european development days -...

E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y L I S B O N 7 - 9 N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 7

European Commission

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONDirectorate-General for Development and Relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific States

POST ADDRESSRue de la Loi 200B-1049 Brussels

FAX +32 2 299 25 25

E-MAIL [email protected]

INTERNET:http://ec.europa.eu/development

E U R O P E A N D E V E L O P M E N T D A Y S

h t t p : / / w w w . e u d e v d a y s . e u

This Executive Summary has been published by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Developmentand relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific States

A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. This can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu)

Luxembourg, Office for Official Publicationsof the European Communities, 2007

© European Communities, 2007Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged

Printed in Belgium, November 2007

F O R E W O R D 1

What a great pleasure it was to gather the whole development family inLisbon – the most committed and experienced actors on this subject. We

asked whether climate would change development. Yes it will. At the 2nd EuropeanDevelopment Days we saw how, through debates, exchanges and criticism. It wasthree days of sharing ideas, interaction and the building of increasingly solidpolitical will among the 2,170 people from 100 countries who attended, including1,000 to 1,500 leading decision-makers.

Is the world’s climate changing? Consider that 40% of coral reefs have alreadydisappeared and 1% of tropical forests are destroyed each year. Seven of the 10most deadly climatic disasters in the last two decades took place between 2000and 2006. Floods, hurricanes, fires, heat waves, droughts – all over the worldthese words are increasingly in the news. Everyone can see it. Beyond this, thereare the unseen effects: extinction of species, loss of biodiversity forever… globalwarming is a fever and the treatment must begin now.

Climate change is a matter of life and death for many people in developingcountries. Global warming is unfair because the most affected countries arethose least responsible. The statistics are frightening: water shortages for 75 to200 million in the next 10 years and in some regions, a 50% drop in crop yields.And this is just in Africa alone.

Will climate change development? Yes. Definitely. All of our development effortsover the last 50 years could disappear into the sand if global warming is notcontrolled.

We have an historic responsibility. We face a challenge for the whole of humanity.All decision makers must act now to change people's approach. Nobody will beable to say they did not know about the danger and the consequences of climatechange.

Acting may be costly; but non-acting will be even more expensive. DuringDevelopment Days 2007, the European Commission once again proposed a GlobalClimate Change Alliance for immediate action for the poorest countries. It is aboutensuring policies are in place such as adaptation and mitigation measures,prevention, and reducing emissions from deforestation. But it is also a process forthe EU and developing countries to work together, in a strong political partnership,against climate change.

As a global thinker, the European Commission has to be open to new ideas. Weshould be creative, make the best use of innovation and research, test thepotential of a carbon market and explore other incentives. The world communityshould pay to preserve Global Public Goods such as forests. In Lisbon I alsolaunched the idea of a Global Loan scheme to make available large scale cashresources now, borrowing over the long-term to minimise payback costs tomorrow.

L O U I S M I C H E L

European Commissioner for Development and

Humanitarian Aid

F O R E W O R D

2 E U R O P E A N D E V E L O P M E N T D AY S 2 0 0 7

It is time for action and concrete results. The European Commission will lead thispolitical will. We have the technical capacities to adapt and anticipate the effectsof climate change. We can find the necessary financial resources and we must actquickly.

Above all, DEVDAYS 2007 left me with a great sense of optimism. We face a hugechallenge that we could transform into an opportunity for change.

Together against climate change – let's just do it!

I N T R O D U C T I O N 3

Development Days is a unique forum where big ideas meet. It is an open plat-form for debating global issues rather than negotiations behind closed

doors. Everyone has a voice – campaigners and experts alongside parliamen-tarians and government ministers; worldwide authorities alongside the public.DEVDAYS is a lively debate between people with diverse views and who don’t allagree with each other. Lawyers and policy makers meet each other in negociations.Africa’s leaders meet EU Heads of State at the EU Summit. NGOs meet NGOs inPorto Alegre. But DEVDAYs is a forum for everyone.

Europe has brought two decades of leadership on climate change and five decadesof development cooperation to Development Days 2007.

Europe has already taken the lead on climate change: a target to reduce EU green-house emissions by at least 20% by 2020, increasing to 30% if there is a globalagreement.

Europe has taken a lead with developing countries, recognising that the poorestcountries are often the hardest hit. Environment is a priority theme in the €22 billionEuropean Development Fund over the next six years. From the turn of the millen-nium, the EU has been collectively on track to more than double aid levels by 2015.Latest figures show that EU development assistance amounted to over €100 forevery European citizen in 2006.

We need to be a catalyst for change, not just a helping hand.

Europe alone cannot solve the climate change problem. Its is a challenge thattranscends the North/South divide. This is a global issue, which is why debatesand exchanges are necessary to chart the way ahead. Together, multilateralorganisations, states, experts, NGOs, journalists and citizens can change things.This is the meaning of DEVDAYs.

Website: http://www.eudevdays.eu

I N T R O D U C T I O N

5 Opening Ceremony: A forum to forge global partnerships

7 Climate change investment – a challenge and an opportunitySpecial Address (Yvo de Boer)

9 Challenges and converging visionsHigh Level Panel

11 Portuguese-speaking countries and European Commission sign cooperation agreementsSignature Ceremonies

13 “Unprecedented cooperation” required…Special Address (Kofi Annan)

15 Sharing a common vulnerabilitySpecial Addresses (Arkalo Abelson and Vaia Tuuhia)

17 Mitigation and adaptation measures “essential” Special Address (Kemal Dervis)

19 Vulnerability and adaptation to climate changeRound Table

22 Global public goods and climate changeRound Table

25 Climate change and poverty, human settlements and migrationRound Table

28 Speakers Quotes

32 Partnerships and global environmental governanceRound Table

35 Partnerships and global environmental governanceHigh Level Panel

37 Closing Ceremony: The best adaptation – mitigation with development

39 Parallel Events: Forums for innovative thinking

44 Development Village: A crossroad for sharing experience

48 Conclusion


TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

José Manuel BARROSOLouis MICHEL

E X E C U T I V E S U M M A RY 5

• Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of the Republic of Maldives• José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission• Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid• José Socrates, Prime Minister of Portugal and President-in-Office

of the Council of the European Union

EU leaders and the president of the Maldives highlighted the importance of theEuropean Development Days as a forum for politicians, experts and civil societyrepresentatives to forge global partnerships to combat the problems of climatechange, especially as they affect poor nations.

“Lisbon this week is where Davos [the World Economic Forum] meets Porto Alegre[the World Social Forum],” said José Manuel Barroso, President of the EuropeanCommission.

Speakers stressed the importance of the December 2007 United Nations ClimateChange Conference in Bali, Indonesia. “The Maldives will raise the issue of thehuman dimension of climate change – that environmental protection is afundamental human right – at the Bali conference,” said Maumoon Abdul Gayoom,President of the Republic of Maldives.

“The meeting could be our last chance to make significant advances towards acomprehensive and effective post-Kyoto climate change regime.” Noted JoséSocrates, Prime Minister of Portugal and President-in-Office of the Council of theEuropean Union: “The Portuguese Presidency is working to ensure the success ofthe Bali conference.”

Kicking-off the opening session, Louis Michel, European Commissioner forDevelopment and Humanitarian Aid, drew links between global warming,development and poverty. “Climate change was seen as an environmental issue,”he said. “But now 200 million Africans may see their water supplies threatenedand there could be food shortages due to reduced harvests.”

The Commissioner cited examples of the effects of the phenomenon, fromdisappearing coral reefs and shrinking tropical forests, to lower water levels in LakeChad and the Dead Sea. “Is development affected by climate change? Clearly, yes.And Europe wants to involve all the players [in finding solutions],” Michel toldparticipants.

“Is developmentaffected

by climate change? Clearly, yes.

And Europe wantsto involve all the players

[in finding solutions].”

Louis Michel,

European Commissioner

for Development

and Humanitarian Aid

O P E N I N G C E R E M O N Y

A forum to forge global partnerships

Maumoon ABDUL GAYOOM José Manuel BARROSOJosé SOCRATES


A “tragic paradox”Prime Minister Socrates called climate change, “the biggest challenge to humankind at this time.” He drew attention to the importance of the issue to the EU underthe Portuguese Presidency. He placed special emphasis on efforts in Africa, callingit “one of the most affected” regions. Barroso agreed, calling it a “tragic paradox”that “those who have least contributed to the problem will in many cases be themost affected.”

Gayoom outlined how climate change is affecting his nation, which consists of1,200 islands divided into 26 atolls. Just 193 of these islands are inhabited and119 are suffering from beach erosion, he said. The Maldivian coral reefs – key asprotective barriers for fisheries development and as tourism attractions – arethreatened by rising ocean temperatures.

“Earlier this year, the Maldives experienced tidal surges on nearly 80 islands,” hesaid. “Never in our documented history have so many islands been simultaneouslyflooded over and to such an extent.”

Gayoom decried the absence of action on climate change in recent decades. “In myaddress to the UN General Assembly in 1987, I spoke of how global warming, if leftunchecked, would lead to the death of the Maldives and many countries like us,”he said. He called for international initiatives to help severely affected nations likehis mitigate and adapt to the affects of the problem.

“We have failed to reach consensus on too many occasions,” Gayoom said. “Wehave let short-term profits dictate over long-term global benefits for far too long.Let us go forth to Bali with a mindset to succeed.”

A “great technological opportunity”Both Socrates and Barroso called attention to another international meetingscheduled for December, the EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon and a new EU-AfricaStrategic Partnership. One key element, according to Barroso, will be in thedevelopment of renewable energy.

“Climate change represents a great technological opportunity for developingcountries to leapfrog the high-carbon phase of development,” he concluded.

Yvo DE BOER


• Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

How and where climate change investment is spent is both a critical challenge andan important opportunity, said Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UnitedNations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“Much of the solution for the future lies in the blending of international financialresources,” he said. “What is the best way to blend it, to make it work better?”

