U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State
Other State Department Archive SitesU.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State
Home Issues & Press Travel & Business Countries Youth & Education Careers About State Video
Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs
Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Related Links
Glossary of Acronyms
  

Glossary of Acronyms

  A l B l C l D l E l F l G l H l I l J l K l L l M l N l O l P l Q l R l S l T l U l V l W l X l Y l Z

ACRONYM

DEFINITION

-A-

A

Bureau of Administration (DOS)

AAAS

American Association for the Advancement of Science

ABACE

Argentina-Brazil Bilateral Nuclear Safeguards Agency

ABI

Association of Biodiversity Informatics

ABL

Airborne Laser

ABRC

Advisory Board for the Research Councils (UK)

AC

Bureau of Arms Control (created in 1999) (DOS)

ACA

Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan, part of the Ministry of Education)

ACAP

Annex II Countries of Asia and the Pacific (climate change group consisting of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, U.S.)

ACBE

Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment (UK)

ACC

Administrative Committee on Coordination (UN)

ACDA

Arms Control and Disarmament Agency

ACMRR

Advisory Committee on Marine Resources Research

ACOPS

Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea

ACOST

Advisory Council on Science and Technology (UK)

ACRV

Assured Crew Rescue System

ACTS

African Center for Technology Studies

ADB

African Development Bank

ADB

Asian Development Bank

ADEOS

Advanced Earth Observation Satellite (Japan)

ADEPT

Assisting in Deployment of Energy Practices and Technologies Program (DOE)

A&E

Audit and Examining

AEA

Atomic Energy Authority

AEB

Brazilian Space Agency (also see COBAE)

AEC

Atomic Energy Commission (India)

AEC

Atomic Energy Council (South Africa, Taiwan)

AECA

Arms Export Control Act

AECB

Atomic Energy Control Board (Canada)

AECL

Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.

AEDD

Arctic Environmental Data Director

AEE

Atomic Energy Establishment

AEES

Arctic Environment Protection Strategy (cooperative program between U.S., Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia-- 1991)

AELM

APEC Economic Leaders Meeting

AEPS

Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (8 nation members, including Canada and the U.S.)

AFRIMS

The Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (HHS & DOD)

AG

Australian Group

AGARD

Advisory Group on Aerospace Research and Development (DOD)

AGASP

Arctic Gas and Aerosol Sampling Program

AGBM

Ad-Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate (climate change)

AGM

Advisory Group Meeting

AHG

Ad Hoc Group

AID

See USAID

AID/OFDA

Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID)

AIDS

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

AIHA

American International Health Alliance

AIJ

Activities Implemented Jointly

AIST

Agency of Industrial Science and Technology of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Japan)

AIT

American Institute in Taiwan

ALERT

Arctic Long-Term Environmental Research Transects Program (EPA)

ALS

Alternate Launch Site

AMAP

Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program

AMMTAP

Alaska Marine Mammal Tissue Archive Project

ANCSA

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971

ANL

Argonne National Laboratory

ANPA

Agenzia Nazionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente (Italy)

ANRE

Agency of Natural Resources and Energy (Japan - part of MITI)

ANWR

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

AOSIS

Alliance of Small Island States

APEC

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Forum)

APELL

Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at Local Level

APFIC

Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission

APGERN

Asian-Pacific Global Environmental Research Network

APHIS

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA)

APIC

Assembly of Pacific Island Communities

AQC

Air Quality Commission (U.S. & Canada)

ARA

Bureau of Inter-American Affairs (changed to WHA in 1999)

ARC

Arctic Research Commission

AR&D

Automated Rendezvous and Docking System

ARF

ASEAN Regional Forum

ARPA

Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984

ARPA

Advanced Research Projects Agency

ARPPS

Advanced Research Perspectives Program (NATO)

ARS

Agricultural Research Service (USDA)

ARW

Advanced Research Workshop (NATO)

ASAP

As Soon As Possible

ASC

Association of Systematics Collections

ASEAN

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

ASFIS

Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Information System

ASI

Advanced Studies Institute (NATO)

ASI

Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (Italian Space Agency)

ASIC

Application-specific Semiconductor Chip

ATC

Air Traffic Control

ATLAS

Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science

ATOC

Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate

ATV

Automated Transfer Vehicle

AVHRR

Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (NASA)

AZT

Anti-AIDS Drug

-B-

BARD

Binational Agricultural Research and Development Foundation (U.S.-Israel)

BATAN

National Atomic Energy Agency (Indonesia)

BCAE

Bulgarian Atomic Energy Commission (NRC)

BCIS

Biodiversity Conservation Information System

BDM

Biodiversity Data Management Project

BDMS

Blend Down Monitoring System

BEAC

Barents Euro-Arctic Council

BECC

Border Environment Cooperation Commission (NAFTA)

BENS

Board of Directors of Business Executives for National Security

BEPC

Beijing Electron-Positron Collider

BERPAC

Program for Long-Term Ecological Research in Ecosystems of the Bering and Chukchi Seas and the Pacific Ocean

BEST

Biomass Energy Systems and Technology

BID

Development)

BIE

Bureau of International Expositions

BIFADEC

Board for International Food and Agricultural Development and Economic Cooperation (White House)

BIN21

Biodiversity Information Network (of the CBD)

BIN-BR

Biodiversity Information Network -- Brazil

BIRD

Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (U.S.-Israel)

B-ISDN

Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network

BIT

Bilateral Investment Treaty

BMFT

Federal Ministry of Research and Technology -- Bundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie (Germany)

BMU

Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (Germany)

BMZ

Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany)

BNC

Binational Commission (on Conservation and Environment)

BNL

Brookhaven National Library

BNSC

British National Space Centre

BO

Branch Office of Embassy

BOM

Bureau of Mines (DOI); ceased to exist as of January 8, 1996

BPPT

Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (Indonesia)

BRDCD

Bangkok Diplomatic Courier Division

BRGM

Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres (France)

BRIM

Biosphere Reserve Integrated Monitoring Program

BSF

Binational Science Foundation (U.S.-Israel)

BSP

Biodiversity Support Program (USAID)

BTU

British Thermal Unit

BUREC

Bureau of Reclamation (DOI)

BWC

Biological (and Chemical) Warfare Convention

-C-

C

Consulate

C

Counselor of the Department (DOS)

C-175

Circular 175 (interagency process for authorization to negotiate and conclude cooperation agreements; coordinated by DOS)

CA

Bureau of Consular Affairs (DOS)

CA

Common Agenda

CAE

Common Agenda for the Environment (U.S.-India)

CAFF

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna

CAMP

Code Applications and Maintenance Program (NRC)

CANEX

Canadian Experiments (aboard Space Shuttle)

CAR

Climate Action Report

CARAD

Civil Aircraft Research and Technology Demonstration Program

CAREC

Caribbean Epidemiology Center

CARICOM

Caribbean Community

CARPE

Central African Regional Environmental Program

CASS

China Academy of Social Sciences

CAST

Cooperation in Applied Science and Technology

CBD

Convention on Biological Diversity (US not a party)

CBIC

Canadian Biodiversity Informatics Consortium, Inc.

CBIN

Canadian Biodiversity Information Network

CBMS

Confidence Building Measures

CCA

Corporate Council on Africa

CCAMLR

Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (28 signatories, including U.S.)

CCAP

Climate Change Action Plan

CCCO

Committee on Climate Changes and the Ocean

CCD

Convention to Combat Desertification

CCMS

Committee on the Challenges for Modern Society (NATO)

CCNAA

Coordination Council for North American Affairs (Taiwan)

CCOHS

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

CCW

Convention on Chemical Weapons

CD

Conference on Disarmament

CDA

Conceptual Design Activity (for ITER)

CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS/PHS)

CDM

Clean Development Mechanism (Kyoto Climate Change protocol element)

CDP

Cooperative Development Program (U.S.-Israel)

CDR

Cooperative Development Research Program (USAID-Israel)

CD&RI

Contraceptive Development and Research in Immunology Program (U.S.-India) (HHS)

CDTI

Center for Technological Industrial Development (Spain)

CEA

Council of Economic Advisors (White House)

CEA

Atomic Energy Commission (France)

CEAO

Communaute Economique de l'Afrique e l'Ouest (also known as West African Economic Community, 7 members and 2 observers, established 1972)

CEBAF

Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (Italy)

CEC

Commission on Environmental Cooperation (NAFTA)

CEC

Commission of the European Communities

CEE

Space Studies Committee (Chile)

C&EE

Central and Eastern Europe

CEES

(FCCSET) Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences

CEFIC

European Chemical Industry Council

CENAM

Center for Metrology (Mexico)

CENAPRED

National Center for Disaster Prevention (Mexico)

CENR

Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

CEOS

(International) Committee on Earth-Observation Satellites

CEP

Caribbean Environment Program

CEPH

Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain (France)

CERN

Centre Europien de Recherches Nucleaires (European Center for Nuclear Research -- Geneva, Switzerland)

CERT

Committee on Energy Research and Technology (OECD/IEA)

CEQ

Council on Environmental Quality (White House)

CFC

Chlorofluorocarbon

CFDT

Committee on Forest Development in the Tropics

CFS

Committee on Food Security (FAO)

CG

Consulate General

CGIAR

Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research

CGMS

Coordination Group on Meteorological Satellites

CHINAPAC

Chinese public packet switching data network (opened in 1993)

CHM

Clearing House Mechanism (CBD)

CHP

Combined Heat and Power Technology

C&I

Criteria and Indicators

CIDI

Interamerican Council on Integral Development

CIDS

Interamerican Committee on Sustainable Development

CIEL

Center for International Environmental Law (Geneva)

CIFOR

Center for International Forestry Research

CIMMYT

Centro Internacionale de Mejoriamento de Mais y Trigo(International Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement)

CIS

Commonwealth of Independent States

CISET

Committee on International Science, Engineering and Technology (FCCSET)

CIT

(U.S.) Court of International Trade

CITES

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

CISET

Committee on International Science, Engineering and Technology

CMA

Chemical Manufacturers Association

CMAA

Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement

CNE

Chile's National Energy Commission

CNEA

National Atomic Energy Commission (Argentina)

CNEN

National Nuclear Energy Commission (Brazil)

CNES

Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (French National Center for Space Studies)

CNG

Compressed Natural Gas

CNPQ

National Research Council (Brazil)

CNR

National Research Council (Italy)

CNRS

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (French National Center for Scientific Research)

CNS

Council for National Safety (South Africa) (NRC)

CNSNS

Comision Nacional de Seguridad Nuclear y Salvaguardias (National Nuclear Safety and Safeguards Commission) (Mexico)

COA

Council of Agriculture (Taiwan)

COARE

Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment

COB

Close of Business (End of Workday)

COBAE

Comissao Brasileira de Actividades Espaciais (Brazilian Commission for Space Activities) (NASA)

COCOM

Coordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls

COEECT

Committee on Energy Efficiency Commerce and Trade

COF

Columbus Orbital Facility

COFO

Committee on Forestry

ComSci

Science and Technology Fellowship Program (DOC)

CONABIO

National Commission on Biodiversity (Mexico)

CONACYT

National Council of Science and Technology (Mexico)

CONAE

Civilian National Commission on Space Activities (Argentina)

CONCAUSA

The U.S.-Central America Joint Accord on Sustainable Development (loosely translated)

CONICIT

National Council for Scientific and Technological Investigations (Venezuela)

CONICYT

National Commission on Science and Technology (Chile)

COP

Conference of the Parties (signatories of convention, agreement; highest level of international meetings)

COPUOS

Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN)

CORECT

Committee on Renewable Energy, Commerce and Trade (DOE)

COSMT

Czech Office for Standards, Metrology and Testing (DOC/NIST)

COSTA

Council on Science and Technology in the Americas

COW

Committee of the Whole

CPC

Climate Change Policy Work Group

CPCTC

Colombo Plan Council for Technical Cooperation

CPPS

Permanent Commission of the South Pacific (Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru)

CRDF

Civilian Research and Development Foundation (1995, U.S.-Russia)

CRESP

Coordinated Research and Environmental Surveillance Program

CRG

Collaborative Research Grant (NATO)

CRSP

Caribbean Regional Seas Program

CRSP

Cooperative Research Support Projects

CSA

Canadian Space Agency

CSCT

Superior Council for Science and Technology (Portugal)

CSD

Commission on Sustainable Development

CSIR

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (Indonesia)

CSIST

Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (AIT Taiwan)

CSM

Consultants Meeting

CSMT

U.S. Country Studies Management Team

CSN

Nuclear Safety Council (Spain)

CSP

U.S. Country Studies Program (FCCC)

CSTP

Committee on Science and Technology Policy (OECD)

CTI

Climate Technology Initiative (FCCC)

CTIS

Center for Trade and Investment Services (USAID)

CTR

Cooperative Threat Reduction

CVG

Guayana Development Corporation (Venezuela)

CVI

Children's Vaccine Initiative (U.S.-Japan)

CWC

Chemical Weapons Convention

CWLR

Civilian Light Water Reactor

CZMU

Control Zone Management Unit

-D-

D

Office of the Deputy Secretary (DOS)

DAD-IS

Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (FAO)

DARA

German Space Agency (has been replaced with DLR

DARPA

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DOD)

DEA

Defense Exchange Agreement (DOD)

DESY

German Electron Synchotron Facility (Hamburg, Germany)

DFA

Development Fund for Africa (USAID)

DG

Director-General, Directorate-General

DHHS (or HHS)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

DLR

German Space Research Facility (replaces DARA)

DNA

Defense Nuclear Agency (DOD)

DNAD

Disarmament and Nuclear Affairs Division (MOFAT, ROK)

DOC

U.S. Department of Commerce

DOD

U.S. Department of Defense

DOE

U.S. Department of Energy

DOI

U.S. Department of the Interior

DOS

U.S. Department of State

DOSE

Dynamics of the Solid Earth Program (Architecture-Engineering Academy, Kazakstan)

DOT

U.S. Department of Transportation

DRAM

Dynamic Random Access Memory

DRG

Defense Research Group (DOD)

DRDO

Defense Department (India)

DRL

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DOS)

DRN

National Research Council (Indonesia)

DS

Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DOS)

DTC

Defense Trade Controls

DTI

Department of Trade and Industry (U.K.)

