Search Climate Insights Directory

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) is a South and North-led alliance that provides research, advisory services, and knowledge sharing to help developing countries implement climate compatible development. The network focuses on bridging climate change and development policy to achieve low-carbon, climate-resilient futures while reducing poverty.

This policy brief presents research on how users interact with online climate knowledge brokering (CKB) platforms, based on surveys of over 200 users and four case studies. The findings indicate a misalignment between the research-oriented user base and the policy-maker targets of many platforms, highlighting a need for platforms to move beyond supply-driven models toward a better understanding of user demand and the integration of human facilitation.

The Annual Partner Survey 2011-2012 report details the results of a voluntary survey conducted by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in late 2011. The survey gathered feedback from 202 participants—including NGOs, individual consultants, and research institutes—regarding the quality of CDKN's products, its effectiveness in knowledge sharing and partnership facilitation, and its overall influence on organizational practices and policies.

This policy brief examines the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, launched in 2009 to establish India as a global leader in solar energy and make solar power affordable by 2022. It analyzes the Mission's three-phase implementation strategy, focusing on grid-connected projects, off-grid applications for rural populations, and the development of domestic manufacturing and R&D. The document highlights the tension between using competitive bidding to lower tariffs and the risk of attracting inexperienced developers, while also critiquing the Mission's limited focus on the most energy-poor citizens and the lack of mandatory environmental impact assessments.

This policy brief defines 'climate compatible development' as an integrated approach that minimizes climate-related damage while maximizing human development opportunities in a low-emission, resilient future. It argues that policymakers must move beyond treating adaptation, mitigation, and development as separate strategies to achieve 'triple wins'—simultaneous benefits in emissions reduction, climate resilience, and social development.

This document is a proposal application guide for the Second International Research Call on Climate Compatible Development, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in September 2011. It provides detailed instructions for researchers on how to complete the application form, outlining the required sections, eligibility criteria, budget rules, and evaluation metrics for projects focused on climate change and development.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) launched its second international research call in September 2011, offering approximately £4 million in funding for projects focused on climate compatible development and disaster risk management. The call targets social science research with high policy impact, specifically requiring partnerships between institutions in developed and developing countries.

This policy brief by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines how developing countries can plan Climate Compatible Development (CCD) by balancing domestic priorities with the requirements of international funding and accountability frameworks. Drawing on lessons from the Rio Conventions and Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) processes, the document provides recommendations for multi-stakeholder engagement, evidence-based planning, integrated policy frameworks, and effective monitoring and evaluation to ensure that climate adaptation and low emissions development (LED) are successfully institutionalized.

This report details a research consultation workshop held by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) on 24 September 2010 at the Royal Society. The event gathered 40 UK academics and researchers to refine the CDKN research strategy, focusing on 'Climate Compatible Development' (CCD) and the creation of demand-led research to support decision-makers in developing countries.

This report synthesises research on the role of gender equality in achieving climate compatible development, focusing on urban settings in India, Kenya, and Peru. It argues that gender-sensitive approaches—which address power imbalances and diverse needs rather than just women's practical requirements—lead to more sustainable and effective climate resilience outcomes.

This briefing examines the political economy of Climate Compatible Development (CCD) in Kenya, analyzing how political interests, institutional frameworks, and donor influence shape the transition to low-carbon energy. It highlights the tension between national goals for industrial growth and energy security versus the needs of the rural poor and climate mitigation targets.

This report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the intersection of economic growth and climate change, specifically focusing on the needs of developing countries. It argues for 'climate compatible development'—a strategy that minimizes climate harm while maximizing human development opportunities. The document outlines ten propositions, asserting that while growth is an imperative for poverty reduction in poor nations, it must be transitioned toward low-carbon models to be sustainable. It emphasizes the need for national strategies, the leveraging of private finance, and the creation of political consensus to manage the disruptive shifts in global production and markets caused by climate policy.