Leveraging private investmentDe Boer said that Official Development Assistance (ODA) should be used toleverage private investment in new, clean technologies in developing countries. Henoted that despite the obvious and well-documented drawbacks of climatechange, it also offers an opportunity for private sector investment.

“Green development will spur economic growth,” he said. “We must make privatemoney go where private money has never gone before.”

A recent UNFCCC study revealed that over the next 25 years, significant changes inthe patterns of investment and financial flows would be needed to address climatechange. The purpose of the study was to review existing and planned investmentand financial flows with a view to developing an effective international response toclimate change, with particular focus on the needs of developing countries.

The study indicates that the additional estimated amount of investment andfinancial flows needed in 2030 to address climate change is large compared withthe funding currently available under the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol, but smallin relation to estimated global gross domestic product (0.3% to 0.5%) and globalinvestment (1.1% to 1.7%) in 2030.

The study also shows that total investment in new physical assets globally isprojected to triple between 2000 and 2030. This provides a window of opportunityto direct the financial and investment flows into new facilities that are moreclimate-friendly and resilient.

Developing countries provide the largest opportunity. They currently account forjust 20% to 25% of global investments, however, their expected rapid economicgrowth means they will require a large share of investment and financial flows.

The study also says that it is important for governments to focus on the role of theprivate sector when considering ways to enhance investment and financial flows toaddress climate change in the future. The private sector provides the largest shareof investment and financial flows (86%). Although ODA funds are currently lessthan 1% of investment globally, ODA represents a larger share of the totalinvestments in some countries such as in Least Developed Countries (6%).

“Climate change anddevelopment areintricately linked.

We have onlya short time to solve

the problem of climate change. Smart investments

must be made. The investment

challenge is critical.”

S P E C I A L A D D R E S S

Climate change investment – a challenge

and an opportunity


We need “intelligent financial engineering”De Boer told participants that together, private sector investments and ODA canand should support both development and the environment: “Climate change anddevelopment are intricately linked. We have only a short time to solve the problemof climate change. Smart investments must be made. The investment challenge iscritical.”

At the same time, sustainability is key. “Today’s investments must not be washedaway tomorrow. We need intelligent financial engineering to see how we can alterthe effects of investment in the sector,” he said.

Chris LANDSBERG Wahida BASHAR AHMED and Saleemul HUQJoão GOMES CRAVINHO


• Moderator Chris Landsberg, Centre for Policy Studies, Johannesburg• Wahida Bashar Ahmed, ActionAid International• João Gomes Cravinho, State Secretary for International Affairs and

Cooperation, Portugal• Saleemul Huq, Director of the Climate Change Programme,

International Institute for Environment and Development, • Michel Jarraud, Secretary General, World Meteorological Organization • Maria Mutagamba, Minister of State for Water and Environment, Uganda• Katherine Sierra, Vice-President for Sustainable Development, World Bank• Anders Wijkman, Member of the European Parliament

Climate change – a development and environment problemThe December 2007 Conference of the UN Framework Convention on ClimateChange and the 3rd Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in Bali is expectedto draw up a roadmap for a future climate change deal. To avoid a gap betweenthen and the entry into force of a new framework, the aim is to conclude a new dealby 2009 to allow enough time for ratification.

There exist many challenges and obstacles to securing broad support for acomprehensive negotiation process to lay the foundation for creating a post-2012climate change regime. Importantly, bridging the gap between industrialised,developed and developing countries is deemed critical to achieving an agreementby 2009.

Against this backdrop, Moderator Chris Landsberg challenged the panellists toconsider whether the relevant actors – nations, civil society and individuals – havethe “wherewithal and the political will” to meet the 2009 deadline, to identifythe fault lines between north and south, and to consider the mutual rights andresponsibilities of the developed and developing nations.

Poor people most affectedActionAid International’s Wahida Bashar Ahmed, drawing on her experience indisaster relief and mitigation, reminded the audience: “Poor people, andparticularly women, are most impacted by adverse consequences from climatechange, but the impacts on women are not being addressed by policymakers.” Shealso questioned whether privatisation is the answer to address climate changeissues such as water supply security.

Saleemul Huq, Director of the Climate Change Programme at the InternationalInstitute for Environment and Development in London, noted that of the fourregions in the world most adversely affected by climate change, three regions –small islands, the entire African continent and the mega deltas of Asia – are thehomes of the world’s poorest people.

“Least DevelopedCountries have a right

to grow... actionsto address climate

change must work for,not against

development.”

Katherine Sierra,

World Bank

Vice-President

for Sustainable

Development

H I G H L E V E L P A N E L

Challenges and converging visions

Maria MUTAGAMBA


Huq identified one point on which visions are converging: the recognition thatclimate change is as much a development problem as an environmental problem.He also suggested one way in which divisions between north and south might beovercome.

“Because of the global nature of the problem, people can no longer leave climatechange to nation-state governments that seek to protect national interests only,but must assert themselves as citizens of the planet,” he told participants.“Individuals and civil society must take responsibility. We must look at our owncarbon footprints.”

Ugandan Minister of State for Water and Environment, citing “confusion, frustrationand despair” in Africa today, reminded the audience: “Countries in Africa aresimultaneously experiencing droghts and floods... If solutions are not found,destabilising migration will continue,” she said.

Funding and action to address climate changeRepresenting the host country, João Gomes Cravinho, State Secretary forInternational Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, pointed to the EU position andstressed that “developed countries must take the lead in emission reductions.”

Anders Wijkman, Member of the European Parliament from Sweden, said that theEuropean Parliament is considering using revenues from carbon emission creditauctioning to fund development aid for mitigation, adaptation and risk reduction.He also emphasised the need for a “global deal” between north and south toadvance technology transfer.

“Least Developed Countries have a right to grow... actions to address climatechange must work for, not against development,” commented Katherine Sierra,World Bank Vice-President for Sustainable Development.

Michel Jarraud of the World Meteorological Organization also noted a point ofpossible convergence: “There is growing recognition that climate changemitigation and adaptation methods will be less expensive if undertaken rightaway.”

Katherine SIERRAMichel JARRAUDAnders WIJKMAN


THE 2ND EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT DAYS WAS THE OCCASION FOR THE SIGNATURE OF IMPORTANT

COOPERATION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND TWO GROUPS OF PORTUGUESE-SPEAKING COUNTRIES.

Signature Ceremony of EC- PALOP and Timor-LesteEuropean Commission President José Manuel Barosso and Commissioner forDevelopment and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel signed a Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MoU) with PALOP ministers (African Countries of PortugueseOfficial Language – Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and SãoTomé) and Timor-Leste.

Commission President Barosso described the agreement with the six countries as“original” and a special example of south-south cooperation.

“The six countries share the same language and culture and the same systems ofgovernance. Through the agreement they can work today to ensure better publicadministration, justice, social service and management of public finances,” hesaid. “The agreement will also stimulate better integration, while maintaining theirindividual identities.”

The Commission President pointed out that the first cooperation arrangement withthe Portuguese-speaking countries of Africa was set up during the first PortuguesePresidency of the European Union in 1992. It has now been extended to includeTimor-Leste in the Asia Pacific Region.

The PALOP agreement is original in that it recognises the idea of working with agroup of countries that are not geographical neighbours, but have strong culturallinks. The MoU is expected strengthen mutual cooperation, ensure better dialogueand help contribute to stabilisation in these areas.

Commissioner Louis Michel highlighted the practical elements of the MoU,including the sharing of human resources in the health sector, education, trade,investment, justice and employment.

“With the signature of this memorandum we underscore our political will tostrengthen this cooperation between PALOP and the European Commission,”Michel stressed. “The agreement will play an important role in eradicating povertyand promoting development in PALOP and is an important step forward in ourrelationship with these countries.”

Some €33 million will be dedicated to the European Commission’s cooperationprogramme with PALOP.

“The agreement willplay an important role ineradicating poverty andpromoting development

in PALOP and is animportant step forwardin our relationship with

these countries.”

Louis Michel,


for Development


S I G N A T U R E C E R E M O N I E S

Portuguese-speaking countries and

European Commission sign cooperation agreements


“This is an importantmoment for CPLP. We have ensured thebasis for our future and the basis for greaterstability in the world.”

Luis Fonseca,

Executive Secretary

of the CPLP

Signature ceremony of EC-CPLP A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between the EuropeanCommission and the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), whichbrings together Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal,São Tomé and Timor-Leste.

Commission President José Manuel Barroso, a former prime minister of Portugal,pointed out that the Portuguese language encompasses four continents and238 million people

The agreement with the Portuguese-speaking countries of the CPLP will open upopportunities for cooperation development. It will also help avoid and resolveconflicts, he stressed.

The Executive Secretary of the CPLP, Luis Fonseca, stressed that the presence ofCommission President Barroso at this event underscored the importance attributedby European Commission to this cooperation agreement. “This is an importantmoment for CPLP,” he said. “We have ensured the basis for our future and the basisfor greater stability in the world.”

Under the agreement, the two parties will intensify work in the areas of democracyand human rights, as well as conflict prevention, management and resolution. TheMoU also looks at areas for joint cooperation in fields such as economic and socialdevelopment, education, training and youth, and cultural diversity. An importantarea of potential cooperation is the information society.

“We want to be able to benefit from technological progress so that we can create amodern society and ensure peace and understanding in the CPLP regions,”Fonseca told participants. “By looking for joint solutions to our problems we will beseeking a better future for our people and future generations.”

Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid,highlighted the role that the agreement can play in reinforcing political dialogueand ensuring complementarity between actions and policies. He also pointed tothe personal commitment of Commission President Barosso, which had broughtthe parties to an agreement in a very short time.