DTICC

Defense Technological and Industrial Cooperation Committee (Korea and DOD)

DTRA

Defense Threat Reduction Agency

DWFN

Distant Water Fishing Nation

-E-

E

Under Secetary For Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs (DOS)

E

Embassy

EA

Enterprise for the Americas

EA

Environment Agency (Japan)

EAP

Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (DOS)

EAPC

Euro Atlantic Partnership Council (part of NATO that consists of all partners and allies)

EB

Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (DOS)

EBRD

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

EC

European Community (see EU; title changed in 1994)

ECA

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (DOS)

ECE

Economic Commission for Europe (UN)

ECN

Energy Research Foundation (the Netherlands)

ECOFIN

EU Ministers for the Economy and Finance

ECOSOC

United Nations Economic and Social Council

ECSD

Enquete Commission on Sustainable Development (Germany)

ECSS

(OECD) Executive Committee in Special Session

ECU

European Currency Unit

E-Cubed

Energy, Environment, and Economics

EDA

Engineering Design Activity (for ITER)

EE

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE)

EEC

European Economic Community

EEO

Equal Employment Opportunity

EEP

Energy Efficient Project

EEZ

Exclusive Economic Zone

EF

Environmental Fund

EFM(s)

Eligible Family Member(s)

EHC

Environmental Health Center

EI

Environmental Initiative

EIA

Environmental Impact Assessment

EID

Emerging Infectious Diseases

EIT

Economy in Transition (countries of E. and Cen. Eur and FSU - 11 of these under the climate convention)

ELCI

Environmental Liaison Centre International

ELI

Environmental Law Institute (Mexico)

EMAP

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program

EMEP

Co-Operative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of Long-Range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (ECE)

EMINWA

Environmentally Sound Management of Inland Water

EMR

Department of Energy, Mines and Resources (Canada)

ENB

Earth Negotiations Bulletin

ENEA

National Agency for New Technology, Energy, and the Environment (Italy)

ENREN

Ente Nacional Regulador Nuclear (Argentina) (NRC)

ENRESA

Nuclear Waste Management Authority (Spain)

ENRM

Environment & Natural Resources Management Project (G-7)

ENVICAN

Ministry of Environment (Canada)

ENVISAT

Environment Satellite Mission (ESA)

EOS

Earth Observing System

EOSDIS

Earth Observing System Comprehensive Data and Information System

EPA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPACT

Energy Policy Act of 1992 (U.S.)

EPD

Environment Policy Dialogue (U.S.-Japan)

EPOC

Environment Policy Committee (OECD)

EPPR

Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (Coast Guard)

EPT

Environment Policy and Technology Project (USAID)

EPZ

Environmental Pollution Prevention Project (USAID)

ERC

Engineering Research Center Program (Korea)

EREFEN

Protocol for the Regional Study of the El Nino Phenomenon

ERIN

Environmental Resources Information Network (Australia)

ESA

Endangered Species Act

ESA

European Space Agency

ESCAP

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

ESD

Conference on Environmentally Sustainable Development (World Bank)

ESDI

European Security Defense Initiative

ESF

Economic Support Funds

ESPOO

ECE Convention on Transboundary Impact Assessment

ESPRIT

European Strategic Program for Research and Development in Information Technology

ESRC

Economic and Social Research Council (U.K.)

EST (or ES&T)

Environment, Science and Technology

ESTR

Environment, Science and Technology Resources Statistical Package (DOS/OES)

ESV

Experimental Safety Vehicle (DOT)

ETI

Experts Center for Taxonomic Identification

ETIP

Energy Technology Innovation Project

EU

European Union (originally EC, but changed in 1994)

EUMETSAT

European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites

EUR

Bureau of European Affairs (DOS)

EURATOM

European Atomic Energy Commission

EURECA

European Retrievable Carrier (ESA)

EUREKA

European Research Coordinating Agency

EV

Electric Vehicle (DOT & DOE)

EWG

Environmental Working Group

EXACT

Executive Action Team (management body of the Middle East Peace Process Regional Water Data Banks Project)

-F-

FAA

South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency

FAA

U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (DOT)

FACA

Federal Advisory Committee Act

FAG

Forestry Advisers Group

FAO

Food and Agriculture Organization (UN)

FAST

Fast Auroral Snapshot Explorer

FCCC

Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN)

FCCSET

Federal Coordinating Committee for Science, Engineering, and Technology (U.S.)

FERRO

Far Eastern Regional Research Office (USDA & New Delhi, India)

FFA

South Pacific Forum Fishing Agency

FGDC

Federal Geographic Data Committee

FGF

Fisherman's Guaranty Fund

FHA (also FHWA)

Federal Highway Administration (DOT)

FIBIN

Finnish Biodiversity Information Network

FIC

John E. Fogarty International Center (HHS/NIH)

FMS

Foreign Military Sales

FODAG

Food and Agriculture Organizations

FOE

Federal Energy Office (Switzerland)

FOFCC

Federal Oceanographic Laboratory System

FOIA

Freedom of Information Act

FOMENTO

Development Ministry (Venezuela)

FRA

Federal Railroad Administration (DOT)

FRD

Foundation for Research Development (South Africa)

FRDCD

Frankfurt Diplomatic Courier Division

FSI

Foreign Service Institute (DOS)

FSK

Federal Counterintelligence Service (formerly Russia's KGB)

FSL

Forecast Systems Laboratory (DOC/NOAA)

FSM

Full Scientific Material

FSN

Foreign Service National

FSO

Foreign Service Officer (DOS)

FSU

(Former) Soviet Union

FTAA

Free Trade Area of the Americas

FUNDEA

Foundation for Environmental Education (Mexico)

FWF

Fund for the Advancement of Scientific Research

FWIE

Fish and Wildlife Information Exchange

FWS

Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI)

FY

Fiscal Year

-G-

G

Office of the Under Secretary for Global Affairs (DOS)

G-6

(Group of 6 Major Arms Suppliers - US, UK, France, Germany, Russia, Italy)

G-8

Group of 8 developed countries - US, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Britain, Canada, Russia

GAAC

German-American Academic Council (established in 1993)

GAN

Federal Nuclear and Radiation Safety Authority of the Russian Federation (NRC)

GATT

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

GAW

Global Atmosphere Watch

GBIF

Global Biodiversity Information Facility

GC

Governing Council

GCC

Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission (U.S.-Russia)

GCC

Global Climate Change Program

GCC

Arab States of the Gulf - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, & UAE)

GCDIS

Global Change Data and Information Management System

GCMD

Global Change Master Directory (NASA)

GCOS

Global Climate Observing System

GCRMN

Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network

GCRP

Global Change Research Program

GDB

Genome Data Base (John Hopkins University)

GDIN

Global Disaster Information Network

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

GEEP

Group of Experts on Effects of Pollutants

GEF

Global Environment Facility (World Bank/UNDP/UNEP)

GEMS

Global Environmental Monitoring System

GEMS/WATER

Global Water Quality Monitoring Programme

GERD

Gross Domestic Expenditure on Research and Development

GESAMP

Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution

GGS

Global Geospace Science Program

GHG

Greenhouse Gas(es)

GIEWS

Global Information and Early Warning System for Food and Agriculture (FAO)

GIFA

Governing International Fishery Agreement (DOS)

GIPME

Global Investigation of Pollution in the Marine Environment

GIS

Global Information System

GITSB

Government Information Technology Services Board

GIWG

GPS International Working Group

GLFC

Great Lakes Fishery Commission

GLOBE

Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment (DOS & EPA)

GLOBE

International Global Legislators for a Balanced Environment

GLOBEC

Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics Research Program

GLORIA

Geologic Long-Range Inclined Asdic System (DOI/USGS)

GLOSS

Global Sea-Level Observing System

GLRS

Geoscience Laser Ranging System

GMO(s)

genetically modified organism(s)

GNG

Greenhouse Gas(es)

GNP

Gross National Product

GOIN

Global Observation Information Network

GOOS

Global Ocean Observing System

GOS

Global Observing System of the Russian Federation (DOC/NIST)

GOSSTANDART

State Committee for Standardization, Metrology and Certification

GPA

Global Program of Action

GPS

Global Positioning System

GRID

Global Resource Information Database (UN/UNEP)

GRULAC

Latin American and Caribbean Group

GSO

General Services Operations

GSO

Geostationary Orbit

GURTS

Genetic Use Restriction Technologies

-H-

H

Bureau of Legislative Affairs (DOS)

HAN

Highly Advanced National Projects

HAZMAT

Hazardous Material

HAZMAT

Hazardous Waste Management Training

HCFC

Hydrochlorofluorocarbon

HCOPIL

Hague Conference on Private International Law

HDTV

High-Definition Television System

HERA

Hadron Electron Ring Accelerator

HFC

Hydrofluorocarbon

HFSP

Human Frontier Science Program

HHS (also DHHS)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

HIMAC

Heavy Ion Metal Acceleration in Chiba (Japan)

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS)

HMG

Her Majesty's Government (U.K.)

HMIP

Her Majesty's Government's Inspectorate of Pollution (U.K.)

HRSA

Health Resources and Services Adminstration (HHS)

H&SE

Health and Safety Executive (U.K.)

HSDN

High Seas Driftnet

HST

Hubble Space Telescope

HUD

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUGO

(International) Human Genome Organization

-I-

IABIN

InterAmerican Biodiversity Network

IAC

Information Analysis Center

IADB

Inter-American Development Bank (also known as Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo -- 44 members, established 1959)

IAEA

International Atomic Energy Agency (117 members)

IAF

Inter-American Foundation

IAI

Inter-American Institute for Global Climate Change Research

IAPG

Interagency Arctic Policy Group

IAP-WASAD

International Action Programme on Water and Sustainable Agricultural Development

IARC

International Agency for Research on Cancer

IARCS

International Agricultural Research Centers

IARPC

Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee

IAQMB

International Air Quality Management Basin

IASAP

International Arctic Sea Assessment Project

IASC

International Arctic Science Council

IATTC

Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission

IBAMA

National Environment and Renewable Natural Resources Institute (Brazil)

IBEC

International Bank for Economic Cooperation (established 1963)

IBEP

International Border Environmental Plan (U.S.-Mexico)

IBPCA

International Bureau of the Permanent Court of Arbitration

IBPCT

International Bureau for the Publication of Customs Tariffs

IBRAE

Institute of Nuclear Safety of the Russian Academy of Sciences (NRC)

IBRD

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (part of World Bank lending to credit-worthy developing countries with high per capita incomes -- 177 members)

IBSRAM

International Board of Soil Resources and Management

IBWC

International Boundary Water Commission (U.S.-Mexico)

IBWM

International Bureau of Weights and Measurements

ICAC

International Cotton Advisory Committee

ICAO

International Civil Aviation Organization (181 members, established 1944) (UN)

ICAR

International Centers for AIDS Research (HHS)

ICC

Inuit Circumpolar Conference

ICC

International Chamber of Commerce (members are 59 national councils, established 1919)

ICCA

International Council on Chemical Associations

ICCAT

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas

ICCROM

International Center for the Study of the Preservation and the Restoration of Cultural Property

ICDA

Integrated Conservation and Development Areas

ICEM

International Conference on Radioactive Waste Management and Environmental Remediation

ICES

International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

ICFA

International Committee for Future (particle) Accelerators

ICFTU

International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (164 national organizations in 117 areas, established 1949)

ICIDR

International Centers for Infectious Diseases Research (HHS)

ICJ

International Court of Justice (15 judges, also known as the World Court, established 1945)

ICLEI

International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives

ICMES

International Cooperation on Marine Engineering Systems (DOT)

ICOT

Institute on Computer Training (Japan)

ICPIC

International Cleaner Production Information Clearing House

ICRAF

International Center for Research in Agroforestry (UN)

ICRC

International Committee of the Red Cross (25 Swiss nationals, established 1863)

ICRD

International Cooperative Research and Development Program (DOD)

ICRI

International Coral Reef Initiative

ICSG

International Copper Study Group

ICSU

International Council of Scientific Unions

ICTDR

International Centers for Tropical Disease Research (HHS/NIH)

IDA

International Development Association (156 members, established 1960)

IDB

Interamerican Development Bank (also see IADB)

IDB

Islamic Development Bank (47 members plus the PLO, established 1973)

IDNDR

International Decade on Natural Disaster Reduction (UN)

IDRU

Tropical Disease Research Units (HHS)

IEA

Information Exchange Agreement (DOD)

IEA

International Energy Agency (OECD) (23 members, established 1974)

IEEA

Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting

IEP

Information Exchange Project (DOD)

IFAD

International Fund for Agricultural Development (150 members, established 1974) (UN)

IFC

International Finance Cooperation (World Bank) (159 members, established 1955)

IFCS

International Forum on Chemical Safety

IFDC

International Fertilizer Development Center (USAID)

IFF

Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (successor to IPF)

IFPRI

International Food Policy Research Institute

IFREE

International Fund for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

IGADD

Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (6 members - Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda) (established 1986)

IGBP

International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (ICSU)

IGBP/START

International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme/Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training

IGC

International Grains Council

IGEB

Interagency GPS Executive Board

IGES

Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (Japan)

IGFA

International Group of Funding Agencies (for Global Change Research)

IGOSS

Integrated Global Ocean Services System

IHDP

International Human Dimension Program (ICSU/ISSC)

IHO

International Hydrographic Organization

IIB

International Investment Bank (established 1970; now a Russian bank with new charter)

IICA

Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

IIEC

International Institute for Energy Conservation

IIP

International Information Programs (DOS)

IIUPL

International Institute for the Unification of Private Law

ILO

International Labor Organization (169 members, established 1919) (UN)

ILZSG

International Lead and Zinc Study Group

IMF

International Monetary Fund (179 members, established 1944) (UN)

IMI

International Market Insight

IML

International Microgravity Laboratory

IMO

International Maritime Organization (146 members, established 1958 as Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization, name changed in 1982) (UN)

IMS

Intelligent Manufacturing System(s)

INA

Immigration and Nationality Act

INBio

National Biodiversity Network (Costa Rica)

INC

Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (for FCCC) (after COP, next highest level of international meeting)

INCD

Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of a Convention to Combat Desertification

INCLEN

International Clinical Epidemiology Network (HHS/PHS/CDC)

INEN

Institute of Standardization (Ecuador)

INFOTERRA

International Environment Information System

INL

Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (DOS)

INMARSAT

International Maritime Satellite Organization (69 members, established 1976)

INPARQUES

Institute of National Parks of the Ministry of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Venezuela)

INPE

National Space Research Institute (Brazil)

INPEN

Institute of Nuclear Energy (Peru) (NRC)

INR

Bureau of Intelligence and Research (DOS)

INRO

International Natural Rubber Organization

INSALUD

National Institute of Health (Spain)

INSAT

Indian National Geostationary Satellite System

INSERM

National Institute of Health and Science Research (France)

INTA

National Institute for Aerospace Technology (Spain)

INTELSAT

International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (126 members and 56 nonsignatory users, established 1971)

INTERPOL

International Criminal Police Organization (170 members, established 1956)

INTLO

International Nuclear Technology Liaison Organization

IO

Bureau of International Organization Affairs (DOS)

IOC

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

IOC

International Olympic Committee (184 members, established 1894)

IODE

International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange

IOE

International Office of Epizootics (9 members in its Administrative Commission which meets twice a year)

IOFC

Indian Ocean Fishery Commission

IOLM

International Organization for Legal Metrology

IOM

Institute of Medicine (National Academy of Sciences)

IOM

International Organization for Migration (48 members and 40 observers, established 1951 as Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration)

IOMAC

Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Commission

IOTC

Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

IOVW

International Office of the Vine and Wine

IP

Intellectual Property

IPAC

International Pharmaceutical Aerosol Consortium

IPC

Integrated Pollution Control

IPCC

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UN)

IPCS

Interational Programme on Chemical Safety

IPF

Intergovernmental Panel on Forests

IPHC

International Pacific Halibut Commission

IPM

Integrated Pest Management (World Bank)

IPP

Industrial Partnering Program (U.S.-Russia)

