Arabic Sustainability Dictionary

eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL)

A global standard for tagging business and sustainability data so that it can be read and analysed by machines.

Fiduciary duty

The legal obligation of directors, trustees or asset managers to act in the best interests of the people whose assets or affairs they manage.

Fifth Assessment Report (AR5)

The fifth assessment report of the IPCC (2013–2014), whose 100-year global warming potentials are widely used to convert greenhouse gases into CO2e.

Financed emissions

The greenhouse gas emissions of borrowers and investees attributed to a financial institution in proportion to its financing; Scope 3 category 15.

Financial control

A consolidation approach under which a company reports 100% of emissions from operations whose financial and operating policies it can direct to gain economic benefits.

Financial inclusion

Access for individuals and businesses to useful and affordable financial products and services delivered responsibly.

Financial materiality

The dimension of materiality under which a topic is material if it creates risks or opportunities that could significantly affect the company's financial position, performance or cash flows.

Flaring and venting

The controlled burning (flaring) or direct release (venting) of unwanted gas, mainly in oil and gas operations; both are sources of Scope 1 emissions.

Food loss and waste

The decrease in the quantity or quality of food along the supply chain (loss) and at retail, food service and household level (waste).

Forced labour

All work or service exacted from a person under the menace of a penalty and for which the person has not offered themselves voluntarily, as defined by the ILO.

Fossil fuels

Fuels formed from ancient organic matter, namely coal, oil and natural gas, whose combustion releases CO2.

Fossil methane

Methane released from fossil sources such as natural gas systems and coal mining; in AR6 it has a slightly higher global warming potential than non-fossil methane because its oxidation adds fossil CO2.

Free allocation

Emission allowances given free of charge to installations under the EU ETS; CBAM obligations are adjusted to reflect the free allocation that EU producers still receive.

Free float

The portion of a company's shares available for trading by the public, excluding strategic and restricted holdings.

Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)

The right of Indigenous peoples and affected communities to give or withhold consent to projects affecting their lands and resources, free of coercion and with full information in advance.

Freedom of association

The right of workers and employers to form and join organisations of their own choosing without interference.

Fugitive emissions

Unintentional releases of greenhouse gases from equipment and systems, such as leaks from pipelines, valves and refrigeration units.

Gender pay gap

The difference between the average or median earnings of men and women, usually expressed as a percentage of men's earnings.

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

An independent international organisation whose GRI Standards are widely used for reporting an organisation's impacts on the economy, the environment and people.

Global warming potential (GWP)

A measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps over a set period, usually 100 years, relative to the same mass of carbon dioxide.

Green bond

A bond whose proceeds are used exclusively to finance or refinance eligible projects with clear environmental benefits.

Green Bond Principles (GBP)

Voluntary guidelines published by ICMA covering use of proceeds, project evaluation and selection, management of proceeds and reporting for green bonds.

Green debt

Debt instruments, such as bonds, sukuk and loans, whose proceeds finance eligible projects with environmental benefits.

Green economy

An economy that results in improved human well-being and social equity while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities (UNEP).

Green hydrogen

Hydrogen produced by electrolysis of water using renewable electricity, with little or no greenhouse gas emissions.

Green loan

A loan made available exclusively to finance or refinance eligible green projects.

Green sukuk

Shariah-compliant certificates whose proceeds finance eligible environmental projects, such as renewable energy or green buildings.

Greenhouse gas (GHG)

A gas that absorbs and re-emits infrared radiation in the atmosphere, causing warming; the main ones covered in accounting are CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, HFCs, PFCs, SF6 and NF3.

Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol)

The most widely used set of standards for corporate greenhouse gas accounting, developed by the World Resources Institute and WBCSD, which defines Scopes 1, 2 and 3.

Greenwashing

Making misleading or unsubstantiated claims about the environmental benefits or sustainability performance of a company, product or investment.