Adjusting to actual or expected changes brought about by climate change. These are often incremental changes in response to trends caused by climate change, such as droughts.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to a low-carbon economy to slow down the rate of climate change is referred to as mitigation. Examples include generating electricity from renewable sources, shifting away from internal combustion engine vehicles and reducing agricultural emissions.

Climate resilience is defined as the capacity of social, economic, and environmental systems to cope with a hazardous event or trend or disturbance, responding or reorganising in ways that maintain their essential function, identity, and structure, while also maintaining the capacity for adaptation, learning and transformation.

The GSMA uses the ‘Three As’ framing of climate resilience. This involves supporting communities and vulnerable groups to:
— Adapt to multiple, long-term and evolving climate change risks (e.g., through precision agriculture and long-term weather forecasting)
— Anticipate climate variability and risks from extreme climate events, thus supporting preparedness and planning (e.g., through early warning systems)
— Absorb adverse conditions, emergencies or disasters (e.g., through access to credit and insurance in the event of a climate disaster)

The diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems in a specific geographical area.

The blue economy encompasses all economic activities directly or indirectly linked to oceans, seas, and coasts. Recognising the vast untapped potential of the oceans, the World Bank defines the blue economy as “the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ocean ecosystem health”.

Carbon capture refers to the process of trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from sources like power plants or industrial processes before they enter the atmosphere. The captured CO2 is then either stored underground in geological formations or utilised in other industrial processes, helping to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases contributing to climate change.

Carbon credits are tradable certificates that represent the reduction, removal, or avoidance of one tonne of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases. They are used by companies or governments to offset their emissions by investing in environmental projects, such as reforestation or renewable energy, which reduce or capture emissions.

Carbon insetting refers to the practice of reducing or offsetting carbon emissions within a company’s own supply chain or operations, rather than through external projects. It involves investing in activities that directly benefit the company’s own ecosystem, such as regenerative agriculture, reforestation, or renewable energy projects. By focusing on insetting, companies aim to create environmental and social benefits while reducing their carbon footprint in a way that aligns with their business activities.

Carbon markets are trading systems where carbon credits, representing a reduction or removal of greenhouse gas emissions, can be bought and sold. These markets allow companies, governments, or other entities to offset their emissions by purchasing credits from projects that reduce or capture carbon, such as reforestation or renewable energy initiatives. Carbon markets can be voluntary or regulated, and they play a key role in efforts to limit global emissions and combat climate change.

Carbon neutral refers to achieving a balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks, such as forests or technologies like carbon capture. For a business or project to be carbon neutral, it must reduce its carbon emissions as much as possible and offset any remaining emissions through verified schemes that remove or prevent the equivalent amount of carbon from being released.

A way of compensating for emissions of CO2 by participating in, or funding, efforts to take CO2 out of the atmosphere. Offsetting often involves paying another party, somewhere else, to save emissions equivalent to those produced by your activity.

Circularity refers to an economic model that aims to minimise waste and make the most of resources by creating a closed-loop system. In this approach, products and materials are reused, refurbished, remanufactured, or recycled, reducing the need for new resources and limiting environmental impact.

Climate finance is traditionally defined as the flow of funds towards activities related to climate change adaptation and mitigation. However, GSMA research shows that the concept of climate finance is still evolving and is often obscured by jargon. There is a significant divergence between public and private sector views on climate finance, with definitions shaped by the mandates of key institutions, existing frameworks, or entry points to climate investment, such as net-zero commitments. Achieving a shared understanding is crucial, as how climate finance is defined will impact the financial mechanisms used for climate action and the types of funding available.

Read more about our climate finance work here.

Climate justice is a concept that recognises the ethical and political dimensions of climate change, emphasising that its impacts are not experienced equally. It highlights the disproportionate burden placed on vulnerable and marginalised communities, who contribute the least to global emissions but suffer the most from its effects. Climate justice calls for fair treatment, accountability and equitable solutions, ensuring that those most affected by climate change receive the support and resources they need.

This refers to an approach to farming that aims to increase agricultural productivity and resilience to climate change while reducing greenhouse gas emissions where possible. It promotes sustainable practices such as crop diversification, efficient water management, and the use of technology to improve farming practices. The GSMA supports the use of mobile and digital technologies in CSA to help farmers adapt to changing climate conditions, access weather forecasts, and optimise resource use.

“Ex-situ conservation” means the conservation of components of biological diversity outside their natural habitats. “In-situ conservation” refers to the conservation of ecosystems and natural habitats and the maintenance and recovery of viable populations of species in their natural surroundings and, in the case of domesticated or cultivated species, in the surroundings where they have developed their distinctive properties.

Digital monitoring, reporting and verification (dMRV) provides a system for quantifying and tracking progress on climate actions towards emissions reduction targets and verifying that these targets have been met.

An early warning system (EWS) is a tool designed to detect and provide advance notice of potential hazards, such as natural disasters or extreme weather events. It collects and monitors data, using sensors, satellites and other sources, to assess risks. The system then communicates timely alerts to authorities and the public, enabling people to take action and minimise harm to lives, property and the environment. Effective early warning systems play a key role in disaster preparedness and response, reducing the impact of potential crises.

A dynamic complex of plant, animal and microorganism communities and their nonliving environment interacting as a functional unit.

