Shifting to Low Carbon Development: Nationally and Globally
1. Shifting to Low Carbon Development:
Nationally & Globally
Vositha Wijenayake
Policy & Advocacy Coordinator
Climate Action Network South Asia
2. Policy Alignment for
Better Climate Better Growth
Scaling up of sustainable investment & finance
Change in tax policies favouring carbon intensive options
Political will at national and global level for low carbon
transitions
Low carbon business models
Promotion and implementation of low carbon technology
International trade & domestic decision making: LDC and
trade barriers i.e. import tariff
Incentivising transition to low carbon development
3. Low Carbon/ Low Emission
Development Strategies
Has its roots in the UNFCCC
Also termed low-emission development strategies or low-
carbon growth plans
Describe forward-looking national economic development
plans or strategies that encompass low-emission and/or
climate-resilient economic growth (OECD, IEA 2010)
An opportunity to formulate integrated, consistent
strategies on climate change mitigation and provide long-
sighted guidance
4. LEDS & UNFCCC Process
(1/2)
Art. 4.1.b of the UNFCCC provides for the formulation of programmes on
climate change mitigation
The initial proposal on LEDS introduced by the EU in 2008
Highlighted how information on planned low-carbon pathways can help to
inform the international community about funding needs and priorities
and to help understand the level of global climate change action
LEDS mentioned by the Parties in Copenhagen and Cancún.
The Copenhagen Accord refers to “a low-emission development strategy”
(Draft Decision -/CP.15, Para. 2)
2010: Cancun Agreements recognise low-carbon development strategy as
indispensable to sustainable development” (Decision 1/CP.16, Para. 6),
stipulates developed countries should draft LEDS while developing
countries are encouraged to do the same (Decision 1/CP.16, Para.s 45 and
65).
5. LEDS & UNFCCC Process
(2/2)
No internationally agreed definition on LEDS
Typically consists of:
- A compilation of emissions data and projections
- Economy-wide, broad long-term mitigation goals (in the range
of 15 to 30 years)
- A survey of cost-efficient mitigation options and their
prioritisation
- The stipulation of concrete short- and mid-term mitigation
actions
6. Low Carbon Development & COP 21
The concept is included in the Draft Text of Paris
3 specific mentions within options for: collective long term goal, long
term strategies for mitigation
Relates to elements of finance, capacity building and technology
transfer
Capacity building : in relation to implementation of mitigation
strategies, co-benefits strategies
Technology transfer, issues regarding IP for low carbon development
related technology
Related to the links made between sustainable development and
climate change actions
7. Financing Low Carbon
Development Strategies
Links with Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions
Financing works on a case-by-case basis and can incorporate sources of
bilateral, multilateral, private sector finance
To ensure sustainability needs the involvement of both public and private
sector
Could be funded nationally or internationally
Private sector funding : crucial for the sustainability of development
strategies, and implementation
Entities that operate between both public and private such as NAMA
facility
Green Climate Fund: established to leverage private and public finance to
support mitigation strategies and adaptation practices in developing
countries through projects, programmes, policies and other activities