CLIMATE CHANGE

As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) fourth assessment report (2007) clearly indicates, there is an emerging scientific consensus on the impact of global warming resulting from the emission of greenhouse gases.

Reducing these emissions and coping with the consequences due to changing patterns of temperature and rainfall are important in both developed and developing countries. The 2005 Danida ”Climate and development action programme” defines four priorities for action in line with the European Union action plan. These are:

• Raising the policy profile of climate change in multilateral and bilateral development cooperation to address adaptation to, and mitigation of climate change;
• Adaptation to climate change in development cooperation programmes;
• Mitigation of climate change in the context of development cooperation programmes;
• Capacity development to address the challenge of climate change and take appropriate actions in development cooperation programmes and national programmes in partner countries.

The Technical Advisory Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is involved in carrying out this action programme, in close collaboration with the Department for Enviroment and Sustainable Development (MIL) and with Danish representations in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Since the end of 2005, the main focus has been on assessment of development assistance to the Danida “programme countries” in terms of climate change “screening” and “proofing” of the assistance provided. In practical terms this means examining ways in which development aid can contribute to enhancing adaptation to climate change, e.g. through better infrastructure, improved management of water resources, the introduction of disaster risk reduction measures and so on. Screening of the development assistance portfolio has led to the identification of numerous new initiatives which can strengthen national efforts to adapt to climate change. In many of the least developed countries, the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) constitutes an important framework for these efforts and for external assistance.

The Technical Advisory Service is also working together with many partners to develop capacities for climate change mitigation and adaptation and contributing to the policy discussions within bilateral and multilateral development cooperation agencies. A joint set of guidelines for integrating climate change in development assistance is being prepared by the OECD. A variety of training events are also being organized on climate change in which the Technical Advisory Service is involved.

Useful links:
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)  
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change  
United Nations Climate Change Conference - COP 15  

If you have any comments or suggestions or would like to contribute with news or documents please contact Mike Speirs.