04/02/2025
Building a Shared Language for Climate Action
The affects every sector of society, yet the way we discuss it can often feel complex and inaccessible. To drive real change and enable meaningful action, we need a common understanding of key terms.
The Climate Dictionary, released by UNDP in 2023, is a valuable tool that simplifies 40 essential climate terms, making discussions more inclusive and impactful. Expanding and discussing this vocabulary can help bridge , strengthen and ensure that global commitments like the Paris Agreement are met.
On reflection, here are two additional key terms that can further enrich :
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🔥Why Climate Risk?
It is a core driver behind many and economic decisions. Its relevance spans governments, businesses and financial institutions, which increasingly integrate it into planning, disclosures and decision-making.
🔑Three Key Dimensions of Climate Risk:
1️⃣ – Damage from extreme weather events like sea-level rise and biodiversity loss.
2️⃣ – Economic shifts due to climate policies, changing market demands and stranded assets.
3️⃣ – Legal and reputational consequences for inaction on climate commitments.
Climate risk also ties into existing climate terminology, strengthening the case for urgent and effective action:
🔹 & – Addressing risks by reducing emissions.
🔹 & – Minimizing exposure to climate-related disruptions.
🔹 & – Risk assessment as a factor in and accountability.
🌆 Why Climate Accountability?
Ensures that governments, businesses, and individuals take responsibility for their climate actions, making climate commitments transparent, measurable and enforceable.
🔑 Three Key Dimensions of Climate Accountability:
1️⃣ – Holding businesses responsible for tracking, reducing, and reporting emissions while avoiding greenwashing.
2️⃣ – Ensuring policymakers implement and uphold climate commitments, such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
3️⃣ Public & Individual – Encouraging , , and for stronger .
Climate accountability is closely linked to existing climate concepts, reinforcing the need for action and transparency:
🔹 & – Ensuring that climate policies are fair and inclusive.
🔹 & – Holding nations accountable for meeting global .
🔹 & – Ensuring that climate funding is used effectively and equitably.
What other terms do you think are essential to making climate discussions clearer and more action-driven?
Is it getting harder to follow what climate experts are talking about? We've compiled an index of climate change terms to keep things simple.
