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The paper examines the 'energy-poverty-climate' nexus, arguing that global climate policy must support 'development without carbon' to be equitable and viable. It contends that current climate-economics models often assume pessimistic, low-growth scenarios for the poorest countries, which artificially increases the 'emissions space' available for rich nations and reduces the urgency for their mitigation. The author advocates for a framework of 'common but differentiated responsibilities,' where high-income countries bear the financial burden of decarbonizing development in low-income regions to avoid a zero-sum conflict between poverty eradication and the 2°C temperature goal.