Measuring the Development Benefits of Emissions Reduction: EcoSecurities Geneva, 4 December 2009 - Mitigating climate change in the developing world requires more than just reducing carbon emissions. It requires a commitment to economic growth, poverty reduction and ultimately, sustainable development. As a leading carbon developer with an interest in understanding the impacts of its projects and their alignment with local and national development priorities, EcoSecurities set out to measure and understand how one Clean Development Mechanism project in its pipeline is contributing to sustainable development in local communities.

Energizing Development in a Changing Climate Geneva, 2 October 2009 - Emerging and developing countries will be the source of the majority of greenhouse gas emissions in the future. While some people in many of these countries have experienced triple digit increases in income over the last ten years, many still live on less than US$ 2 a day and rely on traditional means of lighting, heating and transport and have less capacity to adapt to the negative aspects of climate change. Energy, climate change and development are inextricably linked; if we don't tackle them together we won't win the battle against any of them.

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The WBCSD on Development

The world is experiencing a historic shift of economic and political power from the traditional base of industrialized countries in Europe and North America to the emerging economies. They will be home to 85% of the world’s estimated 9 billion inhabitants of 2050, most of who will live in cities.

Yet, poverty and inequity in many countries remain critical challenges for sustainable development and global stability. Poverty comes in many forms: about a third of the world’s population lives on less than 2 dollars a day and many suffer from malnutrition, have no access to health services, sanitation, electricity, safe drinking water, shelter or transportation.

Meeting the basic needs of a growing and increasingly urbanized population in developing countries – as well as the aspirations of their middle classes – will exponentially increase the demand for energy and natural resources, thereby further exacerbating the pressure on the world’s ecosystems.

Solving the seemingly conflicting imperatives of improving the living standards of the world’s population while preserving the environment will require a transition to a more inclusive, low-carbon and resource efficient economy.

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