This presentation explains the findings of a report written by INTASAVE for WWF: Lessons in Climate-Smart policies: A Framework For Integrated Low Carbon Resilient Development.

1. Understanding and
Developing Synergistic
Policy
Dr Rebecca Nadin
COP20
5th December 2014

2. Basis of the findings
The report aims to provide an overview of the current research and practice of
integrating adaptation into low carbon frameworks.
It examines the rationale for the assumption that pursuing an integrated
approach to climate change responses is an effective and feasible choice.
It explores the potential benefits and trade-offs arising from an integrated
approach.
Draws together lessons learned and good-practice case studies from a number
of developed and developing countries where mainstreaming has started to take
place.
Understanding and Developing Synergistic Climate Policy
COP20
Climate Resilient Low Carbon Frameworks by Nadin R., Lashford S., Street R., Liu Y.,
Cardenes Trujillo I. (2014) Climate Resilient Low Carbon Frameworks, INTASAVE and WWF

3. Outline
What are the benefits to be gained in addressing development, mitigation
and adaptation goals in a coordinated way?
Why move towards a synergistic approach?
Is it policy rhetoric? Is it realistic?
Breaking down the jargon
Limits
Policy in Practice
Synergies in Action
What does a climate resilient framework look like? Country experiences
Next steps
Understanding and Developing Synergistic Climate Policy
COP20

4. Understanding Synergies
Understanding and Developing Synergistic Climate Policy
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5. Drivers for a synergistic approach
Science is clear (AR5 IPCC WGII)
Donor driven - many favour adaptation projects that also have global
mitigation benefits
Resource Constraints
Increasing acknowledgement that adaptation and mitigation are
complementary risk management strategies
Understanding and Developing Synergistic Climate Policy
COP20

6. Rhetoric or Reality?
1. Breaking down the jargon: how is climate-resilient development
different from climate compatible development or low carbon
development and green growth? Does it matter?
2. Limits of integration and trade-offs between mitigation and adaptation
goals
3. What are the fundamental challenges associated with integrating
adaptation into low carbon development frameworks?
Understanding and Developing Synergistic Climate Policy
COP20

7. 1. Breaking down the jargon
Numerous policy tools with different names and
precise definitions - yet all share similar objectives.
If country knowledge and experience is to be
shared, it is important that a ‘common vocabulary’
is agreed upon.
Key terms and jargon which link adaptation, low
carbon and development include:
Low Carbon Development;
Low Carbon Frameworks;
Low Carbon Development Strategy;
Low Emissions Development Strategies;
Low Carbon Transition Plans;
Climate-Resilient Development;
Climate Compatible Development.
Understanding and Developing Synergistic Climate Policy
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8. 2. Limits of integration and trade-offs between
mitigation and adaptation goals
Not all interventions can achieve ALL three of development, mitigation &
adaptation benefits. This could lead to irrelevant or arbitrary labeling of
projects. Critical not to limit ourselves to only pursuing interventions that
can achieve all three.
Co-benefits and triple wins cannot become a “tick box” in policy-making or
the gold standard. Establishing the most beneficial policy mix remains
important.
Where synergies are not possible, critical to have a process to identify
potential tradeoffs and minimize / respond to them.
Understanding and Developing Synergistic Climate Policy
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9. 3. What are the fundamental challenges associated with
integrating adaptation into low carbon development
frameworks?
Based upon the current literature and evidenced by the experiences of ‘early adopter’
countries, challenges include:
not always be possible to fully mitigate, adapt and develop without some contradictions
and tradeoffs, even when using an integrated approach). This means there is also a danger
of focusing too much on creating or maximizing synergies. There is a distinction here between
policy and programmes of action.
Evidence deficit -The presence of a triple-win result for mitigation, adaptation and development
does not guarantee alone it will be the most successful response to the challenges faced.
There is great potential for triple-win programmes of action to be developed but there is
significant evidence gathering and thoughtful design needed to ensure this happens.
Core differences –
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10. Need to Understand the Differences
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Mitigation Adaptation
Governance Differences in levels of governances as mitigation is primarily
managed at national and international scales,
whereas most adaptation planning and implementation occurs at
the local level with national coordination;
Stakeholders Different stakeholders involved in each, with different ministries often leading on each and at the least, different departments within the
same ministry. There is often a lack of alignment of interests for these stakeholders to engage with one another, due to the nature of
public goods;
Time horizons Different time horizons, particularly for benefits, given the long-
term perspective of mitigation strategies
current shorter-term needs, planning and projections of
adaptation;
Costing Challenges in comparing mitigation and adaptation benefits and costs, particularly the non-economic costs associated with adaptation
such as avoided loss of life, avoided health impacts, avoided loss of ecosystems. These challenges have been set out by Fankhauser (1998)
and Callaway et al. (1998).
Sector Focus GHG emitters & Sinks (e.g. energy, transport etc) Sectors vulnerable to climate impacts e.g Coastal zones,

