Green Speak Glossary

SYDNEY MELBOURNE BRISBANE CANBERRA ADELAIDE PERTH

Abatement: The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and/or the sequestration of greenhouse gases − i.e. the amount by which a project reduces net greenhouse gas emissions. This is also known as the impact of the project or measure.

Abatement provider: A provider of abatement generated from an approved abatement project under the Greenhouse Friendly™ initiative.

Activity levels: Time series data about the underlying physical activities that cause emissions − e.g. vehicle kilometres travelled, tonnes of coal burned, or hectares of land cleared. In general, emissions are calculated by multiplying activity levels by their associated emission factors.

Additionality: To be eligible for Greenhouse Friendly™ approval, abatement projects must: occur within Australia; and result in additional greenhouse gas abatement.

simplifying Green Speak

Life cycle assessment (LCA): The process of estimating the environmental impact of a product or service throughout its life cycle (production, use and disposal). In the context of Greenhouse Friendly™, greenhouse gas LCAs are conducted solely for the purpose of estimating the greenhouse gases attributable to a product or service.

Offsets: The WRI/WBCSD Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard defines offsets as discrete greenhouse gas reductions used to compensate for (i.e. offset) greenhouse gas emissions elsewhere. Offsets are calculated relative to a baseline that represents a hypothetical scenario for what emissions would have been in the absence of a project.

Carbon accounting: The tracking of carbon fluxes (and corresponding changes in carbon pools) associated with human-induced sources and sinks of greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e): The basis for comparing the global warming potential of greenhouse gases. This is calculated by multiplying the mass of a greenhouse gas by its global warming potential as compared to carbon dioxide. See also global warming potential.

Approved abatement: A quantity of abatement generated by a Greenhouse Friendly™ approved abatement project that has been independently verified and approved by the AGO in accordance with the Guidelines.

Approved abatement projects: Abatement projects that have been assessed in accordance with the Guidelines and approved by the AGO as Greenhouse Friendly™ abatement projects.