Mainstreaming climate compatible development

This report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) synthesises seven years of experience in promoting 'climate compatible development'—an approach that integrates climate mitigation and adaptation with poverty eradication and human development. The document provides a framework for mainstreaming climate concerns into national macroeconomic planning, sectoral policies, and local governance, while emphasizing the necessity of political leadership, cross-government coordination, and inclusive stakeholder engagement. It details the financial challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon economy, the role of 'knowledge brokers' in translating science for policy-makers, and the importance of gender-sensitive implementation to ensure equitable outcomes.

• Climate compatible development is defined as an approach to development that focuses on "minimising the harm caused by climate impacts, while maximising the many human development opportunities presented by a low-emissions, more resilient, future."
• The report argues that poverty eradication is inextricably linked to climate action, noting that without a zero net emissions pathway, up to 720 million people could be drawn back into extreme poverty between 2030 and 2050.
• Effective climate compatible development requires 'triple wins'—strategies that simultaneously achieve climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and poverty eradication.
• Political leadership is identified as a critical requirement for success. Examples include President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, who integrated climate action into all national development areas, and the former Minister of Environment in Peru, Manuel Pulgar Vidal, who established the PlanCC project.
• The report emphasizes that climate action must be mainstreamed across all government sectors, not just Environment Ministries. It highlights that credibility is only achieved when Ministries of Finance, Planning, Energy, Infrastructure, Industry, and Agriculture are fully committed.
• Financial requirements for climate compatible development are estimated in the trillions of US dollars, far exceeding the US$100 billion annual target promised by developed countries by 2020.
• There is a significant financing gap for decentralized, small-scale innovations and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which account for 90% of enterprises in developing countries.
• Gender-sensitive approaches are essential for sustainable outcomes. The report notes that when women are excluded from planning, the implementation and monitoring of resilience interventions are negatively affected.
• The report identifies 'knowledge brokers' as vital intermediaries who translate complex climate science into accessible information for policy-makers and impacted communities to facilitate evidence-based decision-making.
• Scaling up successful pilot projects requires rigorous documentation of quantitative results ('killer statistics') and the use of 'witness trips' to provide political leaders with first-hand experience of climate impacts and solutions.
• The Paris Agreement's 'bottom-up' process of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) is seen as a starting point, but the report notes that initial pledges only cover about a third of the emissions cuts needed by 2030.
• Domestic legislation is described as the 'essential linchpin' between national action and international agreements, providing a framework that can lock in long-term commitments despite political turnover.

APA

S., B., Dupar, M., Espinosa, C., Huhtala, A., Maxwell, S., Pacha, M. J., Sheikh, A. T., & Wesselink, C. (2017). Mainstreaming climate compatible development. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Mainstreaming-climate-compatible-development-web-final.pdf

Chicago

S., Bickersteth,, M. Dupar, C. Espinosa, A. Huhtala, S. Maxwell, M. J. Pacha, A. T. Sheikh, and C. Wesselink. Mainstreaming climate compatible development. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2017. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Mainstreaming-climate-compatible-development-web-final.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{s2017mainstreaming, author = {S., Bickersteth, and Dupar, M. and Espinosa, C. and Huhtala, A. and Maxwell, S. and Pacha, M. J. and Sheikh, A. T. and Wesselink, C.}, title = {{Mainstreaming climate compatible development}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2017}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Mainstreaming-climate-compatible-development-web-final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }