Challenges

Climate change poses the greatest challenge to the world's poorest countries. New climate-related risks are adding to the existing challenge of tackling poverty and promoting human development. One cannot be resolved without addressing the other.

Decisive action is needed. But making the right decisions is far from easy given the uncertainties about future climate impacts, regulations and financial support, and the potential trade-offs between generations, geographies, sectors and social groups.

To navigate these complexities successfully, decision makers need access to the best available information, research and advice. And they will need to work in partnership, engaging the public and the private sectors, civil society and the international community.

Action

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) supports decision-makers in designing and delivering climate compatible development. It combines research, advisory services and knowledge management in support of locally owned and managed policy processes. CDKN works in partnership with decision-makers in the public, private and non-governmental sectors nationally, regionally and globally.

LEAD is supporting these efforts by managing and co-ordinating partnerships internationally, supporting the management of an international roster of experts (that includes LEAD Fellows) as well as plugging CDKN into LEAD's own Climate Network. The CDKN Asia Network Director is also the head of LEAD Pakistan, Ali Tauqueer Sheikh.

Photo credit: CDKNetwork

Impact

CDKN was launched in March 2010 and is continuing to develop partnerships around the world to deliver climate compatible development.

So far, CDKN has worked to strengthen the Government of Pakistan's capacity to negotiate on climate issues by providing relevant information to key government officials, holding consultations to build a common platform among members of Pakistani delegation at the UNFCCC Conference of the parties in December 2010. CDKN has also been assisting the Rwandan government in drafting a national strategy on climate change and low carbon development.

In July 2009, 18 Caribbean Community leaders endorsed the Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change prepared by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5Cs). The Framework provides a roadmap for climate compatible development over the period 2009 to 2015. Now that the priorities have been established in the Framework, a detailed Implementation Plan and accompanying monitoring and evaluation plan is to be developed.

CDKN is supporting 5Cs in creating the Implementation Plan over a period of nine months. The project includes development of a database of policies and programmes, extensive stakeholder engagement and formal consultation.

Photo credit: CDKNetwork