Development Policy as a Way to Manage Climate Change Risks

Climate change and its impacts can have a very negative influence on people and their economies and yet social and economic development is the very driver of climate change. This complex relationship necessitates a two-way approach embracing the influence of climate change and policy/strategy/action on development, and the influence of development policies, strategies and decisions on climate change. Starting with development priorities, the integration of development and climate objectives is increasingly recognized as significant in research and policy making. In practice, some development aims, such as poverty alleviation, enhancing energy security and access or improving health, also have potential climate benefits. The challenge is to find a broadly applicable range of effective policies and actions that realize development objectives and at the same time result in real climate benefits either by reducing vulnerability to climate change impacts or creating development with lower emissions. This special issue of the Climate Policyjournal focuses on new evidence that identifies options for action, examining how development strategies, policies and decisions can be made more sustainable by integrating climate change considerations and overcoming the barriers that hinder implementation. It explores what lessons exist for policy at the national and international level based on experience, research and case studies and looks at how promising options for local policies can be scaled-up through international initiatives to enhance their impact. It also examines how international policy frameworks can create the conditions for integrated development and climate policies. The outcomes provide useful contributions to sustainable development planning on issues such as poverty reduction, rural development, disaster preparedness, energy and transport as well as to the discussions at national and international level regarding next steps to deal with climate change.