Aosis: Not a dyslexic's version of the Manchester rock group, this is the Alliance of Small Island States, 36 in all, mainly in the Caribbean and the Pacific, whose very existence is threatened by climate change if sea levels rise as scientists predict.
Annex 1 Parties: No joy here, these consist of the world's industrialised countries, including the EU, the US, Japan and the former Soviet bloc. As they are classified as "developed" or "in transition", the onus is on them to take the first steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Baskets of gases: These come in two sizes. The first contains the three main greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide - while the second also includes two CFC (chloro-fluorocarbon) substitutes, HFCs and PFCs, as well as sulphur hexafluoride.
COP3: Nothing to do with Kojak, Hill Street Blues or Making the Cut, this stands for the Third Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change being held in Kyoto. COP-1 took place in Berlin (1995) and COP-2 in Geneva (1996).
Berlin Mandate: It declared that commitments already made under the UN Convention were inadequate to prevent "dangerous" climate change and sought agreement from the Annex 1 countries on targets and timetables to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
COW: Mad or otherwise, this is the acronym for Committee of the Whole involving every delegation to the COP. It mostly meets in closed session to deal with contentious issues, such as "sinks" (see below), and is where much of the horse-trading takes place.
Differentiation: A new form of apartheid, this is an approach favoured by Australia, Norway and Japan, under which different targets for greenhouse gas reductions - rather than a single flat rate - would apply to each of the industrialised countries.
Emissions trading: A virtual loophole, this would allow large greenhouse gas polluters, such as the US, to increase their emissions by purchasing credits from other countries.
EU Bubble: Not at all like the South Sea Bubble, this refers to the EU's commitment to achieve an overall reduction of 15 per cent in greenhouse gases, while allowing less-developed member states, such as Ireland, to increase their emissions.
Hot Air: Not the stock-in-trade of political speeches, this is a term which covers emissions trading with the former Soviet bloc, where economic collapse led to a fortuitous reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and involves buying up credits on current emissions.
Super-heated air: This is really stratospheric stuff, which first surfaced as a serious issue in Kyoto. Basically, it's another US dodge which would involve purchasing credits from former Soviet bloc countries on previous emissions that never happened.
Sinks: Nothing to do with what's found in every kitchen, this term refers to the capacity of forests to absorb carbon dioxide. Another loophole, it would allow countries to continue emitting CO 2 if they planted more trees.
Banking and Borrowing: These are not about money at all, but rather about heavily-polluting countries "banking" lower emissions in one year against future years and even "borrowing" future emissions.
QELROs: This acronym is at the core of what COP-3 is supposed to be all about because it stands for "quantified emissions limitation and reduction objectives" by the Annex 1 countries to cut the emissions which scientists believe are causing climate change.
Joint Implementation: Nothing to do with marijuana, this would involve a heavily-polluting country building, say, an energy-efficient power station or planting a forest in a poorer nation and then claiming credits for the carbon dioxide saved.
Next Steps: The code for a contentious New Zealand proposal which seeks to "stitch" the developing countries into making firm commitments to limit their greenhouse gas emissions in the future. They are having none of it unless the Annex 1 countries act first.
Loopholes: These are popping up everywhere. They include "sinks", "banking and borrowing", "differentiation", "hot air" and "super-heated air", all of which are intended by the US and others (such as Australia) to wriggle out of making any serious commitments.