Because of the history of past conflicts affecting the CPLP countries, internationalsupport is needed. Commissioner Michel also pointed to the importance ofpromoting democracy as a means of preventing conflicts.

Kofi ANNAN


• Kofi Annan, President of the Global Humanitarian Forum

Climate change is a global issue and serious threat to development everywhere,said Kofi Annan, President of the Global Humanitarian Forum and former secretarygeneral of the United Nations. He challenged policymakers to immediately step upefforts to fight climate change.

“For far too long we have considered climate change as a problem for the future,”he said. “But we must remember that climate change is an all encompassingthreat. It is not an issue of rich versus poor, of north versus south. It’s a global issueand we are seeing its effects everywhere.”

Annan reminded the audience that it is important to try to be more proactive ratherthan reactive, to try to prevent catastrophes before they happen. “But resources arelimited and there is one crisis swiftly followed by another. We can rebuild houses,roads and schools, but we can never give back life when it has been taken away.This is why it is vital that governments invest more in climate change,” he said.

Annan told participants that increased pressure on scarce resources such as land,food and water will put lives in extreme danger and exacerbate humanitarian crisesthat could culminate in threats to international security. “Building resilience toclimate change will require unprecedented cooperation and take players frommany different disciplines,” he added.

He noted that it is significant that the European Development Days are taking placejust one month before the EU-Africa Summit that will take place in Lisbon inDecember 2007: “The EU is a strong supporter of African development and isAfrica’s most important economic trading partner.”

A political vision based on mutual respectThe EU and the African Union have decided to further strengthen the ties linkingboth continents by developing a co-owned joint strategy that reflects the needsand aspirations of the peoples of both continents. The purpose of the EU-AfricaJoint Strategy is to develop a political vision and practical approaches for the futurepartnership between the two continents, based on mutual respect, commoninterests and the principle of ownership.

The upcoming Lisbon Summit [involving heads of state from Africa and EU] isimportant, Annan said, and must conclude with concrete actions to improve thelives of poor people in Africa. He expressed hope that the Summit would not beEurocentric and that European leaders would listen very carefully to what Africanleaders have planned for their own development.

“We are all boundtogether as human

beings. If we remainindifferent to the

suffering of others, we are only deprivingourselves of our own

humanity. We need toact together as

humanity for humanity.And now is the time.”


“Unprecedented cooperation” required…


“After all, we have to recognise there are only eight miles that separate us. Apeaceful, prosperous Africa, a stable Africa is in all our interests. We stand on thecusp of change. We are all bound together as human beings. If we remainindifferent to the suffering of others, we are depriving ourselves of our ownhumanity,” he said.

“More needs to be done”Annan noted that unfortunately African countries are off-track to meet theMillennium Development Goals (MDGs). And while the EU has a good track recordof ODA (Official Development Assistance) to Africa, aid will have to increasedramatically. He added that the EU and G8 must continue to deliver on previouscommitments and must seriously reinvigorate its efforts to help African countriesmake progress. The key to prosperity in Africa, he said, is good governance and thecontinent’s ability to meet the MDGs.

“There’s an appetite for change in Africa,” said Annan. “There is a young, dynamicgroup that is pushing for this move. Africa is moving in the right direction, but moreneeds to be done.”


• Arkalo Abelson, Minister of the Environment, Greenland• Vaia Tuuhia, Special Representative, French Polynesia

The societies of the Arctic and Small Island Developing States have much in commonwhen it comes to climate change – they share a common vulnerability.

Greenland’s problems caused by climate change could affect millions of peopleworldwide, said Arkalo Abelson, Minister of the Environment of Greenland.“Greenland depends heavily on living resources. We are a hunting and fishingsociety,” he said. “Locally, climate change is already affecting people’s lives.Greenland’s ice cap is melting faster than ever imagined. Globally, this could be adisaster, especially for Small Island Developing States.”

A 2005 report published by the UK government says the Greenland ice sheet islikely to melt, resulting in sea levels rising by 7 meters over 1,000 years. The report,Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change, collates evidence presented by scientists ata conference hosted by the UK Meteorological Office in February 2005. It statesthat even a partial melting of the ice sheet could have catastrophic consequencesfor low-lying countries like Bangladesh and the Maldives. For example, a 1-metresea level rise would submerge a substantial amount of Bangladesh.

“Greenland is an ideal laboratory for studying the effects of climate change and fordeveloping adaptation measures,” Abelson told participants. “We are puttingmore funding into research. But we have only 57,000 people in Greenland and ourresources are limited. We need more money for capacity building and new researchprogrammes.”

Small islands such as French Polynesia, which are already economically andphysically vulnerable, will become even more so.

“Small Island Developing States have common problems, such as fragileeconomies,” said Vaia Tuuhia, Special Representative of French Polynesia. “Extremeweather phenomena are increasing. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changesaid that given the speed at which change is happening, Small Island DevelopingStates will be most affected. Now the only way we have is to get Small Island Statestogether to speak as one.”

Tuuhia referred to the Many Strong Voices programme, which aims to ensure thewell being, security and sustainability of coastal communities in the Arctic andSmall Island Developing States in the face of climate change. It brings the tworegions together to take collaborative and strategic actions on climate changemitigation and adaptation.

“Greenland is an ideallaboratory for studying

the effects of climatechange and for

developing adaptationmeasures... [But] our

resources are limited.We need more moneyfor capacity building

and new researchprogrammes.”

Arkalo Abelson,

Minister the

Environment of

Greenland

S P E C I A L A D D R E S S E S

Sharing a common vulnerability

Vaia TUUHIAArkalo ABELSON


Security and quality of life are European values – we ask you to act nowbecause tomorrowis too late.”

Vaia Tuuhia,

Special Representative

of French Polynesia

Programme participants include international organisations, government agencies,NGOs, indigenous peoples' organisations, research institutes, communities andindividuals. “We are developing a tool kit of goods and services for (climate change)adaptation,” she said.

Tuuhia described the myriad challenges that climate change is posing for SmallIsland Developing States: cyclones, high tides, flooding, tsunamis, disappearingatolls.

“We are doing modelling on rising sea levels. Of course we need money to help usdo this. We call on the EU and the international community to come to our aid.Security and quality of life are European values – we ask you to act now becausetomorrow is too late,” she said.

Kemal DERVIS


• Kemal Dervis, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme

Kemal Dervis made an impassioned plea for action on all fronts to combat climatechange. Mitigation and adaptation measures must not be decoupled, but rathershould be regarded as essential to meeting the challenges of climate change –challenges that could come in this century or the next.

He acknowledged that we now have the science, but there is still uncertainty aboutthe speed of climate change. But to use uncertainty to justify inaction is wrong, hetold participants.

“Uncertainty over how climate change will take place should spur us to action, notinaction... we must take out global insurance against what could result indevastating, catastrophic changes for the entire globe,” he warned.

“Besides long-term catastrophic effects, countries in the south, including smallislands, are facing more frequent extreme events. It so happens that these mostvulnerable peoples are the ones who are the poorest... (Given) this extremeunfairness, rich countries are faced with a huge ethical issue and the historicalissue of responsibility,” he added.

Financing the global public goodIt is important to view the atmosphere as a global public good that must beprotected by the international community, Dervis noted. To this end, it is key toinform the citizens of the world that climate change concerns them. “They mustrealise that by supporting climate change mitigation or adaptation measures inIndia, for example, they are financing their own future and the global public goodthat is our atmosphere.”

This will become increasingly important as the real cost of meeting the manychallenges surface. Dervis pointed out that both concessional and commercialresources are necessary to help the poorest countries adapt to and mitigate thepotentially devastating effects of climate change.

Dervis noted that access to energy and development are intrinsically linked.Because poor people have “huge energy” needs, there will be a need for burdensharing. “Meeting the energy needs of the planet’s poor carries a price tag ofUS$ 300 billion investment per year until 2020. About 10% of this cost needs tocovered by additional resources over the next decade,” he said.

He advocated blending concessional and commercial resources in middle incomecountries; in developing countries, a blend of concessional resources and privatesector investment in sustainable energy solutions would be needed.

“Historically, majortechnological changes

create multiplier effectsthat stand to benefit

society. As we search fornew technologies for

mitigation, adaptationand energy efficiency,

we could triggerinnovation and sideeffects that support

growth.”


Mitigation and adaptation measures

“essential”


A fair and feasible framework“This means we need to look at what kind of framework is fair and politicallyfeasible. This is the burden-sharing problem. The poorest countries will needadditional resources for adaptation,” he said. “But it has become quite clear thatthe old estimates for realising the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) andfighting poverty beyond that are no longer sufficient.”

Burden sharing will involve directing more concessional resources to the poorestcountries facing the challenges of climate change. Dervis recognised thatmobilising such resources would be difficult, but warned against “dressing up oldresources in new clothes.” For these countries, additional resources for climateadaptation must come from the development community.

“Middle-income countries can meet adaptation funding needs with a combinationof non-concessional resources and private investment, but if we want them to joinmitigation efforts, rich countries must share the cost burden,” he added.

“Rich countries must accept that they have to shoulder the burden of mitigation inmiddle income countries,” Dervis said. “Some economists are arguing to separateadaptation and mitigation issues, which is possible conceptually but not in termsof policymaking.” He pointed out that if we don’t mitigate fast, it will result in hugeadaptation needs.

Dervis admitted that in terms of instruments, there is “no silver bullet or one policythat will resolve the issues.” The Kyoto “caps and trade” approach has beenpromising, but critics have cited problems such as too much bureaucracy, poorenforcement... and rumours of false offsets. He acknowledged the debate aboutcarbon taxation, but commented, “carbon taxation and trade are not necessarilymutually exclusive.”

Considering the costs – and the benefitsDervis urged participants – and the international community – to carefully considerthe costs and benefits over the long term. He admitted that there will beconsiderable costs involved in meeting the challenges of climate change, butpointed to the potential benefits.

“Historically, major technological changes create multiplier effects that stand tobenefit society. As we search for new technologies for mitigation, adaptation andenergy efficiency, we could trigger innovation and side effects that supportgrowth,” he said.

“New technologies and clean energy will result in new jobs, new inventions andother complementary production techniques that will lead to greater prosperity.This may be difficult to measure, but don’t underestimate the optimistic upside ofall of this,” he concluded.

Anders WIJKMANAminda LEIGH Gareth THOMAS


A SERIES OF FOUR MINISTERIAL ROUND TABLES TOOK PLACE 8 NOVEMBER 2007, WHICH BROUGHT

TOGETHER THE MANY STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN ADDRESSING THE URGENT, CROSSCUTTING ISSUES

CONCERNING CLIMATE CHANGE. DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES WERE OPEN TO THE AUDIENCE. THE ROUND

TABLE REPORTS IN THIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF THE DISCUSSIONS.

• Moderator Aminda Leigh, Amros Media Solutions• Lennert Båge, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) • Mamadou Cissokho, Honorary President of the Network of West African

Farmers and Producers Organisation• Madeleen Helmer, Head of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre• Peter Jan Kalaš, former environment minister of the Czech Republic• Chowdhury Sajjadul Karim, Advisor with Bangladesh’s Ministry of

Environment and Forest• Ole Moesby, Under-Secretary of State for Multilateral Affairs, Denmark• Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the World Food Programme• Antonio Cavaco Servinho, Director General for Humanitarian Aid,

European Commission • Thomas Gareth, Under-Secretary of State, Department for International

Development (DfID), UK• Anders Wijkman, Member of the European Parliament

BACKGROUND••

After analysing scientific data, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) presented the international community with three alarming conclusions:• Climate change is happening.• Human activity resulting in the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the

atmosphere is responsible for the recent acceleration of climate change.• Most regions in the world, especially those in developing countries, will be

increasingly affected by climate change.

Developing countries have the fewest resources to prepare for a rise in temperaturesand to adapt their way of life. As a result, climate change is likely to pose an obstaclefor development and for achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

The IPCC report concludes that Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents toclimate variability and change because of multiple stresses. Water stress, foodinsecurity through droughts and desertification, sea level rise, new health risks,extreme weather events and migration pressures are some of the projectedimpacts. Other parts of the world, including Latin America and Asia, face similarchallenges.

At the same time, developing countries are the least responsible for theaccumulation of GHG in the atmosphere and the resulting climate change. Thepoorest, most vulnerable societies are the worst hit by climate change as itexacerbates existing vulnerabilities. Climate change could well wipe out the resultsof years of previous development efforts.

“The panellists allrecognised that climate

change is an urgentproblem, that it is no

longer a problem for the future, that it’s

happening now. There was sincere and

vocal interest in comingup with concrete

solutions at a globallevel because climate

change is a globalproblem. And there was

a lot of discussion abouthow to get to those

solutions. We need ‘joined-up

thinking’ that involveseveryone from local,

national, regional andinternational levels.”

Aminda Leigh,

Amros Media Solutions,

Moderator

R O U N D TA B L E

Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change

Protecting and empowering the poorest

Ole MOESBYMadeleen HELMER


Integrating climate change into the development agendaMeeting the challenges of global warming will require a significant boost in funding todevelopment programmes and greater cooperation and coordination betweenagencies that work in development, climate change and humanitarian relief.Participants agreed that integrating climate change into the development agenda is apressing and urgent necessity for meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

“Because of climate change, we may be facing the perfect storm for the world’spoorest people,” said Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the World FoodProgramme.

“How to address climate change in the development context is the biggestchallenge today,” said Ole Moesby, Under-Secretary of State for Multilateral Affairs,Denmark. “When we (signed on to) the MDGs seven years ago we did not includeclimate change in the equation. We must ensure that poor people today don’t payfor rich people’s mistakes of yesterday. The need to mobilise international fundingis paramount.”

Madeleen Helmer, Head of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre, suggesteda way to ensure increased funding. “There were targets for emissions included inthe Kyoto Protocol,” she said. “The second protocol should include targets forincreased funding for adaptation.”

Panellists agreed that too often efforts of governments and others are fracturedand overlapping, which results in wasted resources. “We all advocate for morecooperation and more coordination,” said Helmer. “It’s easily said, but not easilydone. What we need is more joined-up thinking that involves everyone from local,national, regional and international levels.”

MEP Anders Wijkman said that some people are arguing that there should be aseparate path of funding to help poor people in developing countries cope with theeffects of climate change. However, he and the other panellists did not agree withthat approach.

“Adaptation cannot be a stand alone, said Wijkman. “It must be part of thedevelopment agenda or funding will become even more fragmented.”

What will it do to the poor people?When discussing climate change, it is important to think of the people who it isaffecting most not just as victims, but also as active players who can help solve theproblem.

Mamadou CISSOKHO and Antonio CAVACO SERVINHO

Chowdhur y Saj jadul KARIM Lennert BÅGE Peter Jan KALAŠJoset te SHEERAN


Mamadou Cissokho, Honorary President of the Network of West African Farmersand Producers Organisation, put the magnitude of the climate change problem inperspective as to how it will affect poor people in developing countries: “Scientistsare saying that it is the ‘small’ people who are going to suffer the most from climatechange. Scientists also said that the dinosaurs became extinct because of climatechange, and dinosaurs weren’t small.”

The implication is that if climate change could decimate ‘big’ dinosaurs what will itdo to ‘small’ or poor people?

Tackling climate change with proactive measures“We will have a world that is growing in numbers and also growing in developmentso there will be more demand for food,” said Lennert Båge, IFAD President. “Poorpeople can be part of the solution to grow more food. We have to see to it that wemake the right investments so they can do that. We need to help them strengthentheir organisations. We have to think about how to pay them for managing naturalresources in a sustainable way. We shouldn’t confuse development aid withmeasures to tackle climate change. Climate change must be integrated, not usedto siphon funds away from development aid.”

Until recently, resources for climate change were not considered by humanitarianrelief organisations.

“But climate change has a strong link to humanitarian crises. We have to preparelocal populations against these crises that are brought on by extreme weatherevents due to climate change,” said Antonio Cavaco Servinho, Director General forHumanitarian Aid with the European Commission.

“You can tackle disasters with reactive measures, but we need to tackle climatechange with proactive measures,” said Chowdhury Sajjadul Karim, Advisor withBangladesh’s Ministry of Environment and Forest. “After every flood there is somelevel of migration. But if climate change isn’t checked, the level of migration will beenormous. It will be a problem of inordinate magnitude.”

Peter Jan Kalaš, former environment minister of the Czech Republic, said that in theCzech Republic, changes (in climate) have been observed. He noted that in joiningthe EU, the Czech Republic improved its environmental performance. “Our ODA(Official Development Assistance) is still modest, but we are addressingadaptation in some countries. We have experience to share.”

Bénédicte PAVIOT


“This session showedthat there are positivethings happening. Butthere is still a lot of workto do. The key word is‘together’ – worktogether for the globalcommon good. Thegood news is thatpeople are motivated.Some of the initiativesthat are already beingtaken may later prove to be useful.”

Bénédicte Paviot,

Reporter France 24 TV,

Moderator

• Moderator Bénédicte Paviot, Reporter France 24 TV• Kemal Dervis, Administrator of the United National Development Programme • Anne Gazeau-Secret, Director General, International Cooperation and

Development, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, France• Alice Kaudia, Regional Director for Eastern Africa,

World Conservation Union (IUCN) • Veronica Nataniel Macamo, Member of the Pan-African Parliament• Koos Richelle, Director General of EuropAid, European Commission • Claude-Yves Robin, Director General, France 5 TV• Johan Schaar, Commissioner for Climate Change and Development,

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)• László Várkonyi, State Secretary for International Development, Hungary

BACKGROUND••

A public good available throughout the world is a Global Public Good (GPG). Forexample, the climate and the atmosphere are GPGs. Greenhouse gas emissionscontributing to climate change have the same effect regardless in which countrythey originate and are damaging the atmosphere, which is a GPG.

All people of the world are affected regardless of whether and to what extent theycontribute to the problem. Developed industrial nations contribute the lion’s shareof greenhouse gases, but the adverse effects of climate change disproportionatelyhurt Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Development achievements in the fight against poverty, disease and hunger riskbeing unravelled by climate change. Unless global warming slows down andremains below 2-degrees C, the incidence of extreme weather phenomena willincrease, infectious diseases will expand their reach and many ecosystems will beput under great strain.

Consider that a single extreme weather phenomena such as a hurricane may wipeout 10% to 15% of GDP in a small developing country. A modest temperature rise of2-degrees C may drastically affect crop yields. Climate change coupled with populationgrowth threatens to halve the amount of water available per person by 2050.

For all GPGs, one of the challenges is to implement an equitable arrangement atinternational level. The atmosphere is considered by many to be a GPG. This is thesubject of the negotiations of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Changeand its Kyoto Protocol. Postponing action on climate change only by a few decadesmight make the cost inflicted almost surmountable.

R O U N D TA B L E

Global public goodsand climate change

Moving the global interest forward

Kemal DERVIS and Anne GAZEAU-SECRET


Understanding the “interconnectedness” between all peoplePanellists considered the concept of Global Public Good as it relates to climatechange challenges. Moderator Bénédicte Paviot opened the discussion by urgingthat we “need to understand the interconnectedness between all people.”

Koos Richelle, of EuropAid, observed: “Equitable access to and equitabledistribution of resources throughout the world is desirable but as there is no worldgovernment to require it, we must rely on voluntary actions.” He then describedseveral of the EU’s voluntary initiatives aimed at assisting the Least DevelopedCountries (LDCs) deal with the challenges of climate change.

