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Climate Change:
Side Event, 05 November 2009

Climate Change Negotiations - Barcelona, Spain
Side Event: Towards Low-Carbon Development Paths

5 November 2009
Barcelona, Spain

Alan AtKisson

Background:

As part of the 2009 Barcelona Climate Talks, UN-DESA, UNDP and the World Bank co-organized a side event that highlighted the contribution of their recent publications to the development-climate debate. The event stressed key elements and main ideas outlined in the "World Economic and Social Survey: Promoting Development: Saving the Planet" (WESS) by UN-DESA, the "World Development Report 2010" by the World Bank and "Charting A New Low-Carbon Route to Development" by UNDP.

Discussions:

  • Alan Atkisson:
    Representing UNDESA, Alan Atkisson discussed how the "World Economic Social Survey 2009" (WESS) maps the pathway to a global renewable energy transition. Citing the report, he noted that climate change action could be a positive sum game, and outlined the elements necessary to generate a “big-push” for progress in integrating the climate and development agendas and for the rapid development of renewable energy in the developing world.
  • Ian Noble:
    In discussing the World Bank’s "World Development Report 2010", Ian Noble argued that we should “act now, act together and act differently.” He suggested that the high-income countries will need to take the lead and that all will have a role to play in radically-transforming energy systems.
  • Thomas Johansson:
    In subsequent discussions, Thomas Johansson, from Lund University and GEA Executive Committee, highlighted major energy challenges, including how to achieve equity in energy services for the two billion people without affordable or reliable energy access.
  • Chrishtophe Nuttall:
    Chrishtophe Nuttall then outlined UNDP’s support for north-south partnerships to build capacity at the sub-national and regional levels in order to support progress on mitigation and adaptation measures.