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1. Drivers: These are the macro forces [anthropogenic and natural] that drive the causal chain (i.e. give rise to activities that lead to the actual emissions [pressures]).
2. Pressures: Pressures are the direct emissions of greenhouse agente into the atmosphere. A pressure is the result of an activity (antropomorphic)or process (natural).
3. States: Environmental pressures lead to changes in environmental states such as the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere or the temperature of the sea.
4. Impacts: Changes in states have impacts on nature and society. These are not the primary effect of the greenhouse agents (warming of the atmosphere due to increased radiative forcing - this is accounted for uner states) but the further effects of this warming.
5. Actions: People take action to reduce pressures, alter states, mitigate impacts.
A preliminary conceptual map using such an approach is being developed ar: https://kumu.io/cjpauw/climate-change-standards#impact-pathway-approach/transactions
Interoperability
Comparing across positions on the impact pathways is difficult (although not in principle inconceivable). E.g. It is difficult to directly compare an action directly related to a pressure (like driving a car or operaring a power station) with an action aimed at changing the actions of others (such as implementing a policy, providing an incentive or providing information). The first type of activity resorts under Pressures while the second addressed Drivers.
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