Glossary of Terms
Terms ordered A – Z
Climate Change –
A change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the
composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability
observed over comparable time periods.
Source: United Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 1992.
Compliance –
The fact of obeying a particular law or rule, or acting according to an agreement.
Source: Cambridge Dictionary, 2022.
Deforestation –
The purposeful clearing of forest land. Throughout history and into modern times, forests have
been razed to make space for agriculture and animal grazing, and to obtain wood for fuel,
manufacturing, and construction.
Source: National Geographic, 2019.
Due Diligence –
Due diligence is an investigation, audit or review performed to confirm facts or details of a
matter under consideration.
Source: Investopedia, 2022.
Endangered species –
An endangered species is a type of organism that is threatened by extinction. Species become
endangered for two main reasons: loss of habitat and loss of genetic variation.
Source: National Geographic, 2011.
ESG –
Environmental, social and governance refers to a collection of corporate performance evaluation
criteria that assess the robustness of a company’s governance mechanisms and its ability to
effectively manage its environmental and social impacts.
Source: Gartner, 2022.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) Emissions –
Earth’s greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere and warm the planet. The main gases
responsible for (climate change) include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water
vapour (which all occur naturally), and fluorinated gases (which are synthetic).
Source: Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC), 2021.
Governance –
The system by which entities are directed and controlled. It is concerned with structure and
processes for decision making, accountability, control and behaviour at the top of an entity.
Source: Governance Today, 2022.
Human trafficking –
The process of trapping people through the use of violence, deception or coercion and
exploiting them for financial or personal gain.
Source: Antislavery.org, 2022.
ISPO –
Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil scheme
Source: EFECA, 2020.
Modern slavery –
Modern slavery is the severe exploitation of other people for personal or commercial gain.
Modern slavery is all around us, but often just out of sight.
Source: Antislavery.org, 2022.
Peatlands –
A type of wetland which occurs in almost every country and is known to cover at least 3% of
global land surface. Peatlands store carbon from the atmosphere within peat soils, providing a
net-cooling effect, which helps to mitigate climate change.
Source: IUCN, 2021.
POIG Charter –
Palm Oil Innovation Group Charter
Source: POIG, 2022.
Primary forests –
Include intact forest landscapes and different forest types that exist throughout the world. These
areas represent about one-third of all remaining forested land and are irreplaceable and
invaluable assets in terms of biodiversity, carbon sequestration, regulating climate, providing
crucial ecological and environmental services, supporting livelihoods and life paths for
indigenous peoples, and in aiding human health.
Source: IUCN, 2022.
Risk –
Uncertainty about the effect of an outcome, including the chance of something occurring with a
negative effect.
Source: Richards, 2021.
RSPO –
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
Source: RSPO, 2022.
SPO –
Sustainable Palm Oil Initiative
Source: SPO, 2022.
SPOTT –
Sustainable Palm Oil Transparency Toolkit
Source: SPOTT, 2022.
Sustainable / Sustainability –
Derived from the term ‘sustainable development’ defined as: “development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs”.
Source: Brundtland, 1987.