| AAU | Assigned amount unit (exchanged through emissions trading) |
| AG13 | Ad Hoc Group on Article 13 (1995–1998) |
| AGBM | Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate (1995–1997) |
| AIJ | Activities implemented jointly |
| AOSIS | Alliance of Small Island States |
| CACAM | Group of countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus, Albania and Republic of Moldova (negotiating coalition) |
| CBD | Convention on Biological Diversity |
| CDM | Clean development mechanism |
| CER | Certified emission reduction (generated through the CDM) |
| CFC | Chlorofluorocarbon |
| CGE | Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention |
| CH4 | Methane |
| CG | Central Group (negotiating coalition of Central European Annex I Parties) |
| CO2 | Carbon dioxide |
| COP | Conference of the Parties |
| COP/MOP | Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol |
| EC | European Commission |
| EGTT | Expert Group on Technology Transfer |
| EIT | Economies in transition (former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern European nations) |
| ERU | Emission reduction unit (generated through joint implementation projects) |
| GCOS | Global Climate Observing System |
| GEF | Global Environment Facility |
| GHG | Greenhouse gases |
| GRULAC | Group of Latin America and Caribbean States (United Nations regional group) |
| GWP | Global warming potential |
| HFC | Hydrofluorocarbons |
| ICAO | International Civil Aviation Organization |
| IEA | International Energy Agency |
| IGO | Intergovernmental organization |
| IMO | International Maritime Organization |
| INC | Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the UNFCCC (1990–1995) |
| IPCC | Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |
| JLG | Joint Liaison Group (between the UNFCCC, CBD and UNCCD secretariats) |
| JWG | Joint Working Group |
| LDC | Least developed country |
| LULUCF | Land use, land-use change and forestry |
| N2O | Nitrous oxide |
| NAPA | National adaptation programmes of action |
| NAP | National Allocation Plan |
| NER | New Entrants Reserve |
| NGO | Non governmental organization |
| OECD | Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development |
| OPEC | Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries |
| PFC | Perfluorocarbon |
| RMU | Removal unit (generated in Annex I Parties by LULUCF activities that absorb carbon dioxide) |
| SBI | Subsidiary Body for Implementation |
| SBSTA | Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice |
| SF6 | Sulphur-hexafluoride |
| TT:CLEAR | Technology Transfer Information Clearing House |
| UN | United Nations |
| UNCCD | United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification |
| UNCED | United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1992) |
| UNCTAD | United Nations Conference on Trade and Development |
| UNDP | United Nations Development Programme |
| UNECE | United Nations Economic Commission for Europe |
| UNEP | United Nations Environment Programme |
| UNFCCC | United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change |
| UNIDO | United Nations Industrial Development Organization |
| URF | Uniform reporting format |
| WCC | World Climate Conference |
| WEOG | Western European and Others Group (United Nations regional group) |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| WMO | World Meteorological Organization |
| WSSD | World Summit on Sustainable Development |
| IETA | International Emissions Trading Association (www.ieta.org) |