Anne Gazeau-Secret of France’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, France,noted several French initiatives to assist LDCs. “The market alone cannot accountfor or supply Global Public Goods. International cooperation is needed,” shecommented.

Sida’s Johan Schaar described Swedish initiatives and noted that recent pollsshow that a majority of people are concerned about climate change. “I think thereis a popular mandate for politicians to act,” he said. Completing the presentationsfrom European speakers was László Várkonyi, Hungarian State Secretary forInternational Cooperation.

Rich countries have a “double responsibility”UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis told participants that while the UN is anappropriate forum for the voices of all nations to be heard, he did not believe thatthe UN should take a partisan position as to the appropriate climate changeburden sharing formula. However, he noted that the rich, polluting countries havea “double responsibility” with respect to the costs of dealing with climate change.

“It is appropriate for donor nations to use some ODA funds to address climatechange problems in recipient countries. But existing ODA cannot fully fund theclimate change challenge. Additional money is needed,” Dervis added.

Dervis discussed the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baliin December 2007 where the nations of the world will struggle to find ways ofsharing the burden of addressing climate change between developed, developingand LDCs. He was doubtful that a final formula could be achieved in Bali.

“Maybe what is needed is a temporary formula to get things started,” hesuggested.

Alice KAUDIA László VÁRKONYJohan SCHAAR


“We need concrete action”Veronica Nataniel Macamo of the Pan-African Parliament made a plea: “We needconcrete action to make sure that climate change won’t put our lives in danger.” Inresponse from an intervention from the audience, she acknowledged that Africa,“must be responsible to move towards greater democracy and better governance.”

IUCN’s Alice Kaudia told participants that Africa needs assistance in capacitybuilding, energy efficiency and clean energy technology transfer. “Developednations must assist in making efficient energy technologies affordable forAfricans,” she emphasised.

Koos RICHELLEVeronica NATANIEL MACAMOClaude-Yves ROBIN

Femi OKE Ur mas PAET


• Moderator Femi Oke, Inside Africa Programme, CNN• Mozaharul Alam, Research Fellow, Centre for Advanced Studies• Bineta Diop, Executive Director, Femmes Africa Solidarité• Ndioro N’Diaye, Deputy Director General, International Organization

for Migration (IOM)• Urmas Paet, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Estonia• Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT• Mathis Wackernagel, Executive Director, Ecological Footprint

BACKGROUND••

Climate change acts as a multiplier, intensifying already existing threats topopulations. The most vulnerable will be the hardest hit – they risk plunging into avicious circle of economic and social exclusion.

The negative spin-offs of climate change are manifold as populations compete forresources, face insecurity due to rising waters, migrate causing stress on alreadyfragile infrastructures, incur increased health risks and are thrust into situations ofsocial unrest, ethnic or religious tensions and radicalisation.

For these reasons, investments in mitigation and adaptation to climate change arealso investments in development and future stability.

This is a formidable challenge to policymakers who are facing a real conundrum:how best to avoid contradiction and competition between attaining today’sdevelopment objectives and increasing climate change mitigation and adaptationefforts?

A new paradigm for thinking about developmentClimate change and other environmental factors are exacerbating many of theproblems with which the development community has been struggling for years.Panellists made numerous suggestions of how to protect the most vulnerable byintegrating climate change mitigation and adaptation measures into developmentpolicy

Mathis Wackernagel of Ecological Footprint outlined what he called a newparadigm for thinking about development. “Why is the model of the developedversus the developing world passé? Because if the goal is to transform developingcountries into developed countries, we would need three times the capacity of theworld’s resources to satisfy the demand for consumption.”

“For me what comes ofthis is what a complex

issue it is. There are somany countries

involved, so manyagencies involved. It is difficult to say,

‘This is the solution.’When you get to the

level of the EuropeanUnion or the African

Union, how do youdecide? There are so

many interests. Climate change is

making developmentissues trickier. It is not

just a question of where people move to. Do they move to cities?

Can cities sustain them?Climate change is an

added thing. The NGOs,the UN and the EU

hadn’t thought aboutthis with any urgency

before. Now there isgetting to be a sense ofurgency, one that goes

beyond high-levelconferences.”

Femi Oke, CNN,

Moderator

R O U N D TA B L E

Climate change and poverty, human settlements and migration

Promoting a human-centred and holistic approach


The status quo is “untenable”There seemed to be a consensus among the panelists that the status quo isuntenable. But that assumption invoked some hard questions. “Currentconsumption patterns are not sustainable, but who is ready to get out of thecomfort zone?” asked Anna Tibaijuka of UN-HABITAT.

Or, as Wackernagel asked: “Is the economy future proof?”

Bineta Diop of Femmes Africa Solidarité offered one suggestion on how to reward andpunish those on the right and wrong sides of carbon emissions and environmentaldegradation: “We need to look at who the good and bad guys are. Who is going topoint fingers? Rather than denounce those who don’t do the right things, maybe wecan award those who do. And give red cards to those who do nothing.”

Wackernagel suggests dividing the world into places where people consume moreresources than they have and those who consume less. This concept is measuredby the term “biocapacity.” Through some still-undefined market mechanismsimilar to carbon credits, those who consume less could be compensated for theirefforts.

“Wealthy countries love to export their externalities,” he said. “But climate changeis an issue that will affect the entire planet and thus could force rich countrypoliticians to act.”

Most of these issues have been on the table since the 1972 United NationsConference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, said Tibaijuka. “Adaptationis nothing more than the HABITAT agenda.”

But, as many panellists pointed out, the problems have become worse in the35 years. “I remember when there were nomad and sedentary populations,” saidNdioro N’Diaye, IOM. “They had different needs. The nomads moved with theseasons and there was a balance with the natural resources. Now the populationhas soared in Africa. There are more people to use the resources, and this is beingexacerbated by climate change.”

Good governance is keyMuch of the discussion revolved around ways to make foreign assistance moreeffective. “Talking about foreign aid, someone told me that development aid iswhen you take money from poor people in developed countries and give it to richpeople in developing countries,” said Urmas Paet, Minister of Foreign Affairs,Estonia. “We’d like to change that.”

Most panellists agreed that resources need to be better managed. “Goodgovernance is an issue that we need to address,” said N´Diaye. “We invest a lotmore in wars than in development.”

Bineta DIOPNdioro N’DIAYE Mozahar ul ALAM and Anna TIBAIJUKA


Mozaharul Alam, Centre for Advanced Studies agreed: “We need good governanceand poverty reduction independent of climate change. The issue here is howclimate change will affect development. How do we do things in a different way sothat development will withstand the challenge of climate change?”

Panellists also agreed that one important step towards evaluating foreign aid andother initiatives would be reliable monitoring systems. “One thing is missing – anaccounting of it all,” said N´Diaye. “We need an assessment system, an audit.Somebody should be responsible.”

Added Wackernagel: “We need good environmental statements, [much] like thefinancial statements of companies”.

Mathis WACKERNAGEL

“We have failed to reachconsensus on too manyoccasions, … We have let short-term profits dictateover long-term global benefitsfor far too long. Let us go forth to Bali with a mindset to succeed.”Maumoon Abdul Gayoom,

President of the Republic

of Maldives

“There were targetsfor emissions included in the Kyoto Protocol…, the second protocol should include targets for increasedfunding for adaptation.” Madeleen Helmer,

Head of the Red Cross/

Red Crescent Climate Centre

“Resources are limited and there isone crisis swiftly followed byanother. We can rebuild houses,roads and schools, but we can never give back lifewhen it has been taken away.”Kofi Annan,

President,

Global Humanitarian Forum

“Climate change representsa great technological opportunityfor developing countries to leapfrog the high-carbon phase of development.”José Manuel Barroso,

President of

the European Commission


“Poor people, and particularlywomen, are most impacted byadverse consequences fromclimate change,.”Wahida Bashar Ahmed,

ActionAid International


“Why is the model of the developed versus thedeveloping world passé? Because if the goal is to transform developing countriesinto developed countries, we would need three times the capacity of the world’s resourcesto satisfy the demand for consumption.”Mathis Wackernagel

of Ecological Footprint

“We need concrete action to make sure that climate change won’t putour lives in danger.”Veronica Nataniel Macamo

of the Pan-African Parliament

“Why not a worldwideorganisation to address thisproblem? … Is it because wedon’t believe in it or becausethere are vested interests?”Josep Borrell Fontelles,

Member of the European

Parliament, President of the

Development Committee

“The poor countries need additional resources to adapt to climate change. It is quite clear that the estimated costs for reaching the UN Millenium Goalsand fighting poverty are no longer realistic. The rich countries and their citizens must share their part of the burden. It is in their interest. It is not about using Overseas Development Assistance,but finding alternative ways to finance a resource that is a global public good.”Kemal Dervis, Administrator,

United Nations Development Programme


“We need a change of thinking among the donorcountries. Instead of calling it aid, it should be calledcompensation, which better reflects the role of theeconomic players in developing countries working to reduce climate problems.”Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, Executive Director,

Growing Business Foundation, Nigeria

“Rich and poor inhabit the same exhaustedplanet. We should all save ourselves or nobodywill be saved. Despite our differences, we are bound by a common fate...international cooperation is the only rational and viable way.”Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla,

Cuba’s First-Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs

“Green development will spureconomic growth. We must makeprivate money go where privatemoney has never gone before.”Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary,

United Nations Framework Convention

on Climate Change

“Talking about foreign aid, someone told me that development aid is when you take moneyfrom poor people in developed countriesand give it to rich people in developing countries. We’d like to change that.”Urmas Paet,

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Estonia


“Locally, climate change is alreadyaffecting people’s lives. Greenland’s ice capis melting faster than ever imagined.Globally, this could be a disaster, especiallyfor Small Island Developing States.”Arkalo Abelson,

Minister of the Environment,

Greenland

“Let´s come-up with a creative wayto design this global loan which would allow us the resourcesto deal with these climate issues.” Louis Michel,

European Commissioner for

Development and Humanitarian Aid

“After every flood there is some level of migration. But if climate change isn’t checked, the level of migration will be enormous. It will be a problem of inordinate magnitude.”Chowdhury Sajjadul Karim,

Advisor, Ministry of Environment

and Forest, Bangladesh

“Rather than denounce those who don’t do the right things, maybe we can award those who do... and give red cards to those who do nothing”Bineta Diop,

Executive Director,

Femme Africa Solidarité


“The whole debate hasillustrated thecomplexity of the issuesinvolved in addressingclimate change, inparticular issues suchas the transfer oftechnology andreducing greenhousegases, whilesimultaneously trying to eliminate poverty...Amongst the expertsthemselves, the viewsdiverge greatly on howcan you achieve theMillenniumDevelopment Goals onpoverty reduction and at the same time reducegreenhouse gasemissions. It is clearthere are no easyanswers and clearlyno silver bullet.”

