Glossary
Terms we use, explained
C
- Carbon credits
- Tradable certificates, each for one tonne of CO₂ emissions avoided or removed. Projects that replace fuel generators or charcoal can earn them, once the savings are measured and verified.
- Carbon finance
- Money for climate-friendly projects, raised by selling carbon credits for verified emission cuts — for example, when solar replaces fuel generators.
- Climate action
- Cutting greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change. It is the 13th of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
D
M
- Metering
- Measuring how much electricity a system produces or uses. Smart meters send these readings automatically, which makes remote monitoring and pay-as-you-go billing possible.
O
- Open source
- Software, hardware designs or data published under a licence that lets anyone use, study, change and share them. A2EI publishes its tools and data this way.
P
- Productive use
- Using electricity to generate income — for example to run mills, irrigation pumps, fridges or workshop tools — rather than only for lighting and phone charging.
R
- R&D
- Research and development: investigating and testing new solutions — products, methods or data — so they can be improved and put to use.
- Results-based financing (RBF)
- Funding paid out once agreed results are verified — for example, a subsidy per solar system sold and in use — rather than in advance.
S
- SDG 1: No poverty
- Ending poverty in every form, everywhere.
- SDG 2: Zero hunger
- Ending hunger, making sure everyone has enough nutritious food, and making farming sustainable.
- SDG 3: Good health and well-being
- Healthy lives and well-being for people of every age.
- SDG 4: Quality education
- Good, inclusive education for everyone, and the chance to keep learning throughout life.
- SDG 5: Gender equality
- Equal rights and opportunities for women and girls.
- SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation
- Safe water and sanitation for everyone, managed sustainably.
- SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy
- Energy for everyone that is affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern — the goal at the heart of A2EI's work.
- SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
- Lasting, inclusive economic growth, with productive jobs and fair working conditions for all.
- SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Resilient infrastructure, sustainable industry and support for innovation.
- SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
- Smaller inequalities within countries and between them.
- SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities
- Cities and settlements that are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
- SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
- Using resources responsibly in what we produce and what we consume.
- SDG 13: Climate action
- Urgent action against climate change and its effects.
- SDG 14: Life below water
- Protecting oceans and seas, and using marine resources sustainably.
- SDG 15: Life on land
- Protecting ecosystems on land and forests, fighting desertification and stopping the loss of biodiversity.
- SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
- Peaceful, inclusive societies, with justice for all and accountable institutions.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
- Working together — with the money, knowledge and cooperation it takes — to reach all the other goals.