Glossary beginning with I

Click one of the letters above to go to the page of all terms beginning with that letter.

I

IAR

Independent Assessment Report, the output of an independent assessment of each Annex I Party's International Transaction Log, which in turn is part of the Party's reporting requirements to the UNFCCC. IAR is forwarded to expert review teams for consideration as part of the review of national registries under Article 8 of the Kyoto Protocol . the procedure to produce the IAR is designed to provide independent assessment of each national registry.

ICA

International consultation and analysis, a form of review currently being negotiated and designed in the UNFCCC intergovernmental process.

Industrial

A hazard resulting from Industries (manufacturing of a good or service).

Infrared radiation

Radiation emitted by the EarthÕs surface, the atmosphere and by clouds. Also known as terrestrial and long-wave radiation. Infrared radiation has a distinctive spectrum (i.e., range of wavelengths) governed by the temperature of the Earth-atmosphere system. The spectrum of infrared radiation is practically distinct from that of solar (q.v.) or short-wave radiation because of the difference in temperature between the Sun and the Earth-atmosphere system.

Infrastructure

The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise

Insect Infestation

Pervasive influx and development of insects affecting humans, animals, crops and materials.

Institute for Geological and Nuclear Sciences

A New Zealand Crown Research Institute that is a provider of earth, geoscience and isotope research and consultancy services. It purpose is to understand natural earth system processes and resources, and to translate these into economic, environmental and social benefits.

Instituto de Meteorologica, Cuba

CubaÕs national meteorological institute.

Integrated Coastal zone management

An integrated approach for sustainably managing coastal areas, taking into account all coastal habitats and uses.

Inter-Parliamentary Union

An international organisation of Parliaments of sovereign states established to promote representative democracy and world peace. It is a permanent forum for political multilateral negotiations.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization and the UN Environment Programme, the IPCC surveys world-wide scientific and technical literature and publishes assessment reports that are widely recognized as the most credible existing sources of information on climate change . The IPCC also works on methodologies and responds to specific requests from the Convention's subsidiary bodies. The IPCC is independent of the Convention.

International Atomic Energy Agency

The IAEA is the worldÕs centre for cooperation in the nuclear field. It is an agency under the United Nations (UN) that works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

An international financial institution which offers loans to middle-income developing countries. Working closely with the World Bank Group it provides a combination of financial resources, knowledge and technical services, and strategic advice to developing countries that aims to reduce poverty and promote economic growth.

International Civil Aviation Organization

A specialised agency of the United Nations that codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters planning and development of international air transport .

International Committee of the Red Cross

A humanitarian institution signatory to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, their Additional Protocols that gives the organisation mandate to protect victims of international and internal armed conflicts. It takes action in response to emergencies and promotes international humanitarian law and its implementation in national law.

International Confederation of Free Trade Unions

An international trade union which merged with the World Confederation of Labour in 2006 to form the International Trade Union Confederation .

International Criminal Court

An independent, treaty-based international organisation and international tribunal established to prosecute individuals for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community.

International Criminal Police Organization

An intergovernmental organisation with 190 member countries that facilitates international police cooperation. It assists police around the world by providing technical and operational support.

International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (1990-2000)

The United Nations General Assembly designated the 1990s decade as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. The decade was intended to reduce, through concerted international action, especially in developing countries, loss of life, poverty damage and social and economic disruption caused by natural disasters.

International Development Association

An international financial institution, part of the World Bank , which offers concessional loans and grants to the worldÕs poorest developing countries. This association shares the World BankÕs mission of reducing poverty and aims to provide affordable development financing.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

A humanitarian network that reaches 150 million people in 189 National Societies through the work of over 17 million volunteers. This volunteer and community-based network act before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to improve humanitarian standards.

International Finance Corporation

A global development institution and member of the World Bank that offers investment, advisory, and asset management services encouraging development in the private sectors of developing countries. It is owned by 184 countries and works in more than 100 developing countries.

International Fund for Agricultural Development

A specialized agency of the United Nations established as an international financial institution dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries. It finances agricultural development projects primarily for food production and security in the developing countries.

International Hydrographic Organization

An inter-governmental organisation representing the hydrographic community. Its primary role is to ensure that the worldÕs seas, oceans and national waters are properly surveyed and charted. It does this through the setting of international standards, the coordination of the endeavours of national hydrographic offices, and through its capacity-building programme.

International Labor Organization

A United Nations agency dealing with labour issues, particularly international labour standards, social protection, and work opportunities for all. Its primary concern is cooperation between governments and employersÕ and workersÕ organisations in fostering social economic progress.

International Maritime Organization

A specialised agency of the United Nations with 171 Member States and three Associate Members. Its acts as the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping.

International Monetary Fund

An international organisation of 188 countries whose primary purpose is to ensure the stability of the international monetary system. It works to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.

International Olympic Committee

The supreme governing body of the Olympic Movement. It is responsible for facilitating collaboration between all parties of the Olympic family, and ultimately the organisation of the modern Olympic Games and Youth Olympic games.

International Organization for Migration

An inter-governmental organisation in the field of migration. It is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

International Organization for Standardization

An international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organisations. It promotes worldwide proprietry, industrial and commercial standards.

International Organization of the French-speaking World

An international community, created in 1970, representing 80 member states and governments (57 members and 23 observers) where French is the customary language and where there is a notable affiliation with French culture . The IOFÕs mission is to embody the active solidarity between its memberÕs states. IOF organises political activities and actions of multilateral cooperationÕs that benefit French-speaking populations.

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

An international humanitarian network that is dedicated to preventing and alleviating human suffering in warfare and natural disasters. It is composed of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the 189 individual National Societies. Each group is responsible for different aspects of the coordination of ICRM.

International Telecommunication Union

A United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies. It coordinates the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promotes international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, and assists in the development and coordination of worldwide technical standards.

International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium

A commercial communications satellite services provider. Acting as an intergovernmental consortium it uses a combination of satellite and terrestrial connectivity technology to assist enterprises, governments and service providers deliver connections around the world.

International Trade Union Confederation

An international trade union federation that represents 176 million workers through its 328 affiliated organisations within 162 countries and territories. It promotes and defends workersÕ rights and interests through international cooperation between trade unions, global campaigning and advocacy within major global institutions.

Its and ICTs

IT hardware includes desktops, displays, laptops and printers.

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