UNCCD Terminology

The multitude of associations around which society voluntarily organizes itself and which represent a wide range of interests and ties. These can include community-based organisations, indigenous peoples’ organisations and non-government organisations.

Abstract representation of real-world phenomena using classifiers. See also ‘Classifier, class’

Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g., by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forcings such as modulations of the solar cycles, volcanic eruptions and persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use.

Refers to local, national or transnational financing- drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing - that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change. The UNFCCC Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) adopted an operational definition of climate finance as follows: “Climate finance aims at reducing emissions, and enhancing sinks of greenhouse gases and aims at reducing vulnerability of, and maintaining and increasing the resilience of, human and ecological systems to negative climate change impacts.”

The Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention. The CRIC was established by decision 1/COP.5, as subsidiary body to the COP to assist it in regularly reviewing the implementation of the Convention. According to its Terms of Reference, the CRIC shall assist the COP in the review of the implementation of the Convention under the authority and guidance of the COP and as an integral part of the Performance Review and Assessment of Implementation System (PRAIS).

A working group set up by the Conference of the Parties to facilitate discussions on specific issues. When the Committee finishes its work it turns the resulting texts over to the COP to finalise and adopt them during a plenary session.

The Committee on Science and Technology (CST) is a subsidiary body of the Conference of the Parties (COP). It provides the COP with information and advice on scientific and technological matters relating to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought. The CST meets in conjunction with the ordinary sessions of the COP and is multidisciplinary and open to the participation of all Parties. It is composed of government representatives competent in the relevant fields of expertise.

The governing body and supreme decision-making authority for the Parties to the Convention. The first session of the COP to the UNCCD took place in Rome, Italy, on 29 September - 10 October 1997; the second in Dakar, Senegal, on 30 November - 11 December 1998; the third in Recife, Brazil, on 15-26 November 1999; the fourth in Bonn, Germany, on 11-22 December 2000; the fifth in Geneva, Switzerland, on 1-12 October 2001.

The COP was established by the Convention as the supreme decision-making body; it comprises ratifying governments and regional economic integration organizations, such as the European Union. Up to today, the COP had held thirteenth sessions; it has been meeting biennially since 2001.

(Source: http://www2.unccd.int/convention/conference-parties-cop)

A category of in-session documents containing new proposals or outcomes of in-session work for use during the session.

An agreement on a specific issue can be adopted by consensus rather than by vote when there are no stated objections from delegations.

Consumption is an activity in which institutional units use up goods or services; consumption can be either intermediate or final. It is the use of goods and services for the satisfaction of individual or collective human needs or wants.

Consumption expenditure is the proportion of national income or disposable income spent by households on final good and services.

At the field level: programmes and projects relating to desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD). At the institutional level: meetings of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC), meetings of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST), meetings of the Conference of the Parties (COP), and meetings at regional level.