Linking climate change and development goals: framing, integrating, and measuring

Abstract

Abstract Although links exist between development targets, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and climate change goals of adaptation and mitigation, the nature and extent of those links have only been loosely explored in the literature. While efforts to integrate climate change adaptation into development are increasingly prevalent, gaps remain in understanding the specific relationships, potential synergies, and trade-offs in the integration process. This article reviews the links and identifies and analyses three main themes. First, the review suggests that tools are needed to more effectively capture interactions within decision-making processes, and proposes a framework for more focused analyses of these relationships. Second, the framework supports examination of the two sets of goals – development and climate – together, evaluating alternative policies and programmes for their outcomes and identifying key relationships between development, poverty alleviation, and climate goals in both present and future planning processes (such as the MDGs beyond 2015). Finally, by using analytical visualizations, policy and decision makers assisted by relevant stakeholders could identify potential synergies and trade-offs, propose adaptation and mitigation actions, and design appropriate measurements and evaluations. The framework is designed to help direct efforts toward policy and programme outcomes that can best support development and mitigation and adaptation to climate change goals. Keywords: millennium development goalsclimate change adaptationdevelopment and climate changemitigative capacity and development Acknowledgements The work presented in this paper was supported by Population Action International (PAI). The authors thank those who participated in a workshop from 4 to 6 November 2009, held in College Park, MD, entitled, 'Linking MDGs and Climate Change' for their valuable contributions to the development of this article. Notes Here the question of weighting priorities arises. As any weighting system effectively codifies the values of the government, group, or community, specific weighting guidance is beyond the scope of this paper.