Anya Sitaram,

Broadcaster and

Journalist, Moderator

• Moderator Anya Sitaram, Broadcaster and Journalist• Thijs Berman, Member of the European Parliament• Richard Hosier, Team Leader for Climate and Chemicals,

Global Environment Facility (GEF) Secretariat• Manfred Konukiewitz, Commissioner for Climate Policy, Head of the Global

and Sectoral Policies Directorate, German Federal Ministry for EconomicCooperation and Development

• Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, Executive Director, Growing Business Foundation, Nigeria

• Rolph Payet, Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Seychelles• Bernard Petit, Deputy Director General, Directorate General of Development,

European Commission• Mahamadou Sako, Deloitte Managing Director and former minister of

privatisations, Niger• Marina Ploutakhina, Climate Change Specialist for the United Nations

Industrial Organization• Theodoros Skylakakis, Secretary General for International Economic

Relations and Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greece

BACKGROUND••

In the December 2007 negotiations at the Bali conference of the United NationsFramework Convention on Climate Change, one the major challenges participantsface is how to ensure global mitigation efforts. International climate changemitigation requires leadership by industrialised countries and for all major emittersto step up and take action. At the same time, developing country emissions aregrowing rapidly and are likely to overtake those by industrialised countries by theyear 2020. This means that developing countries will also have to take action.

Rather than take on binding absolute emission reduction commitments, a range ofother models are possible for developing countries, which can also deliverimmediate economic and social benefits. Such options include increasing energyefficiency, promoting renewable energies or capturing methane from sources suchas landfills.

All of these measures can significantly reduce energy costs. At the same time, theyhelp improve energy security and create new jobs. In addition, improving local airquality can deliver significant health benefits. Slowing emission growth can beturned into an opportunity to leapfrog towards cleaner and more efficient meansof economic development. Climate-friend energy policies create incentives fortechnological change that could respond to the development of a growing marketfor renewable energies such as wind, solar, biomass and hydropower.

R O U N D TA B L E

Climate change mitigation, opportunities and financing

Combining the fightagainst poverty and climate change

Mahamadou SAKOAnya SITARAM


Sustainable policies needed for tackling climate changePanellists debated the complex interplay of issues surrounding how to implementand finance climate change mitigation measures. They generally agreed thatmitigation, adaptation and technology transfer are three pillars of equalimportance in sustainable policies for tackling climate change.

Bernard Petit of the EC’s DG Development highlighted the importance of theupcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali in December 2007:“With a view to the Bali meeting, the EU has proposed a reduction of 20% in itsemissions by 2020. In Bali everyone must assume their responsibility and worktowards a joint reduction in emissions.”

Richard Hosier of the Global Environment Facility explained that his organisation hadbeen working to remove barriers to energy efficient renewable projects. “We believethat by removing barriers and creating the enabling environment for sustainableinvestments, we have reduced a billion tons of CO2 emissions,” he stated.

We have the technologyMarina Ploutakhina from UNIDO pointed to the broad consensus emerging that avast array of technological solutions are necessary to address mitigation issues.The good news, she said, is that the vast majority of the technologies needed arealready in the public domain.

Given that industry accounts globally for some 37% of greenhouse gases, UNIDOhas focused much of its effort on the optimisation of industrial systems. But tomaximise efficiency gains one must optimise the whole system. This is complexand requires an extra effort, particularly for developing countries. But manymitigation technologies for improving energy efficiency are inexpensive.

Rolph Payet, Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Seychelles, agreedthat all the necessary technologies are already out there. “Sometimes we arecreating barriers by holding onto the patents to make private financial gain,” hesaid. ”We have to push harder to put these technologies into use. Photovoltaiccells, for example, have been around for 25 years. Why aren’t they mass producedand cheap?”

“Think outside the box”MEP Berman encouraged people to think outside of the box: “Agriculture needs anew place in climate change policy. We need to support farmers not just to providefood, but for non-food reasons like preventing desertification, and minimising theuse of fossil fuels,” he said.

Theodoros Skylakakis of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that thegrowing developing world economies must urgently adopt low greenhouse gasgrowth paths. “The rights decisions must be taken early on since the first stagessuch as transportation and industrial technologies are binding for the remainder ofa country’s development and cannot be reversed,” he explained.

Thijs BERMAN Richard HOSIERMarina PLOUTAKHINABer nard PETIT

Manfred KONUKIEWITZ


Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien of the Growing Business Foundation in Nigeria urged a changein thinking among donor countries. “A lot of what is called ‘aid’, should be called‘compensation,’ which better reflects the role being bestowed on the economicplayers in developing countries – ranging from forestry workers to farmers – to helpreduce climate problems,” she said.

Training and education play an important role at the local level to increaseawareness, explained Mahamadou Sako of Niger. “Climate change science shouldbe taught in universities from primary school level. Our education polices shouldcater for looking at ways to fight climate change,” he advised.

Who will pay and how?Manfred Konukiewitz from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperationand Development pointed out that the mitigation costs of reducing greenhousegases involve sizeable sums of money, but not as much as people think. In fact, itis just a fraction of today’s GDP. “Full implementation he said would bring us backto the GPD levels of the 1980s where we didn’t actually live badly,” he said. “It canbe financed.”

Berman commented that innovation is driven by laziness, need or obligation. “Ourrole at the European Parliament is to create obligation,” he said. “But what we areasking for costs money. We must therefore create new sources of money. We couldconsider raising taxes on the kerosene used in air transportation. It seemsridiculous that such a pollution-intensive resource is tax free. The tax could beredeployed on mitigation measures to counteracting climate change.”

Payet pointed out that such an airline tax would signal the demise of the principalindustry of the Seychelles and many other small economies – tourism. Simplisticsolutions need to be fully thought through, he added.

“Why not look at the business of carbon trading,” Payet suggested. “This hasbecome a billion dollar business. How about taking a percentage of thecommissions being made and putting it towards adaptation?”

Ndidi NNOLI-EDOZIENRolph PAYET Theodoros SKYLAKAKIS

Tumi MAKGABO


• Moderator Tumi Makgabo, CNN International• Alberto Binger, Director, Centre for Environment and Development,

University of the West Indies• Josep Borrell Fontelles, Member of the European Parliament,

President of the Development Committee• Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid• Nuno Ribeiro da Silva, President of the Portugese Industrial Association (AIP)

Environment Strategic Board• Valentine Sendanyoye Rugwabiza, Deputy Director General,

World Trade Organization (WTO)• Achim Steiner, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme

(UNEP)

Which way forward?Panellists debated on how best to achieve global environmental governance. Twomain proposals for global environmental governance emerged from the High LevelPanel. The first, addressed by many panellists in different ways, would involvecreating a new multilateral agency or strengthening and empowering an existingbody that would be responsible for matters related to climate change.

The second, offered by Louis Michel, Commissioner for Development andHumanitarian Aid, would be a global loan mechanism to fund initiatives designed tomeet the challenges of climate change. Though he admitted that the details of thescheme have yet to be hashed out, Michel proposed an international lendingprogramme to be funded by the rich countries, “perhaps managed by the World Bankor the IMF” to immediately provide cash to address the issue of climate change.

“Clearly, we at the political level should look at additional funding,” he said. “Wecan suggest to our partners that they include these concerns in their developmentplans, but if there are additional costs we should provide assistance.”

By proposing a loan mechanism rather than a grant scheme, Michel was acceptingpolitical realities. “If we ask EU members if they are ready to finance this, theanswer would be no,” he said. “The loan idea is politically possible. It wouldencourage investments and could be self-financing.”

Alberto Binger of the University of the West Indies outlined a technological fix thatcould conceivably receive financing under Michel’s loan scheme. Ocean ThermalEnergy Conversion, discovered in 1888, uses sea water and the differences intemperature between the ocean’s surface and lower depths to produce energy withzero carbon emissions.

A multilateral agency?Several speakers championed the idea of a new or improved multilateral agency totake responsibility for climate change initiatives. “Why not a worldwideorganisation to address this problem?” asked MEP Josep Borrell. “Is it because wedon’t believe in it or because there are vested interests?”

“If we’re prepared to delegate powers

to the market, why not delegate

a little of oursovereignty to global

governance?”

Valentine Sendanyoye

Rugwabiza,

Deputy Director General,

WTO

H I G H L E V E L P A N E L

Partnerships and globalenvironmental governance

Nuno RIBEIRO DA SILVA


The short-term electoral imperatives of national politicians hinder their ability totake tough decisions to solve long-term problems such as climate change, agreedmany panellists. Many also agreed that – a step removed – global organisationscan withstand many of the immediate pressures.

“If we’re prepared to delegate powers to the market, why not delegate a little of oursovereignty to global governance?” asked Valentine Sendanyoye Rugwabiza of theWorld Trade Organization.

Rugwabiza suggested that climate change could be addressed using the currentset of multilateral agencies if national governments seriously set out to implementalready existing international agreements on the environment and development.“We need coherence at the national level if we are going to have coherence at theinternational level,” she said.

