Mainstreaming climate compatible development: Achieving deep political and societal change to deliver the ambition of the Paris climate agreement

This briefing by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) outlines the political and economic requirements for countries to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris climate agreement. It emphasizes the need for 'climate compatible development' that balances emission reductions with poverty eradication and sustainable development, particularly in developing nations.

• Current national commitments (NDCs) are insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement goals, as they only account for one quarter to one third of the emission reductions required by 2030 to limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius.
• Achieving climate compatible development requires both economic and political alignment. Economic alignment involves mobilizing financial resources and implementing macroeconomic policies, such as global carbon pricing and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, to discourage pollution.
• To build national consensus in developing countries, narratives should highlight the 'cost of inaction' and prioritize a 'development first' approach that links climate action to immediate benefits like public health, employment, and energy security.
• Economic analyses in specific countries illustrate the high cost of inaction: in Uganda, failing to take adaptation measures today is estimated to cost 20 times more than implementing them now.
• Climate action must be designed to avoid 'maladaptation' and ensure that the poorest and most marginalized are not harmed. This includes ensuring women are equal partners in decision-making and implementation, which CDKN research indicates makes programmes more effective and sustainable.
• Effective climate strategy requires managing the 'water-energy-food nexus' and removing laws that undermine climate goals. In Amazonia, for example, large-scale deforestation is predicted to reduce rainfall by up to 21%, impacting energy and agriculture.

APA

Dupar, M., Maxwell, S., Bickersteth, S., Huhtala, A., & Pacha, M. J. (2016). Mainstreaming climate compatible development: Achieving deep political and societal change to deliver the ambition of the Paris climate agreement. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/mainstreaming-ccd-poster-sept-2016_v4.pdf

Chicago

Dupar, Mairi, Simon Maxwell, Sam Bickersteth, Ari Huhtala, and Maria Jose Pacha. Mainstreaming climate compatible development: Achieving deep political and societal change to deliver the ambition of the Paris climate agreement. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2016. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/mainstreaming-ccd-poster-sept-2016_v4.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dupar |first1=Mairi |last2=Maxwell |first2=Simon |last3=Bickersteth |first3=Sam |last4=Huhtala |first4=Ari |last5=Pacha |first5=Maria Jose |title=Mainstreaming climate compatible development: Achieving deep political and societal change to deliver the ambition of the Paris climate agreement |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=2016 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/mainstreaming-ccd-poster-sept-2016_v4.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dupar2016mainstreaming, author = {Dupar, Mairi and Maxwell, Simon and Bickersteth, Sam and Huhtala, Ari and Pacha, Maria Jose}, title = {{Mainstreaming climate compatible development: Achieving deep political and societal change to deliver the ambition of the Paris climate agreement}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2016}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/mainstreaming-ccd-poster-sept-2016_v4.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }