Low carbon technology for the rising middle class

The document argues that the rising middle class in developing countries is at a critical juncture where they will either adopt sustainable, low-carbon lifestyles or become locked into the high-carbon patterns typical of industrialised nations. It emphasizes the need for social, institutional, and technological innovations to steer this population toward environmentally desirable outcomes. The brief is part of a larger CDKN-funded project aimed at improving the development, diffusion, and transfer of low-carbon technologies through national and international instruments, including the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism.

• The emerging consumption patterns of the rising middle class in developing countries are beginning to mirror those of the middle class in industrialised nations, creating a critical window to influence whether they adopt sustainable or high-carbon lifestyles.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2014). Low carbon technology for the rising middle class. https://cdkn.org/resource/low-carbon-technology-for-the-rising-middle-class

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Low carbon technology for the rising middle class. 2014. https://cdkn.org/resource/low-carbon-technology-for-the-rising-middle-class.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Low carbon technology for the rising middle class |date=31 July 2014 |url=https://cdkn.org/resource/low-carbon-technology-for-the-rising-middle-class |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2014low, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Low carbon technology for the rising middle class}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2014}, month = jul, url = {https://cdkn.org/resource/low-carbon-technology-for-the-rising-middle-class}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }