Can Low Carbon Development help fight poverty?

Two newDIIS reports assess the options

As the world moves closer to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December, the notion of “Low Carbon Development” is gaining foothold. But can Low Carbon Development also help fight poverty? Two DIIS reports suggest that it can, but also point to the potential risks for the poor:

• The report “Low Carbon Development and Poverty Alleviation” was commissioned by Danida and assesses practical options for supporting pro-poor low carbon development in Least Developed Countries, with a focus on energy, agriculture and forestry.
• In extension of this, DIIS has produced a second report, “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation: An Overview of Risks and Opportunities for the Poor”, which goes into greater detail with risks and opportunities for the poor in the emerging ”REDD” scheme.

The findings from the report on Low Carbon Development and Poverty Alleviation were presented at a seminar at DIIS on September 23 (see a brief summaryof the seminar here).