11. Integrating Options: Country
examples
No single model for climate adaptation mainstreaming into low carbon development but all
approaches provide potential lessons. The different approaches taken by various countries
highlight three broad ways of integrating climate change adaptation into low carbon
development:
Incorporating specific mitigation and adaptation provisions and considerations within a central
economic planning document (such as China’s 12th Five Year Plan and the EU 2020 Strategy);
Drafting a dedicated low carbon development policy that includes adaptation provisions
(Colombia’s Low Emissions Development Strategy);
Creating a climate policy document with the tools to integrate mitigation and adaptation into
the central (or sectoral) economic development planning documents (like Mexico’s General
Climate Change Law).
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12. Learning from Country Experiences
Integration can help mobilize resources and political will to address climate change.
Some countries coordinating through high-level government plans such as Rwanda’s Vision 2020,
etc. This gives strong mandates to develop more detailed strategies for responding to climate
change. In China, this resulted in the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.
Easy to identify sectors with ‘easy wins’, such as forestry and agriculture. But there are many
other sectors where pathways interlink. Initiatives like a compatibility review process, which SA is
undertaking to ensure the alignment of sectoral policies with their Climate Change Response
Strategy Green Paper.
An iterative process is important to allow policies to reflect new developments in science and
technology, incorporate good practice, raise the level of ambition.
However, it will not always be possible to fully mitigate, adapt and develop without some
contradictions and tradeoffs
Understanding that there is a certain level of complexity in achieving integrated responses so
needs to have flexible, enabling institutional arrangements
There can be no blueprint or one-size-fits-all approach in effectively addressing climate change.
Understanding and Developing Synergistic Climate Policy
COP20

13. Fulfilling the Evidence Deficit
INTASAVE Asia-Pacific – Synergies in the Urban Water Sector in
China
Hydro-economic Modelling (HEM) framework to capture climate
change and infrastructure development scenarios to assess
synergies and trade-offs between mitigation and adaptation in
the urban water sector.
Water-Energy Nexus – informing policy-makers
Qingdao and Xiamen, China
Understanding and Developing Synergistic Climate Policy
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14. Framework for Integrating Adaptation into Low Carbon Development
Understanding and Developing Synergistic Climate Policy
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15. Next Steps
Need to invest in and support capacity building
Capacity building – understanding of the role of adaptation and mitigation in
development beyond the realms of climate policy
Enhanced Research
Need for more research targeted towards policy and decision makers
Monitoring, reporting and verification of progress
Robust institutional arrangements, technical and funding support
High level of communication, coordination and exchange across sectors and
also regional, national and sub-national levels
Review international / national policies/standards to see how they can
support integration
International & regional collaboration, South South Cooperation
Understanding and Developing Synergistic Climate Policy
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16. Thank You!
rebecca.nadin@intasave.org.cn
Understanding and Developing Synergistic Climate Policy
COP20