Institute of Development Studies

European Development Co-operation on climate change to 2020

'Can the EU meet the challenge of effective development cooperation on climate change?'

The EC’s position and actions on climate change are critical because the EC is a world leader in tackling climate change (CC), evidenced by EU policy, targets, actions, and Member States response.

Project Objectives

1. To synthesise the evidence base on CC and EU development policy in key areas of CC and development programming and to map out possible future influences on these policy areas.
2. To understand drivers, connections and disconnects between climate change policy and development at EU level, while taking into account international initiatives and initiatives in developing countries.
3. To use the understanding of drivers, trade-offs and different perspectives to inform future policy processes and priorities for action in the EU.

The challenge for development cooperation and aid effectiveness is particularly acute within CC due to the proliferation of funding and initiatives that are multilateral, bilateral and international.  The EU (the Commission and Member States together) is the biggest international aid donor in financial terms and is also addressing issues of development cooperation and aid effectiveness through the EU Action Plan on Climate Change and Development (2004) and the Global Climate Change Alliance (2007) and the EU Framework for Action on Adaptation (FAA) 2009.

Activities in 2009

February 2009 - Initial Policy Brief (see Selected Outputs)
April  2009 - ‘European Development Cooperation to 2020: can Europe meet climate change challenges for development cooperation?' workshop with key stakeholders in Brussels on 22 April 2009 EDC 2020 Workshop notes April 2009

• IDS key contact: Merylyn Hedger
• Project dates: June 2008 - December 2010
• Project status: Closed
• Funder: European Commission (EC)

Researchers

• Merylyn Hedger
• Leo Peskett, Overseas Development Institute
• Neil Bird, Overseas Development Institute
• Imme Scholz, German Development Institute

Partner Organisations

• Overseas Development Institute (ODI)

Selected Outputs

• Hedger, M. (2010) 'Climate Finance and Europe: lost momentum and challenges ahead'
• Peskett, L., Grist, N., Hedger, M., Lennartz-Walker, T. and Scholz, I. (2009) 'Climate change challenges for European Development Co-operation'