism for several environmental conventions, including the UNFCCC. An independent financial organization, it provides grants to developing countries for projects that benefit the global environment and promote sustainable livelihoods in local communities.

INDC

Intended Nationally Determined Contribution

At the 19th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 19) in Warsaw, Parties agreed to make a national pledge of public climate actions they intend to take. These actions are referred to as INDCs.

The Lima COP20 meeting will seek to establish clarity on the scope of these national contributions. ICC is advocating for a platform that would enable business to act and work as a committed partner to inform the process and provide a source of expertise to the UNFCCC and its member Parties.

IPCC

International Panel on Climate Change

The IPCC is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change. It was established in 1988 to provide a clear scientific view and outline of current knowledge of climate change and its impacts. ICC has contributed to several reports by providing business input from its global network.

And last but not least, #ICCCOP20

This will be the hashtag we use to communicate on our activities and news related to the COP20 summit. Make sure to follow us on Twitter.

Learn more about ICC’s involvement in COP20.

ICC Commission on Environment and Energy