Achim Steiner of UNEP expressed frustration because two decades after theBrundtland Report (also known as Our Common Future), there has been noimprovement on any of the key indicators highlighted in that document. He addedthat, according to his figures, CO2 emissions are up by 35% since 2000, meaningsince the Kyoto accord was signed.

“There is still a level of contradiction and hypocrisy,” he said. The sundryinternational environmental agreements signed over the last 30 years have provenineffective, he recognised. But neither is he enthusiastic about the creation of a newmultilateral body. “I am sceptical about jumping to form a new institution,” Steinersaid. “Function follows form and there is no consensus about how to do this.”

Rational tax and pricing policies neededNuno Ribeiro da Silva of Portuguese Industrial Association (AIP) pointed out thatproducers and consumers sometimes receive contradictory messages fromgovernments on environmental protection. In Portugal, the value added tax (VAT)on electricity is 5%, but when consumers retrofit their homes to make them moreenergy efficient, they pay 21% VAT on the necessary equipment.

Rational tax and pricing policies, such as those that encouraged meat packers toreplace outdated freezers in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s, couldproduce interesting results, he said.

Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, Louis MICHEL, Achim STEINER, Valentine SENDANYOYE RUGWABIZA and Alberto BINGER

Louis MICHEL


• Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid• Francisco Nunes Correia, Minister for Environment, Spatial Planning and

Regional Development, Portugal• Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, First Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cuba• Andrej Šter, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Slovenia

The 2nd European Development Days provided a forum for debate, discussion andknowledge sharing about the inextricable linkages between climate change anddevelopment. At the Closing Ceremony, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Cuba’s First Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, reminded participants why it is important to act now. Hesaid that “little had been done” and the situation today is a lot more critical thanthe meeting in Rio de Janeiro 15 years ago at the United Nations Conference onEnvironment and Development.

Parrilla gave a sobering snapshot of the devastation done to the planet thus farand made an impassioned plea for the richer countries to take up theirresponsibilities: “The mitigation... and adaptation... strategies would be wishfulthinking if there is no change in the untenable production and consumptionpatterns of the wealthy societies, which are mainly responsibly for theenvironmental damage visited upon the whole planet... the rich countries mustbear the brunt of mitigation.”

He set the stage for partnership and cooperation of all nations: “Rich and poorinhabit the same exhausted planet. We should all save ourselves or nobody will besaved. Despite our differences, we are bound by a common fate... internationalcooperation is the only rational and viable way.”

Climate change must be included in the development equationLouis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid,summed up some of the major themes of the three-day European DevelopmentDays:

• Climate change is no longer a hypothesis but a reality.• Climate change will disproportionately affect those least responsible for the

phenomenon.• Climate change can no longer be perceived as just an environmental issue.• Climate change is no longer an issue of the future as its effects are already

becoming evident.

“If we don’t include climate change in the development equation we will lose muchof what we have already invested,” he said. Michel reiterated his proposal to createa global loan mechanism to fund initiatives for climate change mitigation andadaptation and called upon the world community to compensate developingcountries for protecting their natural environments.

“If we don’t includeclimate change in the

development equationwe will lose much

of what we have already invested.”

Louis Michel,


for Development


C L O S I N G C E R E M O N Y

The best adaptation – mitigation with development


Echoing the comments of many participants during the 2nd European DevelopmentDays 2007, Andrej Šter, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Slovenia, noted: “Leastdeveloped countries and small island nations will be the most affected by climatechange despite having contributed the least. For those who lack the capacity toadapt, we must step up to help.”

This would include development assistance in priority areas such as adaptation,monitoring, food security, disaster relief, education and the development of cleanenergy, he said. The latter would include technology transfer to ensure lowgreenhouse gas emissions in the energy, transportation and agricultural sectors.“We believe that the best adaptation is mitigation with development,” Šter said.

“Unprecedented levels of cooperation” needed.

Francisco Nunes Correia, Minister for Environment, Spatial Planning and RegionalDevelopment, Portugal, called for what he believes must be unprecedented levelsof international cooperation and integration of public policies to address climatechange. He too recognised that countries and regions are unequally equipped toconfront the problem. “It is important to intertwine development and climatechange policies,” he said. “The paradigm of the development model must bechanged.”

Both Šter and Nunes Correia called attention to the importance of the UnitedNations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, and the EU-African UnionSummit in Lisbon, both coming up in December 2007. The Bali conference is thenext step in the effort to develop global standards for carbon emissions after theKyoto accord runs out in 2012. Šter noted that the EU-African Union Summit is“an appropriate forum” to discuss initiatives that fuse development and climatechange policies.

Br uno RODRIGUEZ PARRILLA Francisco NUNES CORREIAAndrej STER


Climate Justice Beyond 2012

Climate change and development are intrinsically entwined andmust be considered in tandem when world leaders meet to hammerout a post-Kyoto agreement at the Conference of the UN Frame-work Convention on Climate Change and the 3rd Meeting of theParties to the Kyoto Protocol in Bali in December 2007. This was theconsensus of panel members from both climate change and devel-opment agencies who attended this panel presentation, organisedjointly by CAN-Europe, a leading network working on climate andenergy issues, and CONCORD, the European confederation of reliefand development NGOs.

Reducing Vulnerability

Organised by VOICE Disaster Risk Reduction and EU-CORD (a net-work of Christian organizations involved in relief and development),this session explored disaster risk reduction, climate change adap-tation and development cooperation.

Local Authorities, Development and Climate Change

Participants focused on the critical role of local authorities inaddressing interfaces between development and climate change.Organised by Committee of the Regions, Commonwealth LocalGovernment Forum, African Caribbean Pacific Local GovernmentPlatform, Council of European Municipalities and Regions andInternational Association of Francophone Regions.

“Civil society from a numberof different areas is now joining

in the climate change discussions. We are here together, even today,

bridging the divide.”

Matthias Duwe,

Director,

Climate Action Network Europe

“When we started thinking about this,climate change was a term from an

alien language. From 2004 we startedto pick up on the fact that climate

change adaptation is not too differentfrom disaster risk reduction.”

Wahida Bashar Ahmed,

ActionAid

“Local and regional governmentsare closer to the people than national

governments and day-to-day they mustdeal with actions for adaptation and

mitigation of climate change impactsand issues in the such areas of water

supply, transport policy, disasterplanning and relief, housing

and waste management.”

Tasneem Essop,

Minister of Environment,

Planning and Economic Development

for the Western Cape Province

of South Africa

P A R A L L E L E V E N T S

Forumsfor innovative

thinking

Running alongside the European Development Days plenary sessions, high-

level panels, workshops and special addresses were a number of Parallel

Events offering a diverse mix of sessions. More than 50 organisations – and

countries – showcased their activities, addressed specific topics or

explored climate change and development issues in depth.

The objective of Parallel Events was to create an interactive platform where

development practitioners could meet, exchange experiences, share best

practices and lay the foundation for future collaboration and partnership.

Following are highlights from some of this year’s sessions.


“We have to increasingly take on board political reality...in making decisions: where are the special interests when decisions are taken and how can the interests of the public be represented?”

Raili Lahnalampi,

Organisation for Economic

Cooperation and Development (OECD)

“The new strategy should give usthe structure and direction forsuccessful collaboration in the future.Poverty alleviation and the MillenniumDevelopment Goals will remain the central pillars of the developmentprogrammes... Forty-one percentof sub-Saharan Africans still live on less than one dollar per day.”

Marwiki T. Khumalo,

Pan-African Parliament,

head of delegation working with

European parliamentarians

Policy Coherence for Development –

what next?

Ensuring the coherence of policies to support development is highon the agenda of international organisations. The EuropeanCommission published in September 2007 its first report on PolicyCoherence for Development, which covers initiatives at EU level andmeasures taken by Member States. Participants discussed how toachieve more coordinated development. Organised by VermeerStichting, OECD, the European Commission and the Center onGlobal Development.

Forum on Tropical Forests in Central Africa

Until recently, Democratic Republic of the Congo’s tropical forestshave had relatively low rates of deforestation. This is changing asillegal and legal logging are now serious threats. Rising populationsmean that forests there will face ever more pressure from peoplewho need firewood and want to clear land for agriculture. Thissession, organised by the Belgian Development Cooperation office,examined avoided deforestation to combat climate change.

From Cairo to Lisbon:

Open Forum on the Joint EU-Africa Strategy

The EU-Africa Summit – the Lisbon Summit – scheduled to takeplace in Lisbon 8 to 9 December 2007 should include the launch ofa new strategy and action plan for future cooperation between theEU and Africa in economic development and poverty reduction.The European Parliament’s Development Committee and the Pan-African Parliament have been working together to prepare thegroundwork for this new strategy and action plan. In this session,parliamentarians from the two bodies met to discuss this landmarkagreement. It was organised by the European Parliament and thePan-African Parliament.


Adaptation to Climate Change in the Urban Century

More people now live in urban than in rural areas – and 80% of green-house gases come from towns and cities Participants addressedspecific aspects of climate change that relate to urban areas,looking at both the problems and some programmes that areattempting to devise local solutions to mitigation and adaptation.Organised by Swedish International Development CooperationAgency.

The EU Strategic Response to Situations of Fragility

in African Countries

The purpose of this session was a discussion between parliamen-tarians from Africa and Europe about their role and responsibilitiesin promoting the prevention of conflict and the emergence of failedstates. The event was sponsored by the European Parliamentariansfor Africa (AWEPA), an international NGO, whose 1,500 membersare past and present parliamentarians from the EuropeanParliament and most EU member states. AWEPA seeks to supportand strengthen the capacities of parliaments in African nations.

