On September 8, the Climate and Economic Policy teams in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden hosted an event entitled "Copenhagen Climate Negotiations: Can Development Build a Consensus?" The objective of the event was to bring the climate and development policy communities together to discuss how to better link development and climate agendas and use these connections to reach a global climate deal.  Swedish Ambassador Jonas Hafström provided welcoming remarks.

Moderated by World Bank Vice President of Sustainable Development Katherine Sierra, the panel included Nigel Purvis, senior transatlantic fellow of the German Marshall Fund and president of Climate Advisers ; Geoffrey Lamb, managing director of public policy at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; and Jonathan Lash, president of the World Resources Institute.

During the discussion, Mr. Purvis reviewed how the United States can play a leadership role at the December UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP15). Overcoming domestic political hurdles that include increasing official development assistance (ODA) for climate adaptation, capping carbon emissions, and supporting greater global governance will be necessary in order to secure a strong global deal in Copenhagen. In light of these political hurdles, Mr. Purvis laid out three pragmatic recommendations on how the United States could meaningfully contribute to the negotiations: establish a cap-and-trade system based on legislation passed in the U.S. House of Representatives this spring; lead the global discussion to reconcile the international climate and trade agendas; and push for reform in international financial institutions.

Following on Mr. Purvis' remarks, Mr. Lamb also discussed the political hurdles that must be overcome in order to make progress at Copenhagen. Relatively speaking, the amount of financial assistance sufficient for developing countries to adapt to climate change is not astronomical; however, increasing ODA funds will likely be a political non-starter in industrialized countries due to the global recession. It is also critical that developed countries do not dig into current ODA funds for climate adaptation, but leverage extra funding earmarked for this cause.

Corroborating these points, Mr. Lash pointed out that the political will in developed countries to financially assist emerging economies and least developed countries in adapting to climate change is low. The international negotiations will likely remain at a stalemate until the United States refines its negotiating position with respect to climate adaptation assistance. Low carbon development is an opportunity for countries to become more energy and financially efficient in rural and urban impoverished areas.  Although the probability of reaching a deal  on a comprehensive global climate agreement in Copenhagen are low, Mr. Lamb suggested that countries could use COP15 to create a fast-start funding mechanism to enable early investment in capacity building and demonstration projects that support adaptation and sustainable development.

Several participants were interested in how to prioritize spending of climate adaptation funds to focus on the most effective/needed activities on the ground. The panelists agreed that early funds should focus on research and development, education, improving capacity, and infrastructure to deal with climate change, as well as health, disaster, and forest preparedness. Mr. Lash stressed the importance of supporting strong governance mechanisms in developing countries to ensure funds are administered effectively. The discussion also focused on how the private sector could play an effective role in providing funding for adaptation. Carbon markets have the potential to harvest large sums for developing country assistance; however, private investors need a clear signal that their investments are going to a stable market. Businesses could also invest in the development of clean technologies. Finally, a representative from Bangladesh explained the magnitude of negative effects climate change presents to Bangladesh and other vulnerable countries.

To listen to the welcoming remarks by Swedish Ambassador Jonas Hafström please click here.

World Bank Vice President moderates panel on relationship between climate and development policy communities