Air, water and soil quality, climatic regulation, pollination services and pest control are all natural services provided by nature. These services provide humans with the ability to maintain food systems, produce medicines and access resources to construct shelter and engage in economic activities.

EbA involves the conservation, sustainable management and restoration of ecosystems, such as forests, grasslands, wetlands, mangroves or coral reefs.

A way of compensating for emissions of CO2 by participating in, or funding, efforts to take CO2 out of the atmosphere. Offsetting often involves paying another party, somewhere else, to save emissions equivalent to those produced by your activity.

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a systematic process used to evaluate the environmental effects of a project or activity before it is carried out. The process involves assessing the potential positive and negative impacts on the environment, including the air, water, land, biodiversity and communities, with the aim of mitigating any harmful effects.  EIAs help ensure that projects – particularly those implemented by our grantees – contribute positively to sustainable development.

ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. It refers to a set of criteria used to assess a company’s impact on the environment, its relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and communities, and the strength of its leadership and governance practices.

Discarded electronic devices or components, such as mobile phones, that require proper recycling to recover valuable materials and prevent environmental harm.

A just transition refers to the fair and equitable shift towards a low-carbon economy, ensuring that the process of addressing climate change protects the livelihoods, rights, and well-being of workers and communities. It focuses on minimising the social and economic impacts of transitioning from fossil fuels, particularly for vulnerable populations, while promoting green jobs, social justice and inclusivity.

A just transition refers to the fair and equitable shift towards a low-carbon economy, ensuring that the process of addressing climate change protects the livelihoods, rights, and well-being of workers and communities. It focuses on minimising the social and economic impacts of transitioning from fossil fuels, particularly for vulnerable populations, while promoting green jobs, social justice and inclusivity.

Land degradation neutrality (LDN) is defined as “a state whereby the amount and quality of land resources necessary to support ecosystem functions and services to enhance food security remain stable, or increase, within specified temporal and spatial scales and ecosystems”​.

The Loss and Damage Fund refers to a financial mechanism established to provide support to vulnerable countries suffering from the adverse effects of climate change, particularly for irreversible losses and damage caused by events like extreme weather or rising sea levels. It was agreed upon during the COP27 climate summit in 2022. The fund aims to address the needs of developing nations, which are often the most affected by climate impacts, despite contributing the least to global emissions”​.

Four types of mobile and digital assets are typically available to enable digital and mobile-enabled solutions for climate action:
– Mobile services: voice, SMS, USSD, interactive voice response (IVR), mobile apps
– Mobile payment services: mobile money, mobile money-enabled savings, mobile-enabled credit, mobile-enabled insurance
– Frontier technologies: Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, space technologies, Virtual and augmented realities, Drones and Robotics and Big Data
– Data assets: customer data, mobile big data (commercial microwave links, call data records, location data/location-based services, data through IoT services) etc.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are climate action plans submitted by countries under the Paris Agreement, outlining their commitments to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change impacts. Each country’s NDC reflects its climate goals, considering national circumstances and capacities. NDCs are updated every five years, with the aim of progressively enhancing ambition to meet the global goals of limiting temperature rise to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels.​

Natural resource management (NRM) refers to the sustainable use and management of the planet’s natural resources, including forests, watersheds, oceans, air and a diversity of plant and animal species.

See the ClimateTech NRM resource page here.

Nature-based solutions (NbS) leverage nature and the power of healthy ecosystems to protect people, optimise infrastructure and safeguard a stable and biodiverse future.

“Nature tech” is a broad set of technologies that can accelerate and scale the implementation of high-quality nature based solutions.

Net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed or offset. Achieving net zero means that a country, company, or entity reduces its GHG emissions as much as possible and any remaining emissions are neutralised by measures such as carbon capture, reforestation, or investment in renewable energy. The goal of net zero is to ensure that no additional GHGs are added to the atmosphere, halting the progression of global warming. The mobile industry has set the ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Payments for ecosystem services (PES) schemes are a variety of market-based initiatives that provide payments to community groups or individuals who have agreed to take certain actions that provide environmental value, such as adopting sustainable forest management practices or restoring watersheds.

Any deliberate action aimed at initiating or expediting the recovery of an ecosystem from a degraded state. Restoration can include active planting or alleviating pressures to allow nature to regenerate on its own.

When an organisation integrates or takes steps to accomplish its social, environmental and economic goals. For example, a company’s efforts to reduce waste and preserve natural resources in its operations and supply chain.

Using the components of biodiversity in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term decline of ecosystems, thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations.

The GSMA defines the ‘enablement effect’ as any mechanism which, through its use, facilitates the avoidance of carbon emissions.  Through the enablement effect, the mobile industry is positioned to act as a catalyst for how other sectors decarbonise and support climate resilience. For instance, mobile banking is an enablement mechanism which allows customers to avoid travelling to a bank.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted in December 2022 at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) in Montreal. The GBF sets out an ambitious pathway to achieve a global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050. It includes four goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030 to halt biodiversity loss and bring humankind into harmony with nature. There are three overarching themes: conservation, restoration and sustainable use.

The Paris Agreement is an international treaty adopted in 2015 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Its primary goal is to limit global warming to well below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels. The agreement encourages countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Countries submit their climate action plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are updated every five years to increase ambition.