SciDev.Net
Science and Development Network
News, views and information about science, technology and the developing world
Definitions
Below is a directory of terms used in the field of climate change. Most of the definitions have been taken from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, with a few from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the European Commission.
Climate change is the greatest challenge facing the world today. Long-term development planning must now include measures to deal with it.
H
Hot Air
Term developed by the NGO community to describe the difference in emissions reductions according to the established base year agreed to under the Kyoto Protocol, and actual emissions reductions as a result of reasons unrelated to climate mitigation, such as changes in the economies of Russia and other economies in transition.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
These chemicals (along with perfluorocarbons) were introduced as alternatives to ozone depleting substances in serving many industrial, commercial, and personal needs. HFCs are emitted as by-products of industrial processes and are also used in manufacturing. They do not significantly deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, but they are powerful greenhouse gases with global warming potentials.
