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Report

Aligning Development Co-operation and Climate Action

This report outlines a conceptual framework for development co-operation providers to design, implement and continually assess their efforts to align with the Paris Agreement. It proposes that Paris-aligned development co-operation:
1. does not undermine the Paris Agreement but rather contributes to the required transformation
2. catalyses countries’ transitions to low-emissions, climate-resilient pathways
3. supports the short- and long-term processes under the Paris Agreement
4. proactively responds to evidence and opportunities to address needs in developing countries.

Key points

To align with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, development co-operation providers should take priority actions at home (including in donor countries’ broader international activities), in developing countries (in their work with developing country governments), and at the system level (in the global development architecture). Specifically, this report finds:

  • Development co-operation providers are not yet adequately set up to address the climate emergency. Donor countries and providers should integrate the climate imperative into providers’ mandates and performance systems and establish the right capacities and tools to deliver.
  • Lack of coherence in donor countries’ broader international activities counteracts climate action through development co-operation. Donor countries should eliminate policy conflicts between their international activities and their commitments under the Paris Agreement.
  • Process and capacity limitations in many developing countries constrain the integration of climate action into critical plans and decision-making processes. Providers should support the leadership and capacity of central actors and systems in developing countries to drive the integration of climate change into policy and planning.
  • Central systems in public administrations and private finance in many developing countries continue to perpetuate high-emitting and climate-vulnerable pathways. Providers should assist countries to incorporate ambitious climate objectives throughout their financial and budgetary systems.
  • The basic rules of the game of the international development system do not consider climate as an integral dimension of sustainable development. All countries and institutions providing development co-operation should adopt core definitions and mechanisms to ensure Paris alignment at the system level.
  • Fragmented approaches in development co-operation limit the scale of effective climate action. Providers should drive effective, scaled-up climate action through common standards in finance, data and infrastructure.
  • Large volumes of finance are available globally, but systemic barriers impede investment in low-emissions, climate-resilient infrastructure in developing countries. Providers should focus on effective partnering to promote finance for investments in low-emissions, climate-resilient infrastructure at scale.