California Climate Change Glossary

Letter U

Uncertainty. An expression of the degree to which a value (future state) is unknown. Contrary to risk, uncertainty suggests unknown probability of occurrence. Uncertainty can result from lack of information or from disagreement about what is known. It may have many types of sources, from quantifiable errors in the data to ambiguously defined concepts or terminology, or uncertain projections of human behavior. Uncertainty can therefore be represented by quantitative measures or by qualitative statements. (Lenn)

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The UNFCCC arose from increasing international concern about the implications of climate change and a recognition that no one country can solve this global environmental problem alone. The ultimate objective of the UNFCCC is to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous human-induced interference with the climate system. See also the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC. (Australia)