Mainstreaming climate compatible development

The document argues that climate action must be integrated into macroeconomic planning and sectoral policies to achieve 'triple wins' for mitigation, adaptation, and poverty eradication. It highlights the necessity of political leadership, cross-government coordination, and the use of 'knowledge brokers' to translate scientific data into actionable policy. The report emphasizes that while international finance is a catalyst, domestic resource mobilisation and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies are critical for long-term sustainability. Case studies from Asia, Africa, and Latin America illustrate the importance of gender-sensitive approaches, participatory planning, and the role of non-state actors in scaling up local innovations to national levels.

• Climate compatible development is defined as an approach that aims at "minimising the harm caused by climate impacts, while maximising the many human development opportunities presented by a low-emissions, more resilient, future."
• The Paris Agreement's bottom-up process of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) is insufficient on its own, as collective pledges do not meet the emissions cuts needed for a 2-degree or 1.5-degree world, with the world potentially heading for a rise of 2.9 to 3.4C this century.
• Effective climate action requires 'triple wins' that simultaneously address climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and poverty eradication, ensuring that mitigation efforts do not displace the urgent development needs of the poor.
• The cost of inaction on climate change can be vastly higher than the cost of adaptation; in Uganda, the cost of inaction is estimated at US$3.15.9 billion per year by 2025, which is 24 to 46 times greater than the proposed adaptation budget of approximately US$406 million over five years.
• Strong political leadership is essential for mainstreaming climate action; for example, in Rwanda, President Paul Kagame's support facilitated the involvement of powerful ministries like the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
• Knowledge brokers are critical for translating complex scientific data from bodies like the IPCC into accessible information that empowers decision-makers and communities to act.
• Gender-sensitive approaches to climate planning lead to more sustainable and effective outcomes by recognizing that men and women suffer and adapt differently to climate challenges.
• Investment for climate compatible development must reach the trillions of US dollars, far exceeding the US$100 billion annual target set for developing countries by 2020.
• There is a significant financing gap for the diffusion of small-scale, decentralized technological innovations, particularly in least developed countries in Africa.
• The removal of fossil fuel subsidies, which totaled approximately US$490 billion in 2014, is necessary to eliminate perverse incentives and create price signals for low-carbon investment.
• Scaling up successful pilot projects requires rigorous documentation of quantitative results, such as 'killer statistics' on lives and assets saved, to convince policy-makers.
• Domestic climate legislation serves as a critical link between national action and international agreements, providing a framework that can lock in long-term commitments despite political turnover.
• Non-state actors, including cities, businesses, and civil society, are essential for implementing the Paris Agreement and closing the emissions gap, potentially cutting several gigatonnes of emissions by 2030.

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

{{cite report |last1=S. |first1=Bickersteth, |last2=Dupar |first2=M. |last3=Espinosa |first3=C. |last4=Huhtala |first4=A. |last5=Maxwell |first5=S. |last6=Pacha |first6=M. J. |last7=Sheikh |first7=A. T. |last8=Wesselink |first8=C. |title=Mainstreaming climate compatible development |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=2017 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Mainstreaming-climate-compatible-development-web-final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

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} }