IPR

Intellectual Property Rights

IPS

Institute for Policy Studies

IPSN

Institute for Protection and Nuclear Safety (France) (NRC)

IPU

Interparliamentary Union

IRAA

International Relations Authorization Act

IREC

Interstate Renewable Energy Council

IREP

International Recruitment Programme

IRIS

Research Interim Stage (Italy)

IRM

Bureau of Information Resource Management (DOS)

IRPTC

International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals (UN/UNEP)

IRRI

International Rice Research Institute

IRSG

International Rubber Study Group

ISAS

Institute of Space and Aeronautical Sciences (Japan)

ISF

International Science Foundation (U.S.-Russia)

ISO

International Standards Organization (73 members and 20 correspondent members, established 1947)

ISRO

Indian Space Research Organization (Department of Space -- India)

ISS

International Space Station

ISSC

International Social Science Council

ISTA

International Seed Testing Association

ISTC

International Science and Technology Center (Moscow, Russia) (established by U.S./Japan/EU/Russia to provide work for former Soviet weapons scientists)

ISTP

International Solar-Terrestrial Physics Program

ISU

International Space University (international institution located in Strasbourg, France)

ISY

International Space Year (1992)

ITCPPGP

International Technical Conference and Program on Plant Genetic Resources (FAO)

ITER

International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor

ITER

International Technological Engineering and Research

ITIS

Integrated Taxonomic Information System

ITTA

International Tropical Timber Agreement

ITTC

International Tropical Tuna Commission

ITTO

International Tropical Timber Organization

ITU

International Telecommunication Union (182 members, established 1932) (UN)

IUCH

International Union for Circumpolar Health

IUCN

International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

IUU

Illegal, unregulated and unreported

IVHS

Intelligent Vehicle-Highway System (DOT)

IWC

International Whaling Commission

IWG

Interagency Working Group

IWGDMGC

Interagency Working Group on Data Management for Global Change (U.S.)

-J-

JAERI

Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute

JAMSTEC

Japan Marine Science and Technology Center

JC

Joint Committee

JCG

Joint Consultative Group

JCIC

Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission

JCS

Joint Chiefs of Staff (DOD)

JDA

Japan Defense Agency

JDL

Joint Directors of Laboratories (DOD)

JEM

Japanese Experiment Module

JESSI

Joint European Submicron Silicon Initiative

JET

Joint European Torus

JGOFS

Joint Global Ocean Flux Study

JHLAP

Joint High Level Advisory Panel

JI

Joint Implementation (under the Climate Convention and Kyoto Protocol)

JICST

Japan Information Center for Science and Technology

JIGE

Joint International Group of Experts (IMO)

JINS

Japan Institute of Nuclear Safety

JNICT

National Board of Scientific and Technical Research (Portugal)

JOMAR

Joint Office for Mapping and Research in the EEZ (DOI-USGS & NOAA)

JRC

Joint Research Center

JRRC

Japanese Reprographic Rights Center

JSCNOET

Joint Standing Committee on Nuclear and Other Energy Technologies (U.S.-Korea)

JSPS

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

JT-60

Japanese Torus (Tokamak) Fusion Device

-K-

KAERI

Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute

KAON

Canadian High Energy Physics Project (located at Vancouver, British Columbia)

KARI

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

KBN

State Committee for Scientific Research (Poland)

KEDO

Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization

KEFRI

Kenya Forestry Research Institute

KEIL

Kansas Environmental Information Lab

KEMRI

Kenyan Medical Research Institute (HHS)

KETRI

Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute

KEVEVAPI

Kenyan Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute

KIEP

Korean Institute for International Economic Policy

KIER

Korean Institute of Energy and Resources

KIET

Korean Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade

KIGAM

Korean Institute of Geology, Mining and Minerals

KINS

Korean Institute of Nuclear Safety

KIRDI

Kenya's Industrial Research and Development Institute

KIST

Korea's Institute of Science and Technology

KMA

Korea's Meteorological Administration

KMUFA

Central Technological Development Fund (Hungary)

KOMSAT

Korean Multi-Purpose Satellite System

KORDI

Korean Ocean Research and Development Institute

KOSEF

Korea's Science and Engineering Foundation

KRISS

Korean Research Institute of Standards and Science

-L-

L

Office of the Legal Adviser (DOS)

LAC

Latin America and the Caribbean

LAES

Latin American Economic System (27 members, also known as Sistema Economico Latinoamericana (SELA), established 1975)

LAGEOS

Laser Geodynamics Satellite

LAIA

Latin American Integration Association (11 members and 16 observers, also known as Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI), established 1980)

LANL

Los Alamos National Laboratory (DOE)

LAPAN

Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Indonesia)

LAS

League of Arab Nations (20 members, also known as The Arab League, established 1945)

LBS

Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution

LDC

Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (aka London Convention)

LDCs

Least Developed Countries

LHC

Large Hadron Collider

LIGO

National Laser Interferometer Gravitational Observatory

LLDCs

Least Developed Countries

LLNL

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

LNG

Liquid Natural Gas

LO

Liaison Office

LOA

Letters of Authorization

LOCA

Loss-of-Coolant Accident

LOICZ

Land-Ocean Interaction in the Coastal Zone

LOS

Law of the Sea (60 parties, not yet in force)

LPG

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

LRTAP

Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

LWR

Light-Water Reactor

-M-

M

Office of the Under Secretary for Management (DOS)

M

Mission

MAB

Man and the Biosphere Program

MAC

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Venezuela)

MAD

Magnetic Anomaly Detection Technology (DOT)

MAFF

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (U.K.)

MAP

Military Assistance Program

MARAD

Maritime Administration (DOT)

MARI

Mexico City Air Quality Research Initiative

MARNR

Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Venezuela)

MARPOL

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships

MARV

Maneuverable Re-Entry Vehicle

MBR

Methyl Bromide

MBT

Migratory Bird Treaty (US-Canada, US-Mexico)

MDI

Metered Dose Inhaler

MEA

Multilateral Environmental Agreement

MEDIN

Mediterranean Disaster Information Network

MEDLARS

Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (HHS/NIH/NLM)

MEDLINE

On-Line Medical Library (NIH)

MEM

Ministry for Energy and Mines (Venezuela)

MENA

Middle East/North Africa Economic Summit

MEPA

Meteorological and Environmental Protection Administration (Saudi Arabia)

MEPC

Marine Environmental Pollution Committee

MEPNE

Middle East Peace Network

MEPP

Middle East Peace Process

MERC

Middle East Regional Cooperation Program (USAID)

MERCOSUR

Southern Cone Common Market (4 members - Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, established 1991)

MERP

Marine Ecosystem Response Project

MERTU

Medical Entomology Research and Training Unit (HHS/CDC)

METEOSAT

Meteorological Satellite(s)

METOC

Meteorology and Oceanography

MFA or MOFA

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

MFCMA

Magnuson Fisheries Conservation and Management Act

MIC

Minister of Information and Communication (ROK)

MIDS

Multi-Functional Information Distribution System (DOD)

MIGA

Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (World Bank)

MINATOM

Ministry of Atomic Energy

MITI

Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Japan)

MLS

Microwave Landing System (DOT/FAA)

MMC

Marine Mammal Commission

MMHSRP

Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program

MMPA

Marine Mammal Protection Act

MMS

Minerals Management Services (DOI)

MMTCE

Million Metric Tons of Carbon Equivalent

MND

Ministry of National Defense (ROK)

MNER

Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Program in Russia

MNR

Ministry of Natural Resources (Suriname)

MOA

Memorandum of Agreement

MOC

Memorandum of Cooperation

MOCT

Ministry of Construction and Transportation (ROK)

MOH

Ministry of Health (Vietnam)

MOMAF

Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (ROK)

MONBUSHO

Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (Japan)

MORT

Ministry of Research and Technology (Germany)

MOST

Ministry of Science and Technology (Israel, Korea)

MOSTE

Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (Vietnam)

MOU

Memorandum of Understanding

MOY

Ministry of Transportation (Germany)

MPLM

Mini Pressurized Logistics Module (NASA)

MPRM

Marine Pollution Research and Monitoring

MRC

Marine Resources Committee (APEC)

MRC

Medical Research Council (U.K.)

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

MRI

Meteorological Research Institute (Korea's Meteorological Administration)

MSAT

Mobile Telecommunications Satellite

MSC

Marie Sklodowska Curie Fund (U.S.-Poland Science and Technology Joint Fund)

MSMU

Moscow State Mining University (Russia)

MSS

Meteorological Service Singapore

MSS

Mobile Satellite Services

MTA

Academy of Sciences (Hungary)

MTCR

Missile Technology Control Regime (25 members, established 1987)

MTPE

Mission to Planet Earth Program (NASA changed the program name to simply Earth Sciences)

MUSIC

Multi-Spectral Infrared Camera (DOD)

MW

International Mussell Watch

-N-

NABE

North Atlantic Bloom Experiment (JGOFS)

NABIN

North American Biodiversity Network

NABST

National Advisory Board on Science and Technology (Canada)

NAC

North Atlantic Council (NATO)

NACC

North American Calibration Cooperation (DOC/NIST)

NACC

North Atlantic Cooperation Council (38 members, established 1991) (NATO)

NACE

North American Commission on the Environment

NACEC

North America Commission on Environmental Cooperation

NAEC

National Atomic Energy Commission (Hungary)

NAFO

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization

NAFTA

North America Free Trade Agreement

NAGRA

National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Switzerland)

NAIP

Nuclear Accident Incident Program

NAM

Nonaligned Movement (107 members plus the PLO, 21 observers and 21 guests, established 1961)

NAPAP

National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program

NARSTO

North American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone Charter

NAS

National Academy of Sciences

NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASCO

North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization

NASDA

National Space Development Agency (Japan)

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (16 members, established 1949)

NBC

Nuclear Biological and Chemical Weapon

NBII

National Biological Information Infrastructure

NBST

National Biological Status and Trends Program

NC

Nordic Council (5 members - Denmark including Faroe and Greenland, Finland including Aland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, established 1952

NCA

National Computerization Agency (ROK)

NCAR

National Center for Atmospheric Research (Boulder, Colorado)

NCI

National Cancer Institute (HHS/NIH)

NCIH

National Council for International Health

NEA

Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (DOS)

NEA

Nuclear Energy Agency (23 members, established 1958) (OECD)

NEI

National Eye Institute (HHS/NIH)

NEPA

National Environmental Policy Act

NEPA

National Environmental Protection Agency (China)

NERC

Natural Environment Research Center (U.K.)

NESDIS

National Environment, Satellite, Data and Information Service (DOC/NOAA)

NEST

Network for Environment, Science and Technology

NGO

Non-Governmental Organization

NHLBI

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (HHS/NIH)

NHMRC

National Health Medical Research Council (Australia)

NIA

National Institute on Aging (HHS/NIH)

NIAAA

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (HHS/NIH)

NIAID

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (HHS/NIH)

NIAMS

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (HHS/NIH)

NIB

Nordic Investment Bank (5 members -- Denmark including Faroe and Greenland, Finland including Aland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, established 1975)

NICs

Newly Industrializing Countries

NICHD

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HHS/NIH)

NIDRR

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation (HHS/NIH)

NIEs

Newly Industrializing Economies

NIH

National Institutes of Health (HHS)

NII

National Information Infrastructure

NIMH

National Institute of Mental Health (HHS/NIH)

NIMHANS

National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (India)

NINDS

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (HHS/NIH)

NIOSH

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (HHS/NIH)

NIS

New Independent States (formerly part of the Soviet Union)

NIST

National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly The Bureau of National Standards)(DOC)

NIT

Institute of Technology (Norway)

NLL

Northern Limit Line (ROK)

NLM

National Library of Medicine (HHS/NIH)

NMC

National Meteorological Center

NMFS

National Marine Fisheries Service (DOC/NOAA)

NMR

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (DOD)

NMSAE

The Netherlands Ministry for Social Affairs and Employment

NNSA

National Nuclear Safety Administration (China)

NOAA

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DOC)

NOX

Nitrogen Oxides

NP

Bureau of Nonproliferation (DOS)

NPA

NATO Parliamentary Assembly

NPAFC

North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission

NPB

Neutral Particle Beam

NPS

National Park Service (DOI)

NPTR

Normal Permanent Trade Relations

NRA

National Rivers Authority (U.K.)

NRAJ

Natural Resource Authority of Jordan

NRC

National Research Council (part of National Academy of Sciences)

NRC

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

NRDC

Natural Resources Defense Council

NRL

Naval Research Laboratory

NRM

National Resources Management Project (USAID & Indonesia)

NRRC

U.S. Nuclear Risk Reduction Center

NSAB

National Security Advisory Board (India)

NSAU

National Space Agency of Ukraine

NSC

National Science Council (Taiwan)

NSC

National Security Council (White House)

NSCAT

NASA Scatterometer

NSDI

National Space Data Infrastructure

NSF

National Science Foundation

NSG

Nuclear Suppliers Group (28 members, also known as the London Suppliers Group, established 1974)

NSIDC

National Snow and Ice Data Center

NSPD

National Space Policy Directive (White House)

NS&T

National Status and Trends Program

NSTC

National Science and Technology Council (announced in 9/93 as the merging of FCCSET, the National Space Council, and the National Critical Materials Council; established by Executive Order on 11/23/93) (White House)

NTA

New Transatlantic Agenda

NTIA

National Telecommunication and Information Administration (DOC)

NTIS

National Technical Information Service (DOC)

NWS

U.S. National Weather Service

-O-

OAS

Organization of American States (35 members and 31 observers, established 1948)

OAPEC

Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (10 members, established 1968)

OAU

Organization of African Unity (52 members, established 1963)

ODA

Official Development Assistance

ODA

Overseas Development Administration

ODC

Office of Defense Controls (Japan)

ODP

Ocean Drilling Program

ODP

Ozone Depleting Potential

ODS

Ozone-Depleting Substances (which include CFC's)

ODTC

Office of Defense Trade Controls

OECD

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (25 members and 1 special member (EU), established 1960)

OECS

Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (7 members and 1 associate member, established 1981)

OES

Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (DOS)

OESI

Oceans, Environment, and Science Initiatives

OEWG

Open-Ended Working Group

OFWIM

Organization of Fish and Wildlife Information Managers

OIC

Organization of the Islamic Conference (47 members and 4 observers, established 1969)

OIG

Office of Inspector General (DOS)

OMFB

National Technical Development Committee (Hungary)

ONAP

Office of National AIDS Policy

ONR

Office of Naval Research (DOD)

OOB

Opening of Business (Beginning of Workday)

OOSA

Office of Outer Space Affairs

OPA 90

Oil Pollution Act of 1990

OPANAL

Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean)

OPCW

Organization of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

OPEC

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (12 members, established 1960)

OPIC

Overseas Private Investment Corporation

OPRC

International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation of 1990

OPPTS

Office in Charge of PCBs (EPA)

ORISE

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

OSI

Open Society Institute of the Soros Foundation

OST

Office of Science and Technology (cabinet-level) (U.K.)

OSTP

Office of Science and Technology Policy (White House)

OSVS

Orbiter Space Vision System

OTKA

National Scientific Research Fund (Hungary)

-P-

P

Office of the Under Secretary for Political Affairs (DOS)

PA

Bureau of Public Affairs (DOS)

PCA

Permanent Court of Arbitration (27 members) (UN)

PAHO

Pan American Health Organization (HHS)

PAIGH

Pan American Institute for Geography and History

PAME

Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment

PARCA

Pan American Railway Congress Association (DOT)

PAVE

Preparation for AIDS Vaccine Evaluation (HHS)

PC

Pacific Community (formerly the South Pacific Commission)

PCB

Polychlorinated biphenyls (possibly cancerous substance used in electrical equipment such as transformers)

PCAST

President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (White House)

PCC

Policy Coordinating Committee

PCC/OES

Policy Coordinating Committee for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES)

PEAC

President's Envoy for AIDS Coordination

PEIS

Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

PER

Program Evaluation Reports

PFC

Per Fluorinated Compounds

PFP

Partnership for Peace

PGRFA

Plant Genetic Resources for Agriculture

PHARMA

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association

PHLIS

Public Health Laboratory Information System (HHS/NIH/CDC)

PhRMA

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

PHS

Public Health Service (HHS)

PIC

Prior Informed Consent

PICES

North Pacific Marine Science Organization

PIERG

Paldiski International Experts Reference Group (nuclear wastes/Baltics)

PIN

Pacific Island Nation

PIPICO

Panel on International Programs and Intergovernmental Cooperation in Oceans Affairs

PIR

Program Implementation Report

P.L.

Public Law

PLA

People's Liberation Army (China)

PLO

Palestinian Liberation Organization

PM

Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (DOS)

PNC

Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation (Japan)

PNR

Polish National Railways

PNRI

The Philippines Nuclear Research Institute

POP

Persistent Organic Pollutant

POTUS

President of the United States

PPARC

Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (U.K.)

PRC

People's Republic of China

PRM

Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (DOS)

PRS

Policy Review Subcommittee (US-ROK)

PSC

Pacific Salmon Commission

PSED

Private Sector Energy Development Project

PSR

Physicians for Social Responsibility

PUAE

Agreement on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy

PWRI

Public Works Research Institute (Japan)

-R-

R

Office of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs

R&D

Research and Development

RAFI

Rural Advancement Foundation International

RAMSAR

(NOT AN ACRONYM)FYI: Global intergovernmental treaty of 112 parties whose goals are to protect and enhance the world's diminishing wetland areas

RAS

Russian Academy of Sciences

RASA

Russian Aviation and Space Agency

RCT

Radomized Control Trial (HHS/CDC)

RCU

Regional Coordinating Unit

RD&D

Research, Development and Demonstration

RDP

Reconstruction and Development Program (U.S.-Russia)

REAT

Renewable Energy Applications and Training

REC

Regional Environmental Center

RELAB

Latin American Biological Network

RERF

Radiation Effects Research Foundation (Japan)

RFBR

Russian Foundation for Basic Research

RFP

Request For Proposal

RG

Rio Group (11 members, also known as Grupo de los Ocho, established 1946)

RMENR

Russian Ministry of Environment

RMS

Revised Management Scheme (involving whales - IWC)

RNODC

Responsible National Oceanographic Data Centre

RONA

Regional Office of North America

ROPME

Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (Persian Gulf States, but not the Red Sea states of Egypt, Israel, or Jordan)

ROSKOMNEDRH

The Committee on Geology and the Use of Underground Resources (Russia)

RSED

Research and Scientific Exchanges Division (USDA)

RSPA

Research and Special Program Administration (UN/ESOC)

RVOC

Research Vessel Operators Council

-S-

S&T

Science and Technology

SA

Bureau of South Asian Affairs (DOS)

SAARC

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (7 members -Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, established 1985)

SABIT

Special American Business Internship Training

SACU

South African Customs Union (9 members, established 1969)

SADC

South African Development Community (10 members, established 1992, evolving from the Southern African Development Coordination Conference)

SADCC

see SADC

SAFISY

Space Agency Forum for the International Space Year

SAMHSA

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (formerly ADAMHA, changed in 1992) (HHS)

SAMPEX

Solar, Anomalous and Magnetsospheric Particle Explorer

SAO

Senior Arctic Official

SAR

Second Assessment Report

SARD

Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development

SARH

Secretariat of Agriculture and Water Resources of the United Mexican States (Mexico)

SASO

Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (DOC/NIST)

SATF

South Asian Task Force

SBI

Subsidiary Body for Implementation (under the Climate Convention, the counterpart of the SBSTA)

SBSTTA

Subsidiary Body on Science, Technical, and Technological Advice (CBD)

SCAR

Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research

SCOR

Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research

SCS

Soil Conservation Service (USDA)

SCTU

Ukrainian Science and Technology Center

SDSC

San Diego Supercomputer Center

SEANWFZ

Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone

SEB

State Electricity Board (India)

SECOFI

Ministry of Commerce and Industrial Development (Mexico)

SECYT

Secretariat for Science and Technology (Argentina)

SEDESOL

Mexican Environmental Agency (replaced with SEMARNAP in 1996)

SEED

U.S. Support for Eastern European Democracy Act

SEL

Space Environment Laboratory (DOC/NOAA)

SEMAM

Secretariat for the Environment of the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil

SEMARNAP

Mexican Secretariat for Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Fisheries

SEMIP

Secretariat of Energy, Mines and Parastatal Industry (Mexico)

SENIR

Irrigation Ministry (Brazil)

SERDP

Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (DOD)

SERI

Systems Engineering Research Institute (part of Korea's Institute of Science and Technology)

SF

Sulpher Hexafluoride

SIDS

Small Islands Developing States

SIP

State Implementing Plan

SIR

Spaceborne Imaging Radar (NASA)

SIRG

Summit Implementation Review Group

SITRI

Integral System for the Treatment of Industrial Residues (Venezuela)

SKI

Nuclear Power Inspectorate (Sweden)

SLV

Space Launch Vehicle

SMI

Smithsonian Institution

SNAP

Support for National Action Plans (FCCC)

SNL

Sandia National Laboratories (DOE)

SOHO

Solar and Heliospheric Observatory

SOI

Statement of Intent

SOM

Senior Officials' Meeting

SOPAC

South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission

SOUNDING ROCKETS

Rockets Launched Up to the Upper Atmosphere for Soundings of the Earth (NASA)

S.P.A.W.

Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (DOI/NPS)

SPARTECA

South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (15 members, established 1981)

SPC

South Pacific Commission (27 members, established 1947) (renamed PC - see PC)

SPF

South Pacific Forum (15 members and 1 observer, established 1971)

SPM

Summary for Policymakers

SPREP

South Pacific Regional Environmental Protection Program (DOT)

SRC

Science Research Center Program (Korea)

SRMS

Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (commonly known as "The Canada Arm")

SSC

Superconducting Super Collider

SSCL

Superconducting Super Collider Laboratory

SSF

Space Station Freedom

STA

Science and Technology Agency (Japan)

STACFAC

Standing Committee on Non-Contracting Party Fishing Activity in the Regulatory Area

STCU

Science and Technology Center in Ukraine

STOL

Short Takeoff and Landing Aircraft (DOD)

STRIDE

Science and Technology Reporting Information Distribution Enhancement program (DOS/NSF/NTIS)

STS

Space Transportation System (U.S. - Shuttle)

STSC

Scientific and Technical Subcommittee

STSP

Solar Terrestrial Science Program (NASA/ESA)

STUK

Centre for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (Finland)

SWAS

Short-Wave Astronomical Satellite

SYG

Secretary-General

-T-

T

Office of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security and Senior Adviser to the President and the Secretary of State for Arms Control, Nonproliferation and Disarmament (DOS)

TABD

Transatlantic Business Dialogue

TACD

Transatlantic Consumers Dialogue

TAED

Transatlantic Environmental Dialogue

TAHRP

Trinational Animal Health Research Project (Egypt, Israel & U.S.) (USDA)

TALD

Transatlantic Labor Dialogue

TBT

Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO)

TCAPP

Technology Cooperation Agreements Pilot Project (AID, EPA, DOE)

TCI

Technology Characterization Inventory

TCM

Technical Committee Meeting

TD/OCBE

Trade Development/Ofice of Computers and Business Equipment

TDR

Global Tropical Disease Research Program (HHS)

TEAP

Technical and Economic Assessment Panel

TECRO

Taiwan's Economic and Cultural Representative Office (formerly CCNAA) (NRC)

TED

Sea Turtle Excluder Device

TEIA

Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment

TEMA

Training, Education and Mutual Assistance in the Marine Sciences

TEP

Transatlantic Economic Partnership

TEPA

Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency

TEPA

Tribal Environmental Policy Law

TEPAC

Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee

TFCA

Tropical Forest Conservation Act

TFAP

Tropical Forestry Actions Plan

TFTR

Thermonuclear Fusion Tokamak Reactor

THORP

Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (U.K.)

TIA

Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment

TMD

Theater Missile Defense

TMRC

Tropical Medicine Research Cooperation (HHS)

TNC

Trade Negotiating Committee

TOGA

Tropical Oceans and Global Atmosphere Program

TOMS

Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (NASA)

TOPEX

Topography Ocean Experiment

TPSC

Trade Policy Staff Committee

TRA

Taiwan Relations Act

TRAFFIC

Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna In Commerce

TRIDE

U.S.-Israel-Jordan Trilateral Initiative

TRIPS

Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights

TRMM

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission

TRP

Technology Reinvestment Program (DOD)

TRR

Taiwan Research Reactor

TSA

Technical Safeguards Agreement

TSCA

U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act

TSS

Tethered Satellite System

TTCP

The Technical Cooperation Program (DOD)

-U-

UAE

United Arab Emirates

UARS

Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite

UGCC

Umbrella Group on Climate Change

UJDSR

Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic (NRC)

UJNR

United States-Japan Cooperative Program in National Resources

UN

United Nations (183 members excluding Yugoslavia, 2 observers plus the PLO, established 1945)

UNCED

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (1992) (UN)

UNCITRAL

United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UN)

UNCLOS

1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UN)

UNCTAD

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (187 members, established 1964) (UN)

UNDOF

United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (4 members, established 1974) (UN)

UNDP

United Nations Development Programme (48 members, established 1965)(UN)

UNECE

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN)

UNED

United Nations Environment and Development

UNEP

United Nations Environment Programme (58 members, established 1972) (UN)

UNESCO

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (178 members and 3 observers, established 1945) (UN)

UNFCCC

U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN)

UNFF

United Nations Forum on Forests (UN)

UNFPA

United Nations Population Fund (51 members, established 1967) (UN)

UNGA

United Nations General Assembly (184 members) (UN)

UNGASS

United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UN)

UNHCR

United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (46 members, established 1949) (UN)

UNICEF

United Nations Children's Fund (41 members, established 1946) (UN)

UNIDO

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (165 members, established 1966) (UN)

UNISPACE

United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN)

UNOLS

University-National Oceanographic Laboratory Systems

UNSE

United Nations Security Council (5 permanent members, 10 nonpermanent members, established 1945) (UN)

UNVIE

U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna

UPU

Universal Postal Union (UN)

USACE

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (DOD)

USAEP

U.S.-Asia Environmental Partnership

USAID

U.S. Agency for International Development

USCG

United States Coast Guard

USCSP

U.S. Country Studies Program (FCCC)

USDA

U.S. Department of Agriculture

USEC

U.S. Mission to European Communities

USFK

U.S. Forces Korea

USFS

U.S. Forest Service (USDA)

USFWS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

USG

U.S. Government

USGCRP

U.S. Global Change Research Program

USGS

U.S. Geological Survey (DOI)

USIA

U.S. Information Agency (known abroad as USIS)

USIF

U.S.-India Fund for Cultural, Educational and Scientific Cooperation (DOS)

USIJI

U.S. Initiative on Joint Implementation

USINT

U.S. Interests Section

USIS

see USAID

USISTC

U.S.-Israel Science and Technology Commission

USJCMSP

U.S.-Japan Cooperative Medical Science Program

USLO

U.S. Liaison Office

USMARC

U.S. Machine Readable Cataloging

USNATO

U.S. Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

US-OBI

United States Organization for Biodiversity Information

USOECD

U.S. Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

USSR

(former) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

USTR

United States Trade Representative

USUN

U.S. Mission to the United Nations

-V-

VAMAS

Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards

VAP

Vaccine Action Program (U.S.-India)

VATESI

Lithuania's Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (and Nuclear Regulatory Agency) (NRC)

VIT

Technical Research Center (Finland)

VOTE

Vortex Ozone Transport Experiment

VPOTUS

Vice President of the United States

VMS

Vessel Monitoring System

-W-

WADB

West African Development Bank (7 members -Benin, Burkina, Cote D'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo, also known as Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement, established 1973)

WAICENT

World Agricultural Information Center

WB

World Bank

WBI

World Bank Institute

WCL

World Confederation of Labor (99 national organizations, established 1920 as the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions (renamed in 1968)

WCMC

World Conservation Monitoring Center

WCNDR

World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction (UN)

WCO

World Customs Organization

WCP

World Climate Programme

WCRP

World Climate Research Programme (WMO)

WCSF

Western Cape Science Education Forum (South Africa)

WDC

World Data Centre

WEC

World Environmental Center

WEFTEC

Water Environment Federal Technical Conference

WEOG

Western European and Others Group

WEU

Western European Union (9 members, 4 associate members, and 2 observers, established 1954)

WFC

World Food Council (36 members, established 1974) (UN)

WFP

World Food Program (42 members, established 1961) (UN/FAO)

WFTU

World Federation of Trade Unions (86 members, established 1945)

WHA

Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (changed from ARA-Bureau of Inter- American Affairs in 1999; now includes North, Central and South America and Canada) (DOS)

WHC

World Heritage Convention

WHO

World Health Organization (186 members, established in 1946) (UN)

WIPO

World Intellectual Property Organization

WIPO

World International Patents Organization (140 members, established 1967)

WIPP

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

WMD

Weapons of Mass Destruction

WMO

World Meteorological Organization (173 members, established 1947) (UN)

WOCE

World Ocean Circulation Research Unit (CEES) or World Ocean Circulation Research Experiment

WOE

World Environment Organization

WP

Warsaw Pact (established May 14, 1955)

WPB

Working Party on Biotechnology

WRC-2000

World Radio Communication Conference 2000

WS

Workshop

WSSD

World Summit on Sustainable Development

WTO

World Trade Organization

WTO

World Tourism Organization (109 members, 4 associate members, and 1 observer (Holy See), established 1975)

WWF

World Wide Fund for Nature (also called World Wildlife Fund)

WWW

World Weather Watch

-Y-

YARU

Yale Arbovirus Research Unit (HHS)

-Z-

ZC

Zangger Committee (29 members, established in the early 1970s)

  
U.S. Department of State
USA.govU.S. Department of StateWhat's New  |   Frequent Questions  |   Contact Us  |   Email this Page  |   Subject Index  |   Search
The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.
About state.gov  |   Privacy Notice  |   FOIA  |   Copyright Information  |   Other U.S. Government Information