ANNEX 5. Concepts of the Climate Plan

Carbon sink

A carbon sink collects and stores a chemical compound that contains carbon, often carbon dioxide. The most important carbon sinks are the seas and forests. In photosynthesis, algae and plants convert carbon dioxide from the air into their own biomass. In addition, carbon dioxide dissolves into seas both in carbon dioxide form and in other inorganic forms.

Carbon balance

Carbon balance is the difference between absorbed and released carbon within a certain period of time, such as a year. A positive balance means that more carbon has been absorbed than released. For instance, a forest acts as a carbon sink when it removes carbon from the atmosphere. On the other hand, a forest is a source of carbon if it releases more carbon (as a result of tree felling, for example) than it absorbs.

Climate budget

The climate budget links climate work to the city’s budget and financial statements. It helps compile, manage and monitor climate investments and actions, and increases their visibility. The climate budget provides information for decision-making and increases transparency from the point of view of municipal residents.

Climate positive

In terms of a city or an area, this refers to a positive net impact on climate change mitigation. Climate positivity helps in preventing climate change or slows climate change down. In practice, this means that more carbon is absorbed than released into the atmosphere. In other words, the emissions are negative. A city that is climate positive can be considered to change the net impact in its area from one warming the climate to one cooling the climate.

Climate risk

Climate risks refer to potential direct and indirect harm to human action, businesses and the environment, caused by climate, weather and their development. Factors affecting the emergence of a risk include the risk factor, exposure and vulnerability.

Normalised emissions calculation

Normalisation of emissions, also known as weather correction (heating degree days correction), makes the calculated development of emissions comparable regardless of temperature differences in different years. The measured emissions are normalised so that the impacts of emission-reducing actions can be compared.

Emission factor

The emission factor refers to the quantity of resulting emission in relation to the quantity of the product or service produced.

Carbon offsetting

The starting point of offsetting activity is an implemented project that has reduced greenhouse

gas emissions or increased carbon sinks by the quantity of emission reduction units on sale. One emission reduction unit equates to either a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions or an increase in carbon sinks worth a tonne of carbon dioxide equivalents (1 t CO2-eq). For instance, a municipality, business, organisation or consumer can offset the greenhouse gas emissions caused by their action by buying an equivalent amount of emission reduction units or by increasing carbon sinks.

Adaptation

The ability of human systems and natural systems to function in the current climate, and their preparation for future changes in climate and their ramifications. Through adaptation, we seek to prevent or mitigate the negative impacts of climate variation and change as well as to benefit from the positive impacts. Adaptation can mean reacting to situations or anticipating them.

Risk factor

A phenomenon causing a risk. This could be, for instance, a storm, a heatwave or a rainstorm.