EIB Workshop:

How to integrate social and environmental

criteria in project financing in developing countries

As part of its ongoing dialogue with civil society, the EuropeanInvestment Bank (EIB) held its autumn 2007 workshop for civilsociety organisations (CSOs). The workshop brought together CSOdelegates and EIB representatives to discuss topics of commoninterest. The focal point of much of the discussion was EIB’s projectfinancing role in non-EU countries – in particular developingcountries – and whether the EIB employs the most appropriatecriteria in its investment decision-making process.

“[Climate change] adaptation needs to be designed locally

and supported globally. Effective and accountable

local governments are crucial to successful adaptation...

Poverty reduction is central.”

Gordon McGranahan,

Director, Human Settlements

Programme, International Institute

for Environment and Development

“How do you assess a projectwhere the social return may be

high but the financial perspectives are weak?

How are trade offs resolved between for example a low ERR

(External Rate of Return) and high MDG impact project?”

Christopher Wright,

Researcher,

Centre for Development and

the Environment at

the University of Oslo


The other Parallel Events:

Innovative Partnerships in CombatingClimate Change (MFA-Austria, MFA-Finland, IUCN)

African Economic Outlook (2007) (IPAD)

Climate Change and Pastoralists(Irish Aid, IIED)

Slovenian Development Cooperation (CEP, ITF, Together Foundation, CEF)

Exchanging Experience inCommunicating Climate Change as a Development Issue (SLOGA, Focus, Slovene Philanthropy)

Voices from the Field – How Climate Changes Agriculture in Rural ACP Countries? (CTA, EUFORIC, UNITAR, IIED)

DECIM: Civic Engagement forDevelopment – Coordinating DonorSupport for Civil Society

Addressing the Reproductive HealthSupplies Challenge (IPPF-EN, Countdown 2015 Europe)

Integrated Approaches to Human andSocial Development and Environment(DSW, GEO - Rainforest Conservation)

Regards sur la Terre (AfD, IDDRI)

Integrating Climate Change into

Development Policies and Projects

The call for integrating adaptation to climate change into the globaldevelopment agenda was heard loud and clear at the 2nd EuropeanDevelopment Days. But how can that daunting challenge be met?The panel presented their organisations’ strategies and discussedcase studies. Three main recommendations came out of the casestudies and workshop: poverty and inequality alleviation should beat the centre of all projects; NGOs need to develop a new concept ofnorth-south solidarity; and ties between development and relieforganisations must be strengthened.

Organised by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UK Departmentfor International Development, Deutsche Gesellschaft fürTechnische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), French Development Agency,French Fund for World Environment, and the Association forInternational Solidarity and Cooperation

Carbon against Poverty

This session marked the launch of a new environmental anddevelopment initiative, Carbono contra a Pobreza (Carbon againstPoverty). The initiative is a joint venture of two Portuguese entities,Oikos, a non-profit organisation specialising in development andcooperation issues, and Ecoprogresso, an environmentalconsultancy. Carbon against Poverty aims to promote strategies,projects and investments at local, regional, national andinternational levels for climate change mitigation and adaptation,which at the same time reduce poverty and support economicdevelopment.

Achieving More Effective EU aid delivery – but how?

Organised by the Practitioners' Network for European DevelopmentCooperation, this session consisted of a panel Discussion betweenhigh-level representatives from agencies and administrations thatare implementing development policies in the field. ThePractitioners' Network was showcased as a means towards moreeffective European development cooperation.


Development education and public awareness

Education and awareness raising is critical as the European Unionsteps up its funding for development and poverty reduction. TheDevelopment Education Multistakeholder Group unveiled itsstatement at the European Development Days.

The European Consensus on Development: the contribution ofDevelopment Education & Awareness Raising is a contribution tothe implementation of the European Consensus on Development(2005), with particular reference to the declaration that, “... the EUwill pay particular attention to development education and raisingawareness among EU citizens.”

The joint statement provides a framework for the development ofstrategy at local, regional, national and European levels. This frame-work has been the result of a year-long process of the EuropeanDevelopment Education Multistakeholder Group, which has beenfacilitated by the Development Education Exchange in EuropeProject (DEEEP). The statement was followed by a broaderdiscussion on the importance of European public awareness aboutinternational development issues and its inclusion within nationaland EU policies.

To download the statement: www.deeep.org/english/europe/strategy/european_consensus_30102007.pdf

Promise or Peril?

Avoided deforestation and bio-sequestration projects have alreadydemonstrated their capacity to channel resources from the carbonmarkets to poor communities in support of their development andadaptation goals.

One of the most pressing issues facing those concerned with theglobal challenges of climate change, persistent poverty andenvironmental degradation is how to move multiple-benefitAgriculture, Forestry and other Land Use (AFoLU) projects into themainstream. The CARE/Climate, Community and BiodiversityAlliance parallel explored the evidence that multiple-benefitprojects can simultaneously reduce atmospheric greenhousegases, reduce poverty and conserve biodiversity.

Cuba-Europe – SustainableDevelopment and Cooperation

Expanding the Response to HIV/TB,Malaria and broader Health Challenges

(UNAIDS, GFATM, WHO, The World Bank)

Hungarian National Climate Strategy

Voices from Continents – Exchange ofleadership experiences on the ways to

address the challenges of climatechange and development cooperation

(Club de Madrid)

Global Networking for InternationalDevelopment Professionals –

Development Executive Group

Feeding the World the Day After Tomorrow

(IFAD, FAO, WFP)

Poverty Reduction and EnvironmentalGovernance Initiative

(IUCN)

Islands and the European Union (IUCN)

Kyrgyzstan’s Glacial Lakes: Will we prevent Disastrous Floods? –

Presentation of a Czech Project(MFA - Czech Republic,

Czech Development Centre)


The Development Village offered more than 120 development, climate change and environmentprofessionals the chance to showcase their work. NGOs, ACP institutions, foundations, research

institutes, international organisations, governments and EU Member States participated by setting upoften-interactive stands.

The layout created a lively village atmosphere where people learned about each other, sharedexperiences, debated the issues and laid the groundwork for future collaboration.

Thursday 8 November, the Development Village opened its doors to the public. About 650 peopledropped in, many of who were students curious to learn more about the nexus of climate change anddevelopment.

D E V E L O P M E N T V I L L A G E

A crossroad for sharing experiences


Carbon Free!

The 2nd European Development Days was conceived to be a carbon freeevent, demonstrating the European Commission’s commitment to continuetaking the lead in the fight against climate change. To carbon offset thethree-day event, the Commission worked with one of the NGOs active incarbon offsetting. The Action Carbon programme of the GoodPlanet.orgassessed and compensated the greenhouse case emissions linked to theenergy consumption of the participants’ transportation, accommodation,on-site building and set up, and utility bills.

Action Carbon calculated the emissions and compensations linked to the event in real time, displayingthe results on two thermometers that greeted visitors to the Development Village. Emissions weredisplayed in red on one and offsets were displayed in green on the other.

The European Commission paid compensation for the emissions linked the event and part of the cost ofindividual transportation. Participants were urged to compensate their outstanding emissions at theAction Carbon Stand and received a ‘Carbon Offset’ button to demonstrate their commitment to offsettingtheir carbon footprint.

Over the last two years, Action Carbon has financed the compensation of 50,000 tonnes of CO2 throughnine projects in Africa, South America and Asia. Action Carbon only selects projects that meet the criteriaset by the Clean Development Mechanism, which is defined by the United Nations Convention on ClimateChange.


Yes, climate will change development. This was clear from the discussions atDevelopment Days 2007.

DEVDAYS is an event where ideas can be exchanged, where conflicting views canbe aired and explored. Here you can meet similar organisations, get an update on“who does what, where and how”, devise future synergies, and build newpartnerships The conclusion of the 2007 event can be described thus: action isneeded against climate change and it is needed now. Let's just do it. This has beenthe common message from NGOs, experts and policymakers after three days ofdebate.

Some asked for a new kind of development in the world to stop climate change, anew mindset in everyday life. Others called on global partnerships to help thepoorest or those most directly threatened, such as small island states. TheEuropean Commission not only launched in September a Global Climate ChangeAlliance to help the poorest countries on climate change but also proposed theidea of a Global Loan scheme at DEVDAYS. Amongst the debates which took placethere were ideas on intelligent financial engineering, allocating capital to privateinvestments, adaptation strategies, strengthened cooperation, responsibility forfinancing global public goods, setting up multilateral agencies and technologytransfer. More can be found at www.eudevdays.eu.

What’s next?

The European Union is on the ground with development aid, as the major worlddonor and as partner to developing countries. We know Africa is one of theareas most affected by climate change. At the Europe-Africa Summit in Lisbonon 8-9 December 2007, climate change will be on top of the agenda together withseven other joint strategic partnerships that will forge a new relationship betweenthe two continents.

The European Union is at the forefront of international negotiations to tackleclimate change. At the Bali Conference on 3-14 December 2007, the EU willpropose a concrete reduction of 20% in emissions by 2020. In Bali everyone mustassume their responsibility and work towards a joint reduction.

Climate changes development. Climate changes political priorities. Climate changesour future. But together, in the face of climate change, we can shape anotherfuture.

We all have the responsibility to act. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once said: “Wedo not inherit the earth from our parents; we borrow it from our children.”

C O N C L U S I O N

This Executive Summary has been published by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Developmentand relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific States

A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. This can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu)

Luxembourg, Office for Official Publicationsof the European Communities, 2007

© European Communities, 2007Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged

Printed in Belgium, November 2007

E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y L I S B O N 7 - 9 N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 7

European Commission

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONDirectorate-General for Development and Relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific States

POST ADDRESSRue de la Loi 200B-1049 Brussels

FAX +32 2 299 25 25

E-MAIL [email protected]

INTERNET:http://ec.europa.eu/development

E U R O P E A N D E V E L O P M E N T D A Y S

h t t p : / / w w w . e u d e v d a y s . e u

european